Mining

The Lucky Friday Mine occupies a prominent place in the mining history and present-day economy of northern Idaho. Located within the renowned Silver Valley of the Coeur d’Alene district, this long-lived underground operation has produced millions of ounces of silver together with significant quantities of base metals. The mine’s story reflects the region’s geology, evolving […]

The Midas Mine is one of the historic and still-notable mineral occurrences in the western United States. Located in the mineral-rich landscapes of the Great Basin, it has produced both gold and silver from veining and replacement-style deposits, and its story ties together geology, frontier history, modern mining techniques and local economic development. This article

The Greens Creek operation on Alaska’s Admiralty Island is one of North America’s most notable base- and precious-metal mines. It combines a remote, rugged setting with sophisticated underground mining and processing, producing large quantities of silver alongside significant amounts of zinc and lead, with gold and copper recovered as byproducts. This article explores the mine’s

The Rosemont Project is a proposed large-scale copper development in southern Arizona, situated in the foothills of the Santa Rita Mountains roughly southeast of the city of Tucson. Designed as an open-pit porphyry copper operation, the project has drawn attention for its potential to supply significant quantities of copper — a metal central to modern

The Stillwater Mine, set against the rugged backdrop of south-central Montana, is a cornerstone of North American production of the rare and economically crucial platinum group metals. As one of the few large-scale producers of palladium and platinum outside of southern Africa and Russia, the mine plays a distinctive role in global supply chains, regional

The Galena Mine has long been emblematic of the United States’ rich history in metal extraction, particularly in the production of silver and lead. This article explores the mine’s setting, the minerals extracted there, its economic role through time, and several lesser-known but intriguing aspects that make the site notable. The narrative connects geology, industrial

The Kennecott Eagle Mine is a modern underground mining operation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula that has attracted attention for its production of critical metals, its comparatively small surface footprint, and the complex balance it represents between natural-resource development and environmental stewardship. Operated by a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, the mine extracts sulfide-hosted ore and produces

The Safford Mine is a significant copper-producing operation located in the American Southwest. Nestled in southeastern Arizona, it has become an important part of the regional mining landscape and a noteworthy contributor to the national supply of copper

The Morenci area in the United States is home to one of the most important copper mining complexes in North America. This article examines the location, geology, operations, and broader significance of the mine, as well as several notable and sometimes surprising aspects of its history and technology. Readers will find a detailed picture of

The Bagdad Mine in the United States is one of North America’s long-standing copper operations. Located in central Arizona, it has shaped the local landscape, economy and community life for decades. This article explores the mine’s location and geology, its development and operations, the economic and environmental roles it plays, and several notable facts that