Clarkdale in Yavapai County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Rich in Minerals
Photographed by James Hulse, June 20, 2024
1. Rich in Minerals Marker
Just as minerals in the land sustained this prehistoric hilltop village, the copper beneath the earth provided the basis for founding modern towns nearby. Starting in the 1880s, prospectors began mining the valley's abundant copper supply, creating Clarkdale and the billion dollar town of Jerome, still visible on the mountain slope today.
In addition to bringing wealth to the area, the copper mining industry left marks on the land that are still visible. now. The landscape before you contains approximately five million tons (4.5 million metric tons) of mining waste, or tailings, spanning over 116 acres (46.9 hectares).
Shifting winds sometimes swirled the tailings into spectacular dust storms. To prevent wind and water erosion and return the land to a more natural appearance, the tailings were capped and revegetated in 2006.
Captions
The Verde Valley has been mined for minerals from ancient times to today. By May 1955, shifting winds swirled modern copper tailings into choking clouds of orange dust.
In 2006 the Phelps Dodge Corporation capped and revegetated the millions of tons of mining waste that had once billowed into damaging dust storms.
Erected by Tuzigoot
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1955.
Location. 34° 46.141′ N, 112° 1.624′ W. Marker is in Clarkdale, Arizona, in Yavapai County. It is on Tuzigoot Road east of Sycamore Canyon Road. The marker is located in the Tuzigoot National Monument along the hiking loop trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25 Tuzigoot Rd, Clarkdale AZ 86324, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Verde Valley and in the Yavapai-Apache Nation. It is also in the American Southwest and in the Mountain West. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Rocks, Rituals, and Resources (here, next to this marker); The Pueblo's Plaza (a few steps from this marker); Clues in Architecture
Photographed by James Hulse, June 20, 2024
2. The Rich in Minerals Marker is the right side marker of the two markers
More about this marker. The marker is located in the Tuzigoot National Monument along the hiking loop trail. There is a small entrance fee to visit the archeological ruins.
Also see . . . Tuzigoot Human History. Tuzigoot National Monument
The first people - The human history of the Verde Valley begins around ten thousand years ago, when the southwest was cooler and wetter than it is today. Paleolithic hunter-gatherers traveled through a greener, woodier Verde Valley, filled with pinyon pine, shrub live oak, and juniper. Today we know of their presence from a handful of Clovis points - distinctive stone points that were probably used with spears - that have been found in and near the valley. Clovis points(Submitted on July 4, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)are found all across North America and parts of South America, indicating that these ancient people traveled widely across the continents, probably following game animals, the growth of edible plants, and other resources.Photographed by James Hulse, June 20, 20243. The view of the markers along the hiking trail
Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 5, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
