Editing Utah (section)

===Mining===

[[File:BinghamCanyon.jpg|thumb|Mining has been a large industry in Utah since it was first settled. The [[Bingham Canyon Mine]] in Salt Lake County is one of the largest open pit mines in the world.]]

Beginning in the late 19th century with the state's mining boom (including the [[Bingham Canyon Mine]], among the world's largest open pit mines), companies attracted large numbers of [[immigrants]] with job opportunities. Since the days of the Utah Territory mining has played a major role in Utah's economy. Historical mining towns include [[Mercur, Utah|Mercur]] in Tooele County, [[Silver Reef, Utah|Silver Reef]] in Washington County, [[Eureka, Utah|Eureka]] in Juab County, [[Park City, Utah|Park City]] in Summit County and numerous coal mining camps throughout Carbon County such as Castle Gate, Spring Canyon, and Hiawatha.<ref name="Highlights">Utah Department of Community and Culture, Mining Heritage Alliance, [http://history.utah.gov/mining_heritage_alliance/highlights.html Highlights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117095118/http://history.utah.gov/mining_heritage_alliance/highlights.html |date=January 17, 2013 }} http://finance.utah.gov/highlights.html        as found at Utah.gov http://finance.utah.gov/highlights.html </ref>

These settlements were characteristic of the boom and bust cycle that dominated mining towns of the American West. Park City, Utah, and Alta, Utah were boom towns in the early twentieth century. Rich silver mines in the mountains adjacent to the towns led to many people flocking to the towns in search of wealth. During the early part of the [[Cold War]] era, uranium was mined in eastern Utah. Today mining activity still plays a major role in the state's economy. Minerals mined in Utah include copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, zinc, lead, and beryllium. Fossil fuels including coal, petroleum, and natural gas continue to play a large role in Utah's economy, especially in the eastern part of the state in counties such as Carbon, Emery, Grand, and Uintah.<ref name="Highlights"/>