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Explore The Largest Open-Pit Mine In The World, Over 1,200 Meters Deep And 4 Km Wide, Essential For Copper And Other Precious Metal Mining
There are many mines around the world, but few compare to Bingham Canyon, located in Utah, United States. Mining remains a crucial activity for numerous sectors, and it is important to remember the minerals, metals, and ancient elements that continue to be vital for modern technology. One example is copper, the star of one of the most impressive mines on the planet, which is also a source of other metals. And Bingham Canyon is a gigantic open-pit mine.
120 Years Of Copper Mining
In the mid-19th century, brothers Sandford and Thomas Bingham discovered copper while tending to cattle grazing in the area. They informed their superiors, but metal exploration was not a priority at the time, as the main goal was to ensure the survival and establishment of the local community.
A few years later, the organization of different miners in Utah began to see potential in the canyon, and after a few years in which two companies explored the mine independently through tunnels, they merged to create the Kennecott Copper Corporation. In 1903, they decided to use open-pit mining techniques, and since then, they have been extracting resources intensely.
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A Vastness
It is interesting to note that the mine is very close to Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah. This is curious because an open-pit mine is a huge source of pollution. However, the operators decided it would be worth using this technique due to the fact that the deposits of minerals and useful rocks are relatively close to the surface. The result is giant craters, and Bingham Canyon is one of the largest.
Since 1903, the mine has transformed into a pit over 1,200 meters deep, four kilometers wide, and a total of 7.7 square kilometers. It is one of the largest artificial excavations in the world, visible from a space shuttle and employs over 2,400 workers.
Abundant Reserves
We talk about copper, but in fact, the mine produces copper, gold, silver, tellurium, and molybdenum. According to Rio Tinto, the major mining conglomerate that absorbed Kennecott Copper, production in 2023 was over 108,000 tons of refined copper. These impressive numbers can be explained by the fact that the mine operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The year 2021 was a record, with nearly 160,000 tons of copper, 7,600 tons of molybdenum, 2.22 million ounces of silver, and 139,500 ounces of gold. Historically, the mine has produced 19 million tons of copper, more than any other mine in history. As of December 2021, the estimated reserves were 2.11 million tons of copper, 28.54 million ounces of silver, 2.09 million ounces of gold, and there is an expectation of another 20 million tons of underground mineral resources.
Powerful Machinery
This enormous production is achieved with equipment to match. They have several electric shovels, such as the Caterpillar 7495, capable of gathering about 120 tons at once (the weight of approximately 60 cars). This equipment costs over 20 million dollars and can weigh up to hundreds of tons, depending on the model and configuration. Additionally, there are 80 giant trucks, like the Caterpillar 797F, capable of transporting 400 tons per trip. Drillers such as the Atlas Copco Pit Viper 351 create holes in the ground that are filled with 540 kilos of explosives daily to continue expanding the mine.
This is one of the problems of open-pit mining, as it generates a large amount of dust, but Rio Tinto claims to have a device that allows capturing fine particles with a system called ‘bag house’, similar to a giant vacuum cleaner.
The Mining Process
With this machinery, Bingham Canyon extracts 150,000 tons of copper ore and 330,000 tons of overburden material per day. This material is transported by a conveyor belt about eight kilometers long until it is stored at the Copperton Concentrator. There, the rock is ground to obtain fine particles that are combined with air, water, and certain reagents to separate the minerals.
Through a pipeline, these minerals are transported to the smelter, where they are converted into liquid, and this liquid proceeds to the refinery. For 10 days, the copper plates are immersed in electrolytic cells with an acid solution and a stainless steel plate. With the application of an electric current, copper ions migrate to the steel sheet and impurities (including gold and silver) settle at the bottom of a cell. Later, both will be recovered at a precious metal processing plant. In this way, a copper plate with 99.99% purity is formed.
Challenges And Controversies
Currently, Kennecott claims to have one of the lowest carbon footprints among copper producers in the United States and is transitioning to renewable energy sources, which has allowed them to save one million tons of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. Like other companies, they are committed to being carbon neutral by 2050 with these practices and the acquisition of electric vehicles. These trucks may be vital for the mines in the short term.
However, the story of the mine is not a fairy tale. The EPA considers that there is a contaminated underground water column of about 190 square kilometers due to multiple spills from the mine, with very negative effects on the growing local population. The company has been accused of releasing hazardous substances into the environment, contaminating resources that sustain populations of birds or fish, and criticized for opacity in issuing reports about what would happen if a major earthquake collapsed the mine’s structure.
Tourist Attraction
But, beyond all this, Bingham Canyon is an attraction. It is possible to organize school visits, but also private ones, at a price of six dollars each (except for children under five, who enter for free). The company claims that all proceeds are donated to its own foundation, but while it is not the same, it is also possible to take the virtual tour from home.
Additionally, after a massive investment of 1.5 billion dollars, Rio Tinto will be able to expand the southern zone of the mine, which will help achieve a production of one million tons of refined copper between 2026 and 2032.
Eles vão tirando cada vês mais , um
Dia o planeta não vai ter mais nada a oferecer..
Grande coisa ter é não usar adianta o que aqui no Brasil. Que esses mimizento fica com essas tolice..
No brasil todas os exploradores de minérios são estrangeiros e levam mais de 100% das riquezas do país.
Se deixar embaixo na terra nao vale nada. E desde quando o estado pode investir em mineracao tipo estatal super efuciente kkkkk. No mais deveriam fechar tudo e voltar a vivermos em cavernas e ocas. E morrer aos 30 anos e deu.
Fernando f. B.