Collection: Read more from the 'Mine Tales' series

Arizona has many historical mining properties that have produced gold, fluorspar, vanadium and uranium. These minerals have proven vital to ma…

Many of the mountain ranges near Tucson made significant contributions to Arizona mining history. These including the Sierrita, Silver Bell, Patagonia and Santa Rita Mountains.

From 1883 through the early 1970s the production history in the Turquoise Mining district included ore, copper, lead and zinc and turquoise.

The Sierrita Mine, southwest of Tucson, is currently the only internal U.S. source of rhenium, a metal used by the aerospace industry

Arizona is known to host 992 valid mineral types and no doubt more will be discovered in the future.

Here's how they played an important role in the geologic history of Arizona.

The Verde Mining District area attracted other mining ventures, including the development of the United Verde Extension Mine.

Mohave County is known as the second-highest gold producing county in Arizona, behind Yavapai County.

The purpose of these missions was to aid in the colonization and exploration of land to the financial benefit of the Spanish Empire.

The land that was to become Arizona territory in 1863 and a state in 1912 was, for centuries before, a destination for multiple Spanish explorations in search of gold, and also served as a prominent area for notable silver processing techniques — and stories of lost treasure.

Arizona’s mines and their history have contributed to the backdrop and premise of some remarkable films, from Hombre to Edge of Eternity.