What led to the halting of operations at the Bingham Canyon Mine in 1985?
In 1985 open-pit mining operations were halted by Kennecott’s Utah Copper. In 1986, Kennecott discovered gold in nearby Barney’s Canyon.
What are some things that could be negatively affected by mining operations in the Bingham copper mine?
Mining activities have resulted in damage to fish and wildlife habitat, extensive water pollution, and public health and safety risks. The mine and its expansion plans are a threat to air quality as well.
How did the Bingham Canyon landslide happen?
The April 10, 2013, landslide at Bingham Canyon mine happened in the form of 2 rock avalanches 95 minutes apart. The second rock avalanche is orange in color, both from bedrock and from waste rock from mining. The slide produced enough debris to bury New York City’s Central Park 66 feet (20 meters) deep.
What does the Bingham Canyon Mine produce?
The Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the top producing copper mines in the world with production at more than 20 million tons. The Bingham Canyon Mine is the largest man-made excavation on Earth.
How does mining affect our health?
Long term effects include respiratory problems such as pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, and silicosis. In addition, miners and people living around areas where radioactive gases such as Radon are emitted can suffer from long term respiratory diseases such as lung cancer.
How does copper mining affect water?
A peer-reviewed study of the track record of water quality impacts from copper sulfide mines found severe impacts to drinking water aquifers, contamination of farmland, contamination and loss of fish and wildlife and their habitat, and risks to public health.
How many miners have died?
In 2020 there were five occupational fatalities in the U.S. coal mining industry, among 63,612 U.S. coal miners. In 1910, this figure was much higher, with 2,821 coal mining deaths reported in the U.S. that year.
Why should we stop mining?
Across the world, mining contributes to erosion, sinkholes, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, significant use of water resources, dammed rivers and ponded waters, wastewater disposal issues, acid mine drainage and contamination of soil, ground and surface water, all of which can lead to health issues in local …
What is the Bingham Canyon Mine?
The Bingham Canyon Mine is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, measuring over 4 kilometers wide and 1,200 meters deep. Mining first began in Bingham Canyon in the late nineteenth century, when shafts were sunk to remove gold, silver, and lead deposits that played out by the early 1900s.
What is the future of the Bingham Copper Mine?
Moving forward, there is another year of stripping planned for safety’s sake on the east side of the pit along with gradually increasing copper production. After this, Bingham will still have about 700 million tons of ore primarily hosted in and under the south wall of the pit.
Who owns Bingham Canyon copper?
However, during the post-1973 oil crisis shake-out, the company was acquired by British Petroleum, then sold on to Rio Tinto, which operates Bingham Canyon through its 100% subsidiary, Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. The mining operation employs approximately 1,900 people.
How many people lived in Bingham’s Canyon?
Bingham’s Canyon mine expanded rapidly, and by the 1920s the region was a beehive of activity. Some 15,000 people of widely varying ethnicity lived in the canyon, in large residential communities constructed on the steep canyon walls.