by Mark Duggan | Jun 30, 2014
Tucson, Ariz. – When the San Manuel Mine northeast of Tucson closed in 1999, it was the largest underground copper mine in the U.S., with more than 2,000 people working in 350+ miles of tunnels and a nearby smelter. The copper market had just gone bust,...
by Mark Duggan | May 29, 2014
Tucson, Ariz. – The names stand out on early maps of the Arizona Territory: Hamlets like Ruby and Silver Bell. Mines named The World’s Fair, Old Dominion, and The Heavy Weight. But they’re not to be found on modern maps of Arizona. When the copper booms...
by Mark Duggan | Oct 11, 2011
Tucson, Ariz. – The American West is littered with small towns that staked their fortunes on the fragility of natural resource extraction. Mining towns prospered during energy booms. Many residents had high-paying jobs, and the local businesses profited handsomely....
