SIRG will make it 173 copper miners operating in A

SIRG will make it 173 copper miners operating in Arizona when production starts in 2013.

About 65 percent of the nation's copper is mined in Arizona and for many years Arizona led the nation in production of nonfuel minerals; chiefly because of our large copper reserves.  In 2005, there were 72 mining companies operating 126 mines in Arizona.  On top of that, 70 sand and gravel quarries operated throughout the state.

Arizona mines and quarries directly employ nearly 22,000 people who collectively earn more than 1 billion dollars each year.  The direct and indirect economic impact of mining is estimated at about 3.5 billion dollars annually.  Of this, about 277 million is accounted for in exports abroad.  The future of mining is assured by the following fact: each American uses more than 45,000 pounds of newly mined minerals annually!