San Manuel Smelter Site, Arizona

One of the largest copper smelters in the nation was located here until 2007, when it was torn down. It and the adjacent rod plant produced 325,000 tons of refined copper per year, for use in wires, cables, and rods. Australia's Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd (BHP) took over operations of the mine, smelter, and rod plant from Magma Metals in the late 1990's. Ore was brought to this plant by rail from the San Manuel Mine, six miles north. A few sheds and old equipment remain at the site, next to a five-mile long smelter tailings pile. The company town of San Manuel lingers on too.