Beyond the Life of A Mine: The Complex Dynamics of Community Sustainability in Arizona's Legacy Mining Towns

Abstract

This dissertation is a case study that examines the community sustainability of Arizona’s Legacy Mining Towns (LMTs) of Clifton-Morenci and San Manuel. These towns, once thriving centers that symbolized the prosperity and pride of mining communities, have transitioned from their heydays and are now facing complex economic, environmental, and social decisions due to the materiality of mining. As the appeal of wealth has waned, the legacies and social ties of mining continue to impact the sustainability trajectory. Today, these LMTs are contemplating their future beyond the life of mining. This dissertation is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Clifton-Morenci and San Manuel between 2021 and 2022. The dissertation explores complex ties of mining and how that influences decisions that define the nature of mining communities’ sustainability.In this dissertation, I explore the complexities of pursuing community sustainability beyond what the communities perceive as ‘after the life of a mine.’ The dissertation illuminates the considerations essential for ensuring long-term sustainability in these communities by studying discourse and actions related to sustainable investments, trade-offs (as a relationship of power), and nostalgic attachment to the materiality of mining. Utilizing qualitative interviews as primary empirical evidence, the findings embody sustainability as a life beyond mining approach that drives decisions and social action. The perspectives of key actors and the voices of the people who call LMT home are amplified throughout the dissertation. Each narrative contributes to the collective vision for a future characterized by challenges and opportunities for economic diversification, environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and social well-being. The findings highlight the collective memories, present challenges, and future aspirations that inspire the development of strategies for community sustainability to navigate years of mineral-dependent livelihood and challenge the narratives about LMTs.