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Sunset over Smith Valley residents.
Michael Plyler
The western edge of Smith Valley at sunrise, looking north off of Upper Colony Road.

Copper is essential to modern technology. But Smith Valley residents worry about a mine’s effect on their water

Copper is an essential ore for so many aspects of modern eco-friendly life, from solar panels to electric car batteries. But, it's environmentally challenging to mine, causing water table loss and degradation as drills reach thousands of feet below ground. This is precisely the concern of one Nevada community, which is grappling with the downstream consequences of a proposed copper mine.

Editor's note: This story's reporting was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

Copper is essential to modern technology. But community members in one small Nevada town are concerned about a proposed mine's effects on their water

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