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Arizona Experience Store

 Mining & Minerals

  • 100 Years of Arizona’s Best: The Minerals that Made the State
  • Featured Exhibit: Historic Mining Towns
  • Featured Exhibit: Arizona's Mineral History
  • Featured Exhibit: The Union Struggle
  • Featured Exhibit: Bisbee’s Crystal Caves
  • Featured Exhibit:Tucson Gem and Mineral Society

    • Women and Culture in Copper Country

    By the 1900s, the Arizona territory was a crossroads of tribes, military men, missionaries, American and Mexican prospectors, and travelers. 

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    The Copper Corridor

    Former mining communities of the Copper Corridor businesses are developing a sustainable tourism economy.

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    Mineral History Timeline

    The search for mineral wealth defines Arizona’s human history.

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    100 Years of Arizona’s Best: The Minerals that Made the State

    Mines and miners built the Arizona we know today. Tour early copper towns, explore lost crystal caves, and discover the how our mineral history shaped the state.

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    Gem of a Show Blog

    Arizona's Copper Legacy

    The legacy of copper mining and Arizona.

    We are pleased to recognize the Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation as the presenting sponsor of the Virtual Arizona Experience.

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    About Mason Coggin
    Mason Coggin Collection

    Yavapai, Oro Belle mine

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Drilling rig in Quarry Canyon in Cochise County, early 1900s

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners in front of an underground shaft

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners in ore carts being pulled by a mule

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Loading RR cars from mill at the C and A Mine

    Mason Coggin Collection

    People at the top of an early mine shaft

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners resting in an underground cave. Once fairly common sources of mineral deposits, many caves were destroyed as the minerals were removed.

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Head frame & cable building at the Oliver Mine

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Head frame & mill at the Gardner Mine in Cochise County

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners bracing ceiling

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Hauling miners around underground

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Early miners underground

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miner drilling

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners in the early 1900s

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Drill holes after blast. The carbide head lamps worn by these miners were developed in 1987 but did not become popular until the 1920's.

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Machines bracing ceiling in the 1950's

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miner drilling in the 1950's

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners inspecting ore face

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Loading ore cars

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Ore trains replaced mule carts

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miner dumping ore

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners bracing ceiling

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miner using scrapping machine

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners using drilling machine

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Miners underground

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Working on a rock face

    Mason Coggin Collection

    Workers and machinery in the Lavender Pit, 1950's

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    Maps

    Historic Mining Towns
    Metallic Mineral Districts
    Industrial Minerals

    Past Features

    Gems and Precious Minerals

    Arizona is known as one of the richest mineral zones in the world.
    Mining for Tomorrow

    Dr. Mary Poulton, head of the University of Arizona’s mining engineering program, believes...
    Miners' Stories

    The Miners’ Story Project is an oral history and documentary project designed to preserve the...
    Mining Arizona

    Arizona has led copper production in the U.S. since 1910 and still enjoys that distinction,...
    Rock Products: Building Arizona

    With 350 quarries of minerals and rocks and a total economic impact of $2.86 billion, Arizona’s...
    Featured Artist: Jeff Scovil

    Jeff Scovil’s mineral images are esteemed by scientists, sought after by collectors, and...