Mining is an essential part of Arizona’s history and evidence of its everlasting legacy can be found all over the state. Asarco Mineral Discovery Center in Sahuarita gives visitors a firsthand look at how the industry operates by offering tours of a working open-pit copper mine. Check it out:

Asarco is the only open-pit mine in Arizona that offers tours with no prior reservation necessary.
TripAdvisor/lauragatz
You'll become an expert on all things copper after witnessing how it is mined, processed, and extracted. Visit half an hour before the 4 p.m. shift change to see a mine blast in real life!
Outside, you'll see an ever-growing collection of historic mining equipment.
TripAdvisor/Steve5863
The pieces don't mean much individually, but together they tell a moving story of how this industry shaped Arizona into what it is today.
Haul trucks funnel the rocks into crushers, which kickstart the milling process.
TripAdvisor/Dean N.
These enormous machines each have a 3,000 horsepower motor, which facilitates the extraction of precious copper from its surrounding ore.

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Giant shovels can load an entire dump truck after being filled just three times.
Google/DeCarlos
They contain more than 4,000 volts of electricity, and some are able to carry over 320 tons!
For as little as $7, visitors can hop on a bus and explore the mine.
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Before heading out, stop by the Discovery Center to check out the many exhibits it has to offer.
Google/Ben Houghtaling
You'll see a variety of stunning copper gems extracted from the mine in addition to information about how the process works from start-to-finish. The best part? Admission to the Discovery Center is free!
Mine tours are only held on Saturdays, but the Discovery Center is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Google Maps
Address: 1421 W Pima Mine Road, Sahuarita, AZ 85629

Visit the mine’s website to for more information about tour times at the ASARCO mine and follow along on its Facebook page to learn more.

Have you ever visited ASARCO? If so, did you learn anything interesting about Arizona’s mining history? Let us know all about the experience, and check out our previous article for a quirky mining town that belongs on your bucket list: It’s Impossible Not To Love The Most Eccentric Town In Arizona.

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