Town's last copper relics to pass into history

[Ptah]

Town's last copper relics to pass into history

http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/164977

By Richard Ducote
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.17.2007

Decades of toil by thousands of workers produced billions in wealth at the former
Magma Copper complex on the northeast flank of the Santa Catalinas.

At full production, San Manuel's underground copper mine — the largest in
North America — could disgorge an average of more than 38 tons of ore every
minute around the clock, every day of the year.
In its lifetime, the smelter produced 14 billion pounds of copper.

The last vestiges of San Manuel's copper legacy are to be blasted into oblivion today.
Twin smelter stacks, each more than 500 feet tall and weighing 10,000 tons, will
crumble to the ground as a symbolic, dramatic end to the age of mining at San Manuel.
The town founded on mining, 45 miles northeast of Tucson, is changing into a
bedroom community.

[ben_meyers]

1. Sad

Casa Grande used to be the pit stop on the way from Phoenix to Tucson, soon it will be all one city. 45 miles NE of Tucson is almost Casa Grande!

[blondeatlast]

2. I spent growing up years in Coolidge--now it's a bedroom community.

Complete with a Wal-Mart directly across the street from Hohokam Indian ruins.

I remember riding the bus to the small mining towns for football and b-ball games. they've just about ruined my childhood now. :cry:

[Ptah]

3. I spent the last two years of high school at Marana. Go Tigers!

That was 1967 - 1969.

My father worked at SilverBell.

There was a large part of the student population that live
in SilverBell.

I think one time I wrestled at Coolidge.

The times theay are a-changing!

:hi: