Kennecott Utah Copper Open Pit Mine at Bingham Canyon, Utah [No Visitors]
Posted by: 
brwhiz
N 40° 31.290 W 112° 08.820
12T E 402840 N 4486273
On 4/10/2013 a massive landslide totally destroyed the Mine Visitor Center. Because of advance warning everything at the Visitor Center had been removed to a safe location. A new Visitor Center will probably not be available until after 2014.
Waymark Code: WM9KBA
Location: Utah, United States
Date Posted: 08/28/2010
Views: 22
Waymarking on a Giant Scale!!
Every piece of equipment in the mine has not one, but three, Global Positioning Devices (GPD). These devices constantly report the position of the equipment to a computer in Production Control. Every 15 to 20 minutes each giant drill is given the (extremely accurate)waypoint of the next 12 inch diameter, 55 foot deep hole to be drilled for blasting agent that will break up the rock. And the computer knows the location of all the waste rock or ore in the areas currently being worked. As each giant shovel scoops up another 56 yards of rock weighing about 98 tons, the computer knows if it is scooping overburden (waste) or ore. When the shovel operator completes loading a truck, he/she pushes a button on a console, notifying the computer that the load is complete. Since the computer knows which truck is being loaded at each shovel, it can direct the truck to the proper destination via a computer screen in the truck, based on the contents of the truck. And then the computer tracks the truck to its destination, alerting the driver if they take a wrong turn.
Only a mine employee with a pit drivers license can reach the GPS coordinates given. The best that the average person can do is arrive at the Visitors Center overlooking the pit. The waypoint given for the photo of the Visitors Center Plaza (N40 32.16 W112 08.86) is one that you can reach!
If you are lucky and your timing is right you may get to witness one of the 2 to 4 blasting operations that are conducted every day of the week. If the blast is within 1500 feet of the Visitors Center you will be asked to temporarily leave the Center and retreat to a safe distance as directed by security personnel.
Mine Type: Working Mine
Mineral Collecting: No
Material Mined: Non-Precious Metal
Operation: Opencast Mine
Surface Features: Yes
KNOWN DANGERS:
The visitors access to the mine is very safe, providing that you follow all of the rules printed on the back of the pass that you will be given at the gate. Be sure to keep control of any children and not allow them to climb up on anything!
Any associated website: [Web Link]
Any Other information:
Due to monitored geotechnical movement of the Kennecott Utah Copper Bingham Canyon Mine over the winter, the Visitors Center and overlook plaza will not reopen as scheduled April 1. Short- and long-term plans are underway to relocate the Visitors Center. Follow Kennecott Utah Copper prior to your visit on facebook, twitter or at Kennecott.com/visitors-center for updates on a reopening.
Edited by Groundspeak.
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Visit Instructions:
Optional photograph welcomed.