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1000 BCE
Prehistoric Mining in Arizona
Native peoples trade copper, turquoise,and coal as valuable goods. -
Period: 1000 BCE to
Mining in Arizona
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Jan 1, 1535
Seven Cities of Gold
The explorer Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca searches for the Seven Cities of Gold, and decides they are a rumor. -
Jan 1, 1582
Pushing Northwards
Antonio de Espejo reaches as far north as Jerome, stating that there are many "rich veins" -
Missionary Mining
Father Kino reports that the natives are mining "gold and silver" in Northern Sonora and Southern Arizona. -
Silver Rush
A discovery of silver at the Arizonac Mine leads to a rush of miners in the Nogales area -
American Expansion
After the Mexican-American War, mines are abandoned - and rediscovered - by American settlers pushing westwards. -
A River of Gold
Reports of "gold flowing down the Colorado River" lead to a rush of panniers and prospectors to Western Arizona. -
The Father of Arizona
Charles Poston, known as the "Father of Arizona", opens a mine employing over a thousand in Tubac, Arizona. His mining operation is the center of commerce and government. -
Yuma Rush
Gold discovery near Yuma leads to the boom town of La Paz, which quickly dries up in short order after the gold is exhausted. -
Wickenberg
The area of "Rich Hill" becomes the town of Wickenberg, a major metro area (for the time) until the Phoenix area wins the railway rights. -
Copper is King
Arizona surpasses Montana as the leading producer of copper. To this day it is responsible for 64% of copper in the US. -
Kick Em Out
Due to fears of communist agitators, the mine operators in Bisbee engage in the "Bisbee Deportation", deporting over 1000 miners. -
A Curious Byproduct
Uranium is discovered in Arizona, a byproduct of Vanadium mining. This will have a ripple effect across northern Arizona. -
Union Breaking
The 1983 Phelps-Dodge Strike leads to violence, as miners assault replacement workers, disrupt mining operations, and generally cause mayhem. Public opinion turns against the miners and the largest decertification of unions occurs in US history. -
Cleaning up a Mess
After decades of uranium mining, cleanup begins on the reservation to help reverse some of the industrial mess caused by the mining. -
A New Mine
Energy Fuels opens a shaft in its new Canyon Mine, leading to a series of court battles. After lengthy arguments, the courts allow Energy Fuels to continue with their mining. The plaintiffs vow to continue.
