Arizona Mines Tourist Information
The department receives numerous requests for information on
visiting Arizona's mines and mineral collecting sites. The following
is a brief compilation listing sites that offer mine tours or mine overviews.
Click here
to learn about related activites for the visistor to Arizona including:
gold panning areas, mineral shows, and mineral and mining museums in Arizona.
Operating Mine Tours
- Bagdad Mine
- A major open pit copper/molybdenum mine operated by Phelps Dodge.
The
Bagdad mine is two hours northwest of Phoenix. Free tours
by appointment only. Phone: 928-633-3490.
-
Mission Mine and Mineral Discovery Center
- Asarco, a subsidiary of Grupo Mexico, operates a free
mineral discovery center that includes outdoor exhibits
of mining equipment and offers one-hour mine tours of
its Mission copper mine. Adults - $6.00, Seniors $5.00,
Children - $4.00. Group tour rates available. Located
15 miles south of Tucson on I-19 at Pima Mine Road
(map to Mission). Phone: 520-625-7513, Tour
reservations: 520-625-8233.
- Morenci Mine
- Two and one half hour bus tour of one of the largest open pit mines
in the world! Tours are offered Fridays and Saturdays at 9:00
a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Reservations are required. Admission fee
charged. For
Morenci tour information
or call toll free: 1-877-646-8687.
Operating Mine Overlooks
- Morenci Mine
- Located in eastern Arizona about an hour drive northeast
of Safford on the scenic Coronado Trail, this site
provides a spectacular view of Arizona's largest mining
operation - the Phelps Dodge Morenci mine. The
Morenci mine,
the largest copper mine in the US, produces over 750 million
pounds of copper a year and has moved over 1,000,000 tons in
a day! The overlook is about five miles north of the town of
Morenci on Highway 191.
- Ray Mine
- Approximately 85 miles east of Phoenix is the Asarco-owned
Ray mine,
a major copper producer. Mining operations and equipment may
be viewed here daily from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm or until dusk. The
overlook is located approximately 12 miles south of Superior on
Highway 177.
Historic Mines
- Aguila - Robson's Mining World
- An old-time gold mining town offers an impressive collection of
antique mining equipment, gold panning, bed and breakfast, and
restaurant. Mon. - Fri. 10 am - 4 pm, Sat. and Sun. 8am - 6 pm,
Seasonal Oct. 1 - May 1. Six miles north of Aguila on Highway
71. Phone: 928-685-2609.
- Bisbee
- Tours are available of the famous underground
Copper Queen Mine
located at the colorful, historic mining town of Bisbee. The
Lavender Pit, a large open pit copper mine
may also be visited. Open 7 days a week. One-hour tours begin at
9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 2:00, and 3:30. Admission fee charged. Phone:
520-432-2071.
- Oatman
- Gold Road
Located in Arizona's richest gold district, San Francisco, has
produced over 2 million ounces since 1870. During the 1990's the
Gold Road mine produced nearly 100,000 ounces of gold. Closed
since 1998, it now offers four levels of tours. Located on Route
66 two and a half miles east of Oatman. Phone: 928-768-1600.
- Wickenburg
- Vulture Mine.
The mine was discovered in 1863 by Henry Wickenburg. Take US 60
from Wickenburg about 3 miles to the west. Turn left on Vulture
Mine Road at the Safeway shopping center and continue south on
the paved road for about 12 miles. Call for current information
about tour times. Phone: 602-859-2743.
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