More than 380 workers are being laid off in northern Arizona as the Mineral Park copper mine near Kingman prepares to suspend operations.
Company officials say the layoffs will be phased in over the next eight weeks.
"For Mohave county, that is a very significant number of families that are going to be impacted," said Jen Miles, Mohave County Workforce Development manager. "And while it's early to know the long-term impact, we know that the immediate impact is going to be very sizable."
In a letter announcing the move to employees, Human Resources Manager Steve Lawson said while the company would have preferred to provide more notice of the closing, “unforeseeable business circumstances” prevented that from happening.
Mineral Park filed for bankruptcy in August. The company had attempted to sell the mine but that effort fell through.