facebook-pixel

Kennecott Bingham Canyon Mine: See four decades of growth from above

The mine produces thousands of tons of ore a year. Satellite photos show what that means for mine growth over almost 40 years.

(Trent Nelson  |  The Salt Lake Tribune) The Bingham Copper Mine on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Bingham Copper Mine on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.

In nearly four decades, Utah’s largest mine has grown — but by how much?

Though Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine produces thousands of tons of copper and molybdenum a year, satellite photos show it hasn’t grown out a lot.

[Read: The mining never stops, but Kennecott’s massive open pit grows — slowly]

Here’s an overhead view of the massive, mile-deep hole that produces thousands of tons of ore each year. These two images from Google Earth, taken in 1984 and 2022, show how that production affects the mine’s size.


Support free news for Utah

sltrib.com is now free to access — no subscription required. We made this decision because we believe access to trustworthy, independent news shouldn’t depend on what you can afford — especially as misinformation and AI-generated content continue to rise.

Free to read doesn’t mean free to produce. Our reporters show up every day to ask hard questions and hold powerful institutions to account. That work takes resources. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on support from people who believe it matters. Make a donation today to fund local news that serves Utah communities.

You can help us bring more local news to more communities today.