Mining is a huge industry worldwide, but we usually are unaware of the sheer scale of what it takes to run one of these operations since it usually takes place in more remote areas that are not visible for most people. But now, we get to see he scale of one of these sights in incredible detail, as the Bingham Canyon Mine, located in Salt Lake City, Utah, stretches for more than 95,000 acres and is visible from space.
This mine, known as the “richest hole on Earth,” measures about 2.5 miles across and nearly three-quarters of a mile deep. In 2021 alone, it yielded over 159,000 tons of copper, 139,500 ounces of gold and 2.22 million ounces of silver. It is the biggest man-made excavation on the planet and it is a crucial player in both the local and global economy, as on top of precious metals, it is full of essential elements like molybdenum and tellurium, both of which are critical to modern electronics and clean energy tech.
The Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah, one of the most incredible sites on Earth
While most mining operations nowadays are quite small and mostly run with machinery, this site employs more than 2,000 workers along with all the cutting-edge equipment that is now used to extract the different materials from the earth. The mine is operated by Rio Tinto under the name Kennecott and features the latest technology in drills, precision blasting systems, and dump trucks that can haul over 200 tons in one trip.
Despite all the help from machines, mining continues to be an extremely physical job, and there are plenty of tasks that still require traditional methods and expertise.
This mine also has a strange quirk, although we are not talking anything supernatural. It is strangely luminescent, which no scientists have been able to explain. There are some theories, for example a consistent presence of chalcopyrite, a mineral rich in copper, has been found, and this classifies the site as a copper porphyry orebody, which can give a glow, but the theory is not definite and has not been entirely proven.
Although the strangest thing of all might be the fact that there is still an abundance of minerals in the mine. Studies have shown that reserves include over 2 million tons of copper, 2 million ounces of gold, and more than 28 million ounces of silver, and that is only what can be accessed now, even deeper underground about 20 million more tons of material exist, containing impressively high concentrations of copper and gold.
As with most mines, the biggest problem is the environmental impact that depleting it of its contents has. The mining process demands enormous amounts of water and energy, which as of now are finite resources, but given its profitability and vast resources it continues to be a vital part of Utah’s economy and a key supplier of materials needed for industries worldwide and we do not see this stopping anytime soon.
For now, the plans are to keep this mine in operation until at least 2032 regardless of the long term impact that it will cause to the area. In fact, the mine is expanding, as Bingham Canyon keeps exploring new zones, especially along the North Wall, adjusting the site’s boundaries to tap into more resources that can make them even more money.
The materials extracted from the mine are shipped worldwide, and the constant push and pull between the economy and the environmental impact that happens when we extract these materials is as strong as ever. While a natural disaster is not anticipated just yet, it leaves many wondering if by the time the mine shuts down (whether because it is empty or because it is forced to because of the impact) the damage will be too large to even comprehend, just like the scale of the mine.