Queen Mine Tour, Bisbee, AZ

We took a tour of the Queen Mine in Bisbee, AZ today. Bisbee was a huge source of copper along with other sundry minerals taken from the hard granite mountains in the area. They started with hard rock tunnel mines and after near the middle of the last century they converted to the open pit mining.

They made us dress for the tour with hard hats, slickers, and a light. The mine is about 47 degrees year round due to the availability of air coming through cracks and man made vents.
Don't we look cute!





Here we enter the tunnel on the train. We had to sit straddle of the center line and be very careful as the walls were quite close. Barbara was concerned going in as to whether her claustropbia would allow her to go in. She did just fine.

The mine has 120 miles of tunnels in it. It was one of the very first mines in the area and is owned by Phelps Dodge.






This view shows the train as we exited the mine. Looks like everyone was glad to get back to the surface!

This is the second entrance and it was made in 1915. The orginal entrance was higher up the mountain.