A "5-C" Kind of Day

AZ is known as the 5 C state for its 

Cotton, Citrus, Cattle, Climate & Copper

and I think they missed another "Cloud Formations"

Anxious to escape our confinement (as most of you
are also experiencing as a result of Covid-19),

Don and I climbed into our Honda CRV 

for a colorful drive east on Hwy 60

 and then South on Hwy 177.  

The clouds continued to cooperate as we headed towards
the Ray Copper Mine.

FYI, the mine consists of a 250,000 ton/day 

open pit mine with a 30,000 ton/day concentrator, 

a 103 million pound/year solvent extraction-electrowinning

operation, and associated maintenance, 

warehouse and administrative facilities. Cathode copper

 produced is shipped to outside customers and 

the Asarco Amarillo Copper Refinery.

People have been digging for precious metals

 in Arizona for a long time. 

The copper color was enhanced by cloudy skies
and the color green.

And the color of the tailing piles could
definitely be an inspiration for a quilt. 

By 1863, nearly a quarter of Arizonans were mining

 for metals. Obviously, copper ore is still mined in 

the state today.  

Native Americans

 used gold, silver and copper for tools,

 weapons, jewelry, and painting pottery. 

And, they aren't the only ones...
My friend Nancy Finn of CA created
this stunning coiled copper necklace
for me to wear at my Grandson's wedding.

It was definitely a copper colored day...