Pinto Valley (Nevada)

Pinto Valley is an open-pit copper mine located in Gila County, Arizona, though sometimes erroneously referred to as being in Nevada. The mine is operated by Pinto Valley Mining Corp., a subsidiary of Capstone Copper Corp. While the Pinto Valley operation is a significant copper producer, it is geographically situated in Arizona, not Nevada. Common misconceptions about the location likely arise from the corporate structure and operational management of the owning company. The primary ore mined is chalcopyrite, and the copper concentrate produced is shipped to smelters for processing into refined copper. Pinto Valley plays an important role in the regional economy of central Arizona.