more Ajo

Ajo became a going concern in the early part of the last century when a huge mining operation began here. Though copper was the most important product, many other materials were extracted including gold, silver, molybdenum, etc. It's hard to give an idea of the scale of this mining operation. In this satellite image, the grayish section in the middle is the town of 3,000, the multicolored swirly circle below it is the actual pit mine, & the huge white area to the right is the area of the tailings/waste (actually a dried slurry). Next is a picture of the open pit (not a good angle, but the best possible). 

This is a side view of the actual mine from a distance. 

These are a closeup & a distant view of the white tailings. 

The original town of Ajo was a planned by the ming company, & they were fairly enlightened for the time, believing that providing a nice lifestyle for their workers benefitted the company as well. 

The desert around the town is quite beautiful. This cemetery in the nearby hills is a lovely spot. 

 

The border crossing into Mexico is about 35 miles south of Ajo (first pic), & reminders of it are everywhere. This sign is at a nearby boon-docking area, & insurance for your time in Mexico is sold in a dozen places from convenience stores to this old school bus. 

                                       

  

A local history museum is interesting. 

 

The Saturday market in the plaza has stalls selling many crafts & some food.

Signs of this place being a bit funky are everywhere. This mural at the north entrance to the town commemorates the 1972 sci-fi horror movie, The Night of the Lepus, which was filmed in Ajo; killer rabbits were key to the plot.  And this sign on the front of a house, "Entering Idaho Falls", somehow seems right at home here.