. What was The Importance of Mining in the Southwest?

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Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma comprises the Southwest United States. The regions of California, Colorado, and Nevada are also sometimes considered part of the Southwest. Colorado Plateau, Basin, and Range; Rocky Mountains; and the Great Plains are known for their metallic and non-metallic minerals. The region is the chief contributor to mineral production in the United States. The dry environment is suitable for the extraction of minerals as it is relatively easy to reach the bedrock.