Arizona Abandoned Mine Lands Program

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Arizona oversees approximately 12.1 million acres of public land and 17.5 million subsurface acres across the state. These lands are managed under the principle of “multiple use,” which supports a balance of activities such as livestock grazing, recreation, wildlife habitat conservation, mineral development, and the protection of cultural resources.

Arizona’s mining history stretches back to the 1860s, marked by extensive mineral extraction, beneficiation, and smelting across the state’s diverse mining districts. While many early operations took place on patented lands, abandoned mine features are also common on public lands near historic mining areas.

Significant mineral deposits are distributed across the state:

• Southeastern and Eastern Arizona: Known for porphyry and vein deposits of copper, silver, molybdenum, gold, tungsten, lead, and zinc.
• Central Arizona: Characterized by vein and massive sulfide deposits including copper, lead, silver, gold, manganese, tungsten, and mercury.
• West-Central Arizona: Contains vein deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, uranium, and tungsten.
• Southwestern Arizona: Hosts placer and vein deposits of gold, silver, and manganese.
• Northern Arizona: Features breccia pipes and stratabound deposits of uranium, vanadium, manganese, and copper.

Arizona is estimated to contain hundreds of thousands of abandoned mine features, with tens of thousands located on public lands. BLM Arizona has documented over 13,000 features in its Abandoned Mine and Site Cleanup Module (AMSCM) database and continues to identify additional features annually through collaborative efforts with partner agencies.

Abandoned mine features may pose both physical safety and environmental hazards. Physical risks, such as open shafts, adits, unstable structures, and steep pits, are often mitigated through fencing, backfilling, or bat-compatible closures that protect both public safety and wildlife habitat. Environmental risks arise from tailings, process ponds, and residual chemicals left behind from historic mining operations. Tailings, derived from the original ore, often contain elevated concentrations of heavy metals due to the extraction process. On-site consolidation and capping help isolate these contaminants, reducing exposure and preventing their spread into soil and water. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance ensure long-term containment and protection of surrounding ecosystems.

BLM Arizona remains committed to safeguarding public lands by reducing hazards at abandoned mine sites and restoring affected areas for safe and sustainable use.