Outside A Copper Mine

Over the crest of this hill is an open pit copper mine.

The hill is nothing but dirt and the monsoon rains and wind have carved these long crevices through it.

closer

It is really huge, about the height of a football field is in length. Along some parts of the hill are gradually sloped drives for heavy machinery to enter although those are not the main entrances to the mine.

Many of the areas around the mines are carved in step-like levels to prevent this kind of erosion, with desert plants on each level.

Copper mines surround the areas where I live - the towns of Green Valley and Sahuarita. Mining laws from the 19th century that are still on the federal books give preferential land and water rights to mines to this day.

In fact, residential water use in Arizona is the third priority after mining and agriculture. Strange in these times of drought.

Only a small tract of the West Desert Preserve desert - just a couple of miles- separates where I live from one of the mines. If the wind blows strong enough and from the right direction, the tailings (dust refuse) covers my neighborhood. It gets in my nose, mouth and eyes. It makes it hard to breathe.

It's awful stuff for the environment. Full of chemicals that spoil the air and water. Fortunately, it doesn't happen that often. The owners of these mines are pretty responsible neighbors.

If you have Google Earth, locate Green Valley and Sahuarita, Arizona and check out the mines. They are the clearly visible blobs on the western sides of the towns.