In Arizona, our love of copper is quite obvious. Many of the state buildings, restaurants, and tourist sites showcase copper statues, decorations, or even pictures of the first copper mines founded in our sunny state. The rusty red color used in the Arizona state flag is also symbolic of the abundance of copper hidden beneath the earth. 

Did you know that Arizona happens to be one of the largest producers of copper in the US? In 2017, it was kept company in this category by Nevada, New Mexico, and Montana, a majority of which are part of the Southwest (US Geological Survey, 2018).

Being true to our roots, at Arizona Iron Supply, copper is one of our favorite metals. We sell a variety of copper items as well as special glazes and coatings for decorating and protecting copper products. Since it’s such a prevalent metal in Arizona, this week we thought we’d do a little research and share 5 interesting facts about copper in Arizona.

5 Interesting Facts about Copper in Arizona

1. The largest running copper mine in Arizona is owned and operated by Freeport-McMoRan near Sanford, AZ. Sanford is located in the Southern portion of the state, about 170 miles southeast of Phoenix.
2. Did you know that the Statue of Liberty is made from about 62,000lbs of copper? While the copper mined to create this remarkable structure came from a village on an island belonging to Norway, and not Arizona, we can all agree that she is one of the most impressive, and certainly well known, copper sculptures in the US!
3. Whether or not you own copper items or have decorated your home with copper, every household in America has copper in it. Whys that? Copper is commonly used in appliances, for electrical wiring, and even for piping!
4. Copper is a recyclable material! A majority of features that were made of copper are either still being used today in their same form or have been recycled into new shapes or been repurposed.
5. Believe it or not, the reason copper and brass are used for the handles and railings that adorn many Arizona public buildings is due to their antimicrobial properties! Copper actually reduces the spread of bacteria, which is ideal for public places that see a large number of customers or patients each day.

Steel & Iron Supply Company in Phoenix & Tucson

At Arizona Iron Supply, we’re a no-nonsense metal supply company that is ready to outfit you for any project imaginable, and that includes all your copper needs. And fortunately, copper doesn’t rust, making it a great material for using on a vast majority of projects! Contact us today if you need help finding the right copper item, casting or special glaze.

Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (8/29/2018) Steve Crane (Flickr)