Twin Buttes emerged in 1903 following a copper discovery by John Baxter and associates, growing to about 300 residents with essential mining infrastructure. You’ll find it nestled in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, where operations continued under various owners until Anaconda’s acquisition in 1963. Despite technological advancements, the mine closed permanently in 1994 after resources depleted. Today’s ghost town reveals fascinating remnants of Arizona’s copper mining heritage and environmental challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Twin Buttes emerged as a mining town around 1903 following copper discovery and grew to about 300 residents.
- The town developed infrastructure including a bunkhouse, assay office, company store, and post office by 1906.
- Anaconda acquired the property in 1963, implementing large-scale mining despite declining population, creating a “living ghost town.”
- Mining operations permanently closed in 1985 due to depleted reserves, with official abandonment in 1994.
- The site left significant environmental contamination including arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium, and zinc in soil and water.
The Founding and Early Years of Twin Buttes (1905-1920)
Nestled in the copper-rich landscapes of Pima County, Arizona, Twin Buttes emerged around 1903 as a manifestation of the mining ambitions that shaped the American Southwest. The settlement, named for two distinctive hills nearby, was born after “The Three Nations” prospectors—John G. Baxter, Michael Irish, and John Ellis—discovered valuable copper deposits in the area.
Following the formation of the Twin Buttes Mining & Smelting Company, early settlers rapidly transformed the site into a bustling community of approximately 300 residents. Community dynamics revolved around the mining operations, with infrastructure quickly developing to include a bunkhouse, assay office, company store, and eventually a post office established in 1906. Despite its initial prosperity, Twin Buttes would eventually be buried under mine expansion, leaving only the cemetery as evidence of its existence.
The Twin Buttes Railway, completed that same year, became the settlement’s lifeline for transporting ore and supplies. The extracted ore was regularly shipped to Sasco for further processing, contributing to the region’s economic development.
Mining Operations and Mineral Wealth
The copper deposits that had drawn settlers to Twin Buttes in the early 1900s would prove to be far more extensive than initially imagined.
What began as small mines in the 1880s evolved into one of the world’s great copper mining centers, with ownership passing through multiple companies before Anaconda acquired the property in 1963.
The area’s mineral wealth was staggering—183,416,000 metric tons of ore extracted between 1969-1992, including significant amounts of molybdenum and uranium oxide.
Mining techniques evolved dramatically, with Anaconda implementing the largest preproduction stripping program in mining history from 1965-1969, removing 266 million tons of overburden.
The mine’s primary commodities included copper sulfide and copper oxide, along with secondary valuable minerals such as lead and silver.
Their mineral extraction process relied heavily on conveyors to transport materials from the open pit, with milling capacity reaching 14,789,000 metric tons annually by 1982.
The mineral composition consisted predominantly of chalcopyrite with scattered mineralization throughout the quartz monzonite porphyry.
Life in a Copper Boom Town
While copper extraction defined Twin Buttes’ economic foundation, daily life in this Arizona boomtown reflected the complex social tapestry woven by approximately 300 residents during its early 1900s peak.
The town exhibited distinctive community dynamics, with miners and their families forming the core population alongside merchants and railroad workers who supported the copper industry.
Transient lifestyles characterized much of Twin Buttes’ existence, with workers cycling through following employment opportunities. Daily life centered around mining shifts, with social gatherings at saloons and general stores offering respite from harsh working conditions. The community forged strong bonds through shared sacrifices despite difficult circumstances.
Basic infrastructure included simple housing, a post office, and essential rail connections completed by 1906, but residents faced significant challenges including limited healthcare, rudimentary sanitation, and the constant economic uncertainty tied to copper prices.
This precarious existence shaped the community’s resilience amid boom-and-bust cycles. Company records reveal that workers could purchase necessities at the Twin Buttes company store, which operated between 1905 and 1912 as documented in Series III of the collection.
The Anaconda Company’s Legacy in Twin Buttes
You’ll find Anaconda Company‘s impact on Twin Buttes began dramatically in 1963 when they acquired the property from Banner Mining and immediately launched one of history’s largest preproduction stripping operations, removing 266 million tons of overburden from 1965 to 1969.
The company’s environmental footprint included repurposing waste rock for tailings dam construction while developing complex conveyor systems for transporting different ore types for processing. This development occurred during a period when the company was still recovering from the devastating copper price collapse during the Great Depression years. Under the leadership of Vincent Perry, Anaconda was able to increase its copper production capacity significantly, eventually reaching one million tons per year in the early 1970s.
Mining Operational Timeline
Mining operations at Twin Buttes underwent a dramatic transformation in the mid-20th century, evolving from small-scale ventures to a sophisticated industrial enterprise under corporate leadership.
When Anaconda acquired the property in 1963, they implemented revolutionary mining technology advancements, including conveyor belt systems and in-pit crushers that efficiently handled massive volumes of material.
Production officially commenced in 1969 after four years of intensive preproduction stripping that removed 266 million tons of overburden. The operation faced similar financial challenges as Anaconda’s other mining properties during the copper price crisis of the early 1970s. The operation’s corporate strategies focused on separating sulfide and oxide ores for specialized processing.
By 1977, Twin Buttes reached peak production with 68.7 million pounds of copper cathode produced, coinciding with Anaconda’s sale to ARCO for $700 million, marking a significant change in ownership during peak production years.
Despite declining ore grades requiring operational adaptations, mining continued until approximately 1994, marking three decades of significant copper production.
Environmental Impact Assessment
The substantial copper production at Twin Buttes carried an equally significant environmental cost that extends well beyond the mine’s operational timeline.
The site’s legacy includes soil, groundwater, and surface water contamination from high concentrations of arsenic, lead, copper, cadmium, and zinc—typical of pre-modern environmental regulations.
Like its Montana counterpart at Anaconda, Twin Buttes operated at marginal profitability before closure, leaving behind considerable environmental liabilities.
Primary contamination sources included tailings, runoff from extraction sites, and processing operations. These hazardous materials create potential health threats through direct contact, ingestion, or inhalation.
While ARCO and BP have spent millions on remediation at similar sites, Twin Buttes represents part of a broader pattern where mining operations closed when financially unsustainable, leaving communities to contend with their environmental aftermath.
Geological Features and Ore Formation
Located on the eastern flank of the Sierrita Mountains within Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, Twin Buttes sits within a complex geological framework that proved ideal for significant mineral formation.
The ore genesis occurred as quartz monzonite porphyry intrusions contacted Paleozoic limestone, creating extensive mineral alteration that transformed the host rocks into skarn deposits rich in copper and molybdenum minerals.
You’ll find the richest mineralization within silicated and garnetized limestone, where chalcocite, brochantite, and molybdenite formed as disseminations and fracture fillings.
The deposit’s structure reflects the region’s complex tectonic history, with folded sedimentary sequences and multiple fault systems that channeled mineralizing fluids.
A supergene enrichment zone approximately 200 feet thick developed near the surface, while the primary sulfide ore body extends between 400-800 feet below ground.
The Slow Decline and Abandonment (1930-1985)
When you visit Twin Buttes today, you’ll find the remnants of a community that gradually faded after the local post office closed in 1934, marking the formal dissolution of the once-thriving mining settlement.
Though several companies attempted to revive operations between 1930-1970, these efforts remained sporadic and ultimately unsustainable as evidenced by the Twin Buttes Mining and Smelting Company’s intermittent production records.
The final chapter of industrial activity occurred under the management of Anaconda Copper Company in the early 1980s, which processed millions of tons of ore annually until permanent closure in 1985 due to depleted reserves and changing economic conditions.
Post Office Closure Impact
Why did the closure of Twin Buttes’ post office mark such a decisive turning point in the town’s decline? When the postal service abandoned Twin Buttes—likely before or around 1985—it severed a critical lifeline to the outside world.
This closure wasn’t merely about mail; it represented the dissolution of the town’s commercial and social foundation.
- Post office served as the community’s communication hub and gathering place
- Closure forced residents to travel to distant towns for essential services
- Loss accelerated population exodus and deepened community isolation
- Reflected broader Arizona rural postal consolidation trends (1930-1985)
- Symbolized government withdrawal from maintaining rural infrastructure
Without postal service, Twin Buttes lost its administrative legitimacy and practical functionality.
You’d have witnessed increasing hardship for remaining residents who suddenly found themselves cut off from commerce, correspondence, and connection—hastening the town’s transformation into the ghost town you see today.
Intermittent Mining Operations
Despite the town’s population decline, Twin Buttes’ mining operations persisted through remarkably stubborn cycles of activity from 1930 to 1985, creating a paradoxical existence as a “living ghost town.”
You’d have observed a complex operational pattern where substantial mineral extraction continued even as the community itself hollowed out.
The intermittent operations reflected market volatility, with ownership changing hands between Bush-Baxter, Glance Mining, and others attempting to sustain profitability.
Mining challenges intensified as workers extracted deeper, lower-grade ore bodies while maintaining aging equipment.
Throughout this period, millions of metric tons of both sulfide and oxide ores were processed, with molybdenum recovery added to diversify production.
Final Corporate Transitions
The final corporate shifts of Twin Buttes marked a prolonged death spiral rather than a sudden collapse.
After Twin Buttes Mining and Smelting Company’s prime years ended in 1927, a series of corporate consolidations reflected the mining industry’s growing financial instability.
- Bush-Baxter and Glance Mining attempted to revive operations with limited success.
- San Xavier Extension and Midland Copper companies managed increasingly unprofitable ventures.
- By the 1950s, major corporate interests abandoned Twin Buttes for richer deposits elsewhere.
- Declining ore quality and Depression-era economics prevented sustainable operations.
- Final production relied on stockpiled ore, with no new extraction after 1984.
You’ll find the corporate records spanning 1903-1969, though substantive operations had ceased long before the mine’s official closure in 1994, following decades of gradual abandonment.
Indigenous History and Archaeological Significance
Long before miners and settlers arrived in what would become Twin Buttes, Indigenous peoples had established deep connections to this landscape spanning thousands of years.
Walking the ranch today, you’ll encounter numerous ruins—dwelling remnants, ceremonial sites, and artifact scatters that testify to sustained human presence.
Archaeological surveys have uncovered pottery shards, stone tools, and petroglyphs, revealing complex societies that hunted, gathered, and even practiced agriculture here.
The twin buttes themselves served as sacred landmarks in Native traditions and oral histories.
The 1874 appeasement of hostilities marked a turning point when mining expansion increasingly displaced Indigenous groups.
Despite this troubled history, cultural preservation efforts continue, with Indigenous communities actively participating in protecting these sites of profound archaeological significance.
Visiting the Ghost Town Today: What Remains
Unlike many preserved ghost towns across Arizona, virtually nothing remains of Twin Buttes today. The once-thriving mining community now lies buried beneath massive tailings piles, with the Twin Buttes Cemetery standing as the sole surviving monument to the town’s existence.
You’ll find no structures, foundations, or other visible evidence of human habitation at the original townsite.
- The cemetery contains weathered grave markers dating to the early 20th century, deserving cemetery conservation efforts
- Access requires navigation of rough, unpaved roads through private property
- Visitor safety concerns include unstable ground and potential hazards from mine tailings
- No facilities, amenities, or interpretive signage exist on site
- You must secure permission before visiting to avoid trespassing on active mining operations
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Was the Post Office Discontinued in 1930?
Your post office history ended due to economic decline when copper mining operations diminished. You’ll notice the dwindling population left insufficient demand for postal services as residents relocated for work opportunities.
What Environmental Impacts Did the Mining Operations Cause?
With groundwater levels declining considerably, you’d witness extensive environmental degradation from Twin Buttes mining operations—water contamination with heavy metals, soil pollution from tailings, dust emissions exceeding air quality standards, and devastating biodiversity loss.
Were There Any Notable Accidents or Disasters in Twin Buttes?
You won’t find documented mining accidents or disasters in historical records for Twin Buttes. Despite rumors of ghost sightings circulating among paranormal enthusiasts, evidence shows the town declined gradually through economic factors.
What Happened to the Residents After the Town Was Abandoned?
When the chips were down, you’d have witnessed residents’ relocation to nearby towns like Tucson and Sahuarita. Economic challenges forced families to seek employment elsewhere after mining operations ceased in the 1920s.
Are There Preservation Efforts to Protect Twin Buttes’ Remaining Structures?
No, there aren’t any significant preservation efforts for Twin Buttes. Its historical significance remains unprotected due to preservation challenges including private mining ownership, burial under tailings, and lack of government protection.
References
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Twin_Buttes
- https://www.mindat.org/loc-3376.html
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/twinbuttes.html
- http://superstitionmountaintomkollenborn.blogspot.com/2014/08/trip-to-twin-buttes.html
- https://www.santacruzvalleyhistory.org/digital-archive/photographs/twin-buttes
- https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/wyoming/twin-buttes-wsa
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ghost_towns_in_Arizona
- https://www.biblio.com/book/map-twin-buttes-railway-arizona-territory/d/1405148339
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_Buttes
- https://www.jstor.org/stable/41700701
