A whole mountain of copper is actually being moved away, the news reported. The copper mine tour kennecott salt lake city tours. Rio tinto kennecott copper mine has a new visitor center. Elliott 19121998 associate professor of history university of nevada 1956 table of contents chapter i discovery and early development of the copper district 2 chapter ii mining and transportation development in the copper camps to 1909 12 chapter iii the boom copper. Kennecott copper mine wrangellst elias national park and. The mine also swallowed a canyon and community bingham, continues to eat into the mountains, and has created a large plume of polluted groundwater beneath salt lake valley. Kennecott utah copper llc kuc, a division of rio tinto group, is a mining, smelting, and. See more ideas about small towns, utah and salt lake city. A kennecott story goodreads meet your next favorite book. Kennecott utah copper llc utah department of environmental. In 1925, a geologist predicted that the area would soon be mined out.
The visitor experience is dedicated to educating the public about the importance. Kennecott operates the bingham canyon mine, one of the largest openpit copper mines in the world in bingham canyon, salt lake county, utah. Finish your tour with a dramatic new 16minute video tour in their 90seat theater, their history, present day operations, and future. The operation is so immense, it can be seen from space.
Information on this site was converted from a hard cover book. This book recounts how kennecott was formed from the merger of three mining operations one in alaska, one in utah, and one in chile, how it led the way in mining technologies, and how it was in turn affected by the economy and politics of the day. It was in the 1930s that the hill was gone and mining work started to dig a pit. Kennecott copper railroad at bingham canyon open pit mine. New labor agreements were negotiated in 1986, and resumption of all kennecott utah copper operations occurred in 1987. The plumes were caused by historical mining practices in the kennecott.
Kennecotts bingham canyon mine has produced more copper than any mine in history 20 million tons since 1916. Bingham canyon open pit copper mine 2020 all you need to. Important in the formation of the copper industry in the late nineteenth century were enos a. The bingham canyon mine is an openpit copper mine in the oquirrh mountains to the west of salt lake city in utah in the united states. Having said that, i found the book to be oddly organized and fairly technical. As of december 2011, bingham open pit ore reserves were 835 mt with average grades 0. Kennecott landslide is one for the record books the. Located about 25 miles southwest of salt lake city, utah, the bingham canyon mine has operated for over a century and continues to produce copper, gold, silver and other. The visitor experience is dedicated to educating the public about the importance mining plays in modern life, safe mining practices. This book recounts how kennecott was formed from the merger of three mining operations one in alaska, one in utah, and one in chile, how it led the way in mining technologies, and how it was in.
I recently read a phenomenal book about the most innovative of early mining companies, titled a kennecott story. The expansion project, called cornerstone, included widening the bingham canyon pit to accommodate operations focused on the mining and processing of ore located on the southeast margin of the pit. This tour is full of incredible photo opportunities. Kennecots bingham canyon mine has produced more copper than any mine in history about 18. Kennecott utah copper news newspapers books scholar jstor july 20 learn how and when to remove this template message. Information on kennecott copper mine, the worlds largest excavation and openpit copper mine, located west of salt lake city, utah. By this time, the guggenheim exploration was already actively working copper mines in chile and utah. Its one of the largest open pit mines in the entire world, and its so large that its difficult to get a sense of its size in a photo. With over 20 million tons of refined copper ore produced in the past 116 years, its one of the top performing mines in. Kennecott copper corporation, at one time the largest producer of copper in the world, thus played a key role in economic and industrial development. This abandoned copper mining camp is a national historic landmark district. In 1936, kennecott copper corporation bought out the utah copper company.
The best kennecott copper mine bingham canyon mine tours. These dimensions make it the most extensive manmade excavation in the world. Kennecott became a bustling mining camp filled with miners and their families. The mine is 234 miles across at the top and 34 of a mile deep. Bingham canyon mine just might land in the record books. Kennecott copper corporation, at one time the largest producer of copper in the. Starting as a horsepacker on an army expedition, birch rose in 20 years to control 14 per cent of world copper production through his kennecott copper company, with mines in utah, nevada, arizona and chile, in addition to those in alaska.
Throughout the years, the manuscripts division has processed and arranged a variety of materials from it, resulting in a total of 677 cartons, boxes and tubes of accessible records detailing the history of the corporation, which are currently. Mining began in bingham canyon, utah, around 1863 with picks, dynamite, and. Establishment and growth of kennecott utah copper company 1908 present 32. See all 1 bingham canyon open pit copper mine tours on tripadvisor. In 2011 kennecott utah copper llc announced a proposal to expand the life of its bingham canyon mine located in the southwest salt lake county. As part of uprs chapter of the morning edition book club, we have. Salt lake city, utah our kennecott mine is a worldclass, integrated copper mining operation located just outside salt lake city, utah, in the united states. It is also, indirectly, a history of industrial development in the us during the 20th century, which is also very interesting. Three mines, four men, and one hundred years, 18971997, authored by alaskan. Salt lake citys urban growth and kennecott utah copper. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund.
Much of the historic mining legacy in alaska focuses on the search and development of gold. Discover how ore gets refined to become copper an essential element in todays technology. Jan 17, 2014 a small town at the top of bingham canyon, ut where my grandpa was born. It is two and a half miles wide and a threefourths mile deep. The kennecott copper mine has produced more copper than any other mine in the world18. They are at the rio tinto kennecott copper mine and show us why we need to take our families here for a visit.
The kennecott mines national historic landmark includes the land and mining claims that formed the foundation for the kennecott copper corporation, later the kennecott minerals company. Standard oil of ohio sohio in 1981 acquired kennecott, including the companys utah copper operations which had over 7,500 employees. A kennecott story ebook by charles caldwell hawley rakuten kobo. Coracurrent with the disoovery and activity of the klcaadike, within a 100mile radius fm the mver and its trhtaries there was a rush of prospectors to valdez in the spring of 1898. Kennecott mines national historic landmark wrangell st. Sightseeing bus tours of salt lake city attractions including temple square, utah copper mine, great salt lake, and tabernacle choir performances. The kennecott copper mine is located at the edge of the threequartermiledeep 1kilometerdeep pit mine, about 28 miles 45 kilometers southwest of salt lake city. Our metals are used to drive innovation and technology in all aspects of life. The history of kennecott is the history of mining in the 20th century and this book does an excellent job of conveying that. As it traces the story of the three mines, the narrative follows four mining. April 6, 2020the visitors center is currently closed. By the 2000s, the bingham canyon copper mine operated by kennecott utah copper had become the largest manmade hole or excavation on earth, approaching one mile in depth and three miles in width. Would you tell a friend to buy a ticket in advance because this place may sell out.
The mine is owned by rio tinto group, a britishaustralian multinational corporation. Founded in 1903, kennecotts bingham canyon mine is one of the largest manmade openpit excavations in the world. By the time the kennecott mines closed in 1938 the corporation had grown into one of the largest minerals companies in. Charles caldwell hawley, a kennecott storythree mines, four men and one hundred years 18971997. Learn about the history of this amazing mine and see firsthand the gigantic scale of its operation, vehicles, and artifacts. Digging into utah mining history through the kennecott. On memorial day we decided to have a new family adventure. Upon kennecotts creation, they merged their braden copper company property in chile, as well as 25 percent of the utah copper company, into kennecott. Thomas parry billings, history of the bingham mining district, written c. At rio tintos kennecott utah copper, we mine essential elements that make modern living possible.
S, govecrprent was in 1084 with an tion dir by the anrry under the curmnd of w. Hawley, who has studied alaska mining history for more than 50 years, traces the story of three signature copper mines. Kennecotts bingham canyon mine has produced more copper than any mine in historyabout 18. As pioneers in mining and metals, we produce materials essential for human progress. Kennecott copper corporation, at one time the largest producer of copper in the world. The kennecott copper corporation records were originally donated to the marriott library in the 1990s. Nov 12, 2018 chad and ria visit the 8th wonder of the world. The bingham canyon mine, more commonly known as kennecott copper mine among locals, is an openpit mining operation extracting a large porphyry copper deposit southwest of salt lake city, utah, in the oquirrh mountains. The kennecott utah copper mine, also known as the bingham canyon copper mine, is the largest and richest copper mine in history, with over 110 years of openpit mining. Aug 31, 2012 ghosts of kennecott, the story of stephen birch stephen birch was one of thousands who came north in 1898 seeking their fortunes. Geology of the bingham canyon porphyry cumoau deposit, utah. May 23, 2015 i recently read a phenomenal book about the most innovative of early mining companies, titled a kennecott story.
Utahs mining history in pictures part two upr utah public radio. The kennecott utah copper mine in bingham canyon is also the richest copper mine in history, producing gold and silver, too. The mine has been in production since 1906, and has resulted in the creation of a pit over 0. Rio tinto kennecott copper mine got its start in 1903, and its gotten bigger and deeper every year. Many ethnicities coexisted in this little mining town from the late 1800s until the mid 1950s. Its one of the largest open pit mines in the entire world, and. On this 75mile adventure, experience this engineering wonder of the world known to be the biggest excavation in history. Feb 24, 2016 video shots, taken in may, 1995, of railroad train activity in and around the worlds largest open pit strip mine of the kennecott copper co. Everyone was forced to move and the town was swallowed by the kennecott copper mine. Kennecott ceased removing copper ore by rail from the.
Reaping profits fueled by americas high demand for copper, kennecott copper corporation invested in mines in chile and the lower48. We recommend booking bingham canyon open pit copper mine tours ahead of time to secure your spot. History of nevada mines division kennecott copper corporation by russell r. Digging into utah mining history through the kennecott copper. Kennecott utah copper llc kuc, a division of rio tinto group, is a mining, smelting, and refining company. In 1985 operations ceased at the bingham canyon mine.
Video shots, taken in may, 1995, of railroad train activity in and around the worlds largest open pit strip mine of the kennecott copper co. Bingham canyon in utah, just southwest of salt lake city. Visit the kennecott utah copper mine salt lake city tours. Moores assessment is based on fact sheets kennecott utah copper. From medicine, food and shampoo, to cell phones, computers, cat scans and hybrid electric cars, nearly everything you use today relies on materials that we produce. Slc guided tours explore the kennecott copper mine, the worlds largest excavation and openpit copper mine. The mine is the largest manmade excavation in the world and is considered to have produced more copper than any other mine in history more than 19 million tons. The bingham canyon mine is operated by kennecott utah copper, a wholly owned subsidiary of rio tinto. The bingham copper mine aka kennecott copper mine in salt lake. Kennecott utah copperbingham canyon mine atlas obscura. This book recounts how kennecott was formed from the merger of three mining. The easiest way to get there is by driving or taking a guided day trip from utahs capital. The operational and environmental cleanup activities at kennecott utah copper llcs kennecott bingham canyon mine, copperton concentrator, smelter, refinery, tailings facility and the various ancillary facilities are regulated under a number of federal and state programs with authority to oversee the work pursued by kennecott and other third parties.
You could stack two sears towers now known as the willis building on top of each other and still not reach the top of the mine. Bingham canyon company says more than 165 million tons of rock tumbled to the mine. The copper operations at bingham canyon mine are managed through kennecott utah copper corporation which operates the mine, a concentrator plant, a smelter, and a refinery. In 1915, to dilute the cost of railroad construction to support the mines, and to find new ventures for the capital produced by the alaskan mine, kennecott copper corporation was incorporated from the various financial interests involved. This pollution is a problem that has not been solved. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the bingham canyon mine since 1903, and is even today one of the top producing mines in the world. Established in 1903, kennecott mining corporation operated 5 mines in the area. Jul 15, 2014 the history of kennecott is the history of mining in the 20th century and this book does an excellent job of conveying that. He found his high in the wrangell mountains of alaska. This book would be enjoyed by technical mining people, lovers of history. Willard marriott library 295 south 1500 east, suite 5400 salt lake city, utah 84112.