Lavender Pit: A Scar on the Land with a Colorful Past

The Lavender Pit, located near Bisbee, Arizona, is a testament to the region's rich mining history. The pit is named after Harrison M. Lavender, who, as Vice-President and General Manager of Phelps Dodge Corporation, spearheaded the plan to extract copper from the area's low-grade rock. Open from 1950 to 1974, the Lavender Pit produced over 600,000 tons of copper, significantly contributing to Bisbee's economy. The mining activity also yielded byproducts like gold, silver, and the highly sought-after Bisbee Blue turquoise. The pit's creation led to the relocation of communities like Jiggerville, Upper Lowell, and Johnson Addition, and the rerouting of Highway 80. Today, the Lavender Pit serves as a tourist attraction, offering visitors a chance to reflect on the scale of the mining operations and their impact on the environment. From the viewing platforms, one can observe the pit's vast dimensions and the colorful layers of rock, a visual representation of the area's geological history. Interpretive signage details the history of the pit, the mining processes, and the legacy of Harrison M. Lavender.