Bingham In 1974
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Mine Plant Fact Sheet - September 1974
Historical Statistics
The Utah Copper Division produces about 20 percent of the nation's newly-mined copper each year with by-products of gold, silver, molybdenum, platinum, palladium, selenium, and rhenium.
The mine has many distinctions: It is the first open pit mine in the copper industry; it is the largest single mining operation ever undertaken; it has produced more copper than any individual mine in history; it is the largest man-made excavation in the world (1,460 acres).
Geology
The porphyry copper ore body is centered in and around a complex granitic stock.
Ore mineralization is genetically associated with the granitic stock.
Granite and granite porphyry are the most important host rocks. Some ore also occurs in the adjacent quartzite and metamorphosed limestones.
Minerals
The most important copper minerals are chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite. Copper oxide minerals are negligible. Most of the secondary enriched ore has been mined.
Molybdenite (moly) is associated with the copper minerals and is recovered as a by-product at the concentrators. The trace element, rhenium, is recovered in the molybdic-oxide plant at the smelter.
Gold and silver are by-product values that are recovered in the electrolytic refining of blister copper. Other minor by-product values include selenium, tellurium, bismuth, platinum and palladium.
Pyrite is the common sulphide gangue mineral. Sulphuric acid is produced as a by-product from the smelting of the concentrates which contain the copper sulphide minerals and some pyrite.
Lead, silver and zinc ores occur in the peripheral areas around the pit. These lode ore deposits were mined by underground methods from 1863 through 1971 by companies such as U. S. Smelting, Refining and Mining Company, Boston Consolidated, National Tunnel, and New Bingham Mary Mining Company.
Overburden
Two categories of waste occur in the mine:
The iron-stained rock that has been oxidized and naturally leached of its sulphide minerals.
The part of the gray and white unoxidized rocks that contain less than 0.4^ Cu (cutoff). The copper minerals of the latter material are artificially leached in the dumps, and the copper is recovered in the precipitation plant.
Size Of Ore Body, Mine Life, Etc.
Ore grade decreases toward edges and with depth. Cutoff grade is primarily determined by economic factors, rather than geologic features.
Ore reserves can be expanded by advancements in technology and cost reduction; conversely, they could be decreased by factors that would narrow the margin of profit.
Current Statistics
The excavation covers 1,460 acres. From east to west the pit is over 2-1/2 miles wide at the top, and it is almost 1/2 mile deep from the bottom to the top (5,290 to 7,780 feet above sea level).
There are 58 benches in the mine. In the rail haulage area there are 21 benches, and in the truck area (above 6340 level) there are 25 benches on the east side (top 7325) and 37 benches on the west side (top 7780). The benches vary in height from 40 to 50 feet, and in width from 35 to 125 feet. The benches in the truck area are presently being converted from 40 feet to 50 feet in height.
On September 21, 1972, a record for material handled during a 24-hour period was set. On that day, the mine trucks and trains hauled 502,576 tons. This is also a world record.
Stripping ratio = 2.90:1 (2.9 tons of waste removed to every ton of ore).
Average copper content of ore = 0.655 percent (13.1 pounds of copper per ton of ore).
Explosives - 85,300 pounds of explosives and blasting agents are used per day (approximately 30,441,000 pounds per year). For every pound of explosive used, 4.11 tons of material are mined.
Facilities
There are approximately 100 miles of standard gauge railroad track, all under direct centralized traffic control. There are 106 rail switches within the C.T.C. system.
There are four entry points into the mine railroad proper: One via switchback and three through tunnels.
6190 level - switchbacks
6040 tunnel - 3,450 feet long
5840 tunnel - 6,250 feet long
5490 tunnel - 18,000 feet long
Shovels
Total 37 (operate from 5,500 volt AC).
6 - 15-yard - Marion 191-M (ES 17, 18, 20, 22, 27, & 34).
3 - 15-yard - P. & H. 2100 (ES 19, 28, & 35).
1 - 12-yard - P. & H. 2100 (ES 12).
2 - 8-yard - Bucyrus-Erie 190-B (ES 16 & 21).
9 - 8-yard - Marion 151-M
13 - 6-yard - Marion 4161
3 - 7-yard - Marion 4161
Haulage Trucks
Total 94 (from 65-ton to 150-ton capacity)
48 - Haulpak 65-ton end dump.
8 - Lectra Haul 100-ton end dump.
5 - Haulpak 100-ton end dump.
2 - Dart 100-ton end dump.
5 - Haulpak 150-ton end dump.
21 - Lectra Haul 150-ton end dump.
5 - Terex 150-ton end dump.
Locomotives
Total 62
46 - 85-ton class (electric).
4 - 90-ton class (electric).
8 - 125-ton class (electric).
1 - 100-ton class (electric).
1 - 70-ton class (electric).
2 - 70-ton class (diesel).
Rotary Drills
Total 18
9 - Bucyrus-Erie 60-R 12-1/4".
8 - Bucyrus-Erie 30-R 6-3/4".
1 - Ingersol-Rand DM-4 6-3/4".
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