Mining in New Mexico
Long before New Mexico became part of the United States, mining played an important role in the economy of the territory. This mineral-rich land drew the Spanish into the area in the 1600s. Large-scale mining did not begin until the rail lines led into the canyons in the late 1800s and later. Then miners set up tents, and soon many others flocked to the area. In this way, mining helped settle the state. New Mexico is rich in copper, silver, and gold. It also has large deposits of coal, crude oil, and natural gas. Though few people got rich from mining these resources, many found jobs. By the end of the 17th century, New Mexico had become one of the leading states in mineral production. By the middle of the 20th century, it was a leading producer of fuel.
Copper Mining
Around 1800, the Apache people led the Spaniards to copper deposits in Santa Rita. The Santa Rita mine is the oldest copper mine in North America. Shortly after the Spaniards learned of the copper, they opened the mine and began producing. Soon they were shipping copper to Mexico to be used for coins.
During a large part of the 19th century, the copper mining industry dwindled. Miners in New Mexico had turned their sight to gold and silver. Then, at the turn of the 20th century, copper took the spotlight again. New techniques were developed to process the copper and the industry soared. After 1912, New Mexico became a top copper producer.
Silver and Gold Mining
Gold and silver mining caught the interest of prospectors in 1828 when gold was discovered in the Ortiz Mountains south of Santa Fe. As many as 3,000 miners flocked to the area, and over the next few decades many more came. New Mexico had a gold rush 20 years before California. For a time after that, mining in the territory declined. It came back after New Mexico joined the United States. In the next few decades, more deposits were discovered. This sparked a new wave of settlers to New Mexico. Miners came for the silver and gold and the population grew rapidly.
The discovery of silver in the Black Range Mountains in 1881 brought many more miners to New Mexico. So did the discovery of gold in the Jicarilla Mountains. The silver miners established Chloride, a small settlement in the canyon that soon had 3,000 residents. The gold miners built the town of White Oaks.
The population of Chloride peaked in 1883. The town had nine saloons, two general stores, butcher shops, boarding houses, a hotel, and a variety of other businesses. Other mining towns grew and became equally prosperous. Chloride declined swiftly after the silver standard was replaced with the gold standard in 1896. White Oaks then grew from a small tent city to a booming gold town.
Coal Mining
As the railroads extended west, settlers needed more than metals. They had to travel to the Pacific Coast. They had to build towns, Coal fueled the trains. It also fueled the growing industries. In the 1880s, coal mining in New Mexico brought in a huge arrival of settlers. The first mines opened in Raton, which continued to produce the largest amounts. Soon other coal mines opened, and New Mexico became a population of coal miners. Coal helped build the nation's economy It supported the development of industry and the settlement of the West.
Mining in New Mexico Today
Mining in New Mexico changed in the 20th century as Americans began using oil and gas. New Mexico has deposits of petroleum. By the 1920s, people came to mine petroleum. New Mexico soon became one of the top oil-producing states in the country. New Mexico is still a mining state today, but the mining is focused on the production of fuel.
After reading answer the question, Explain how mining affected the population of New Mexico.
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