Overview

Hype:

The Bingham Canyon Mine, more commonly known as Kennecott Copper Mine among locals, is an open-pit mining operation extracting a large porphyry copper deposit southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah. The mine is the largest man-made excavation in the world and is considered to have produced more copper than any other mine in history – more than 19 million tonnes. The mine has been in production since 1906 and has resulted in the creation of a pit over 0.6 miles deep, 2.5 miles wide, and covering 1,900 acres. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 under the name Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine. From the overlook, you can watch 240 and 320 ton capacity haulage trucks deliver copper ore to the in-pit crusher, where the material is reduced to the size of soccer balls before being loaded onto a five-mile conveyor that carries the ore to the Copperton Concentrator. Inside the Visitors Center, you can take part in interactive displays and exhibits - including 3-D microscopes to examine rock and mineral samples, and displays showing how copper is used in your everyday life. You will also see exhibits ranging from old mining artifacts and model trucks to modern-day operations and environmental engineering as well as three-dimensional models that provide an educational and entertaining experience for people of all ages. Finish your tour with a 16-minute video tour in their 90-seat theater, which explains their history, present day operations, and future.

Time:

Fees: Parking

Recommended Ages:

0-3
4-11
12-19
20-49
50-69
70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Features:
  • Mining
  • Road Access is Paved
  • Viewpoint, Overlooks, Vistas
  • Access Road is 2WD Accessible
  • National Historic Landmarks
  • National Register of Historic Places

Links: www.kennecott.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingham_Canyon_Mine

Getting There

Navigate to 40.540123, -112.147618.

Location

Closest City or Region: Salt Lake City, Utah

Coordinates: 40.540123, -112.147618

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July 1, 1992 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Greg Dye, Laura Dye, Jeremy Dye, Anthony Dye, Ondylyn Wagner, Leah White,

Story

We took a day trip to the Bingham Canyon Mine. We were impressed by the huge tires on diplay and found it hard to believe that the trucks down in the mine were really that big.

Pictures