Copper is a key part of the Arizona economy — and Arizonans’ lives.
In elementary school, Arizonans learned that copper was one of the original 5 C’s, the cornerstones of the state’s early industry. Historically, Arizona copper has supported the nation’s electrification and supplied national defense efforts during the world wars.
Today, this reddish metal is as important as ever. In 2024, the Arizona Mining Association recorded that the copper industry added more than $21 billion total impact and around 60,000 jobs in Arizona — the second largest employment sector after semiconductors, which use copper…