Visiting The World’s Deepest Open Pit Mine - Kennecott Copper Mine

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Only a stone's throw from Salt Lake City lies the world's deepest mine — Rio Tinto Kennecott. Hardworking miners have extracted copper, silver, gold, and other critical resources here for over a century.

Not only do they mine incredible amounts of ore here using shovels and trucks, but it's also America's only integrated copper mining operation. This means they start with rock and end with 99.9% pure copper, all in the same place!

If you use electricity, you use copper. It doesn't get more essential!

To learn more about the operation, check out the website linked below:

Aaron Witt

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Fun fact, they actually bought the town of Bingham right next to it, and completely covered the houses in waste ore. Another fun fact, they actually have no idea where a lot of the underground sections are from back in the day, so sometimes when they drill or blast they blow straight into an old shaft and send an rc car with a gps and camera into it to map the surrounding area. I’d say it’s definitely the coolest place I’ve ever worked haha

cadene

I work in the truck shop as a mechanic. You would be amazed at how this pit creates its own weather. This is the largest man made hole on earth. Its an amazing operation.

rossnielsen

I've been on that mine a number of times as a contractor working on their power grid. Awesome site to be on. Keep up the good work Aaron

stevenaune

Hey I work there!! so glad you made this video!

cadene

Absolutely stunning! I had no idea the world's largest open-pit mine was this massive. The perspective of the workers and machinery against the vastness of the mine is truly awe-inspiring. Great job capturing the essence of modern mining!

GIS-vtwx

Love the videos where you are visiting mines! Super fascinating and happy you’re showing the American mining machine!

zzINSANETYzz

I could have watched 3 hours on this mine. The thing most people dont know about copper is that most deposits are like less than 5% copper. So when you say copper ore, it makes you think its 30---70% copper, but no, its nowhere close to that.

davidanalyst

Another very educational video, Aaron. Keep up the great work. I could watch videos like this for hours. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!!

ProudPapaw

Ive lived near the mine all my life. It has undergone amazing technological advances over the years. A few decades ago it used to pollute the Salt lake valley pretty bad, so they built a massive smoke stack to try to lift the emissions above the valley. Now that behemoth of a smoke stack seems obsolete. Not only has the pollution been dropped to minuscule amounts, but they have also re-processed massive amounts of slag from the very old process and extracted more copper from it as well. Modern mining is impressive.

beestoe

Worked with Keiwit when they built that alignment for the conveyor and relocated that the coolest and most impressive job I've ever been on I LOVE THAT MINE!!!!

josephcooney

Interesting to see this mine again. When I was a kid, Kennecott used to sponsor “Kennecott Neighborhood Theater” on tv. Instead of regular commercials, the time slots would show operations at the mine or the smelter. Haven’t looked down into the mine since the 70s.

susansmart

My Husband and his Dad worked there. Amazing place!

mariabarragan

I love watching mining videos . My times in the pit were the most fun. Moving water around making sure trucks and shovel can keep going. 🙃

carlaromeroribeiro

Great video as always. Love your enthusiasm for large scale operations and machinery. It helps you're easy on the eyes. Thank you!

wanttogetupgoahead

Living in the Salt Lake Valley for 50+ years, I've seen a mountain being turned inside out over that time.
The mine dominates the south end of the valley. The processing facilities dominate the west edge . The smoke stack there is the tallest structure in the state.

russward