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Top 10 Largest Open Pit Mines in the World II

5. Diavik Diamond Mine


The  Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada is one of the largest open pit mines in the world. Built in 2003, the diamond mine measures roughly seven kilometers wide and produces roughly eight million carats a year. The mine, which is situated on an island in the middle of Lac de Gras in the Northwest Territories of Canada, is an unincorporated joint venture between Rio Tinto and Dominion Diamond Diavik Limited.

4. Kimberly Diamond Mine

Often referred to as “The Big Hole,” the De Beers-owned Kimberly Diamond Mine in South Africa is the largest open-pit mine excavated by hand. The perimeter of the mine is 1.6 kilometers and it plunges over 200 meters deep. Although the mine has been closed down since 1914, the gargantuan hole continues to attract visitors from around the world and is currently in progress to become registered as a World Heritage Site.

3. Kalgoorlie Super Pit

Bigger is always better in the mining industry, and the Super Pit gold mine in Australia is as big as it gets. The canyon-size hole – which is visible from space! – measures roughly 3.8 kilometers long, 1.5 kilometers wide and approximately 600 meters deep! It’s the largest open-pit mine in Australia and makes our list at number three in the world. Also known as “The Fimiston Open Pit,” the gold mine is owned and operated by Kalgoorlie Consolidted Gold Mines (KCGM), a company owned 50/50 by Barrick Gold and Newmont Mining.

2. Mir Diamond Mine

The Mir Diamond Mine in Eastern Siberia, Russia is a former open-pit mining operation that took place from 1957 until 2001. Popularly known as the “Mirny Mine,” the site produced 10 million carats of diamonds annually during its peak years of operations. Now closed, the mine is still the largest excavated hole in the world—stretching 1,200 meters in diameter and reaching depths of 525 meters.

1. Bingham Canyon Mine

Believe it or not, Utah is home to the largest open-pit mine in the world. Located south-west of Salt Lake City, the Bingham Canyon Copper Mine is roughly four kilometers wide and over 1.2 kilometers deep—that’s like two of the Willis Towers in Chicago on top of each other. First discovered in 1848, the copper mine has gained a mythical reputation for its gargantuan stature, as well as produces massive amounts of copper, including millions of ounces gold, silver and molybdenum.

Source: http://www.miningglobal.com


Top 10 Largest Open Pit Mines in the World I


[Επιμέλεια: Π. Τζεφέρης]



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