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15 #BIGGEST #Quarries in the #World
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00:00From the largest copper mine in the world to massive diamond mines and controversial coal mines,
00:06it's time to travel the world as I count down the 15 biggest quarries and mines.
00:11Starting with number 15, the Rusing Uranium Mine in Namibia.
00:15The Rusing Uranium Mine, which is in the Namib Desert of Namibia,
00:19is one of the oldest and largest open-pit uranium mines in the world.
00:23It's near to the town of Ardanus, and it's been a significant part of the global uranium industry
00:28since it began operations in 1976.
00:31The mine was established by the Rio Tinto Group, which is a major international mining company,
00:36and it was the first uranium mine to be developed in Namibia,
00:39paving the way for the country becoming one of the world's top producers.
00:43The Rusing deposit was actually first discovered in 1928,
00:46but it wasn't until the 1970s, during a period of increased global demand for nuclear energy,
00:51that serious development began.
00:54The ore body at Rusing is a low-grade deposit,
00:56meaning that it contains a relatively low concentration of uranium
01:00compared to other deposits worldwide.
01:02Well, despite this, the vast size of the deposit,
01:04combined with advanced mining techniques,
01:06has made Rusing one of the most productive uranium mines of all.
01:10Now, Rusing is primarily an open-pit mine,
01:13which means the uranium ore is extracted from a massive open excavation on the Earth's surface.
01:18The mining process involves drilling and blasting the rock,
01:21which is then transported to a processing plant,
01:23where the uranium is extracted through a series of chemical processes.
01:27Over its decades of operation,
01:29Rusing has produced over 135,000 tons of uranium oxide,
01:33supplying around 3% of the world's annual uranium demand at its peak.
01:38The mine has been a vital source of revenue for Namibia,
01:40with the workforce including a mix of local Namibians and expatriates,
01:44with a strong emphasis on skills development and training.
01:47In 2019, the majority ownership of the site was transferred from Rio Tinto
01:51to the China National Uranium Corporation,
01:54showing the growing influence of Chinese companies in the global uranium market.
01:58And under this new ownership, the mine continues to operate,
02:01albeit at a reduced capacity.
02:0414. Carrara Marble Quarry, Italy
02:08The Carrara Marble Quarry, located in the Apuan Alps in Tuscany, Italy,
02:12is one of the most famous and important marble quarries in the world.
02:16It's known for producing the finest quality marble.
02:19The Carrara quarries have been a source of its highly prized commodity for over 2,000 years,
02:24dating back to the Roman Empire.
02:26Carrara marble is known for its pure white or blue-grayish color and fine grain,
02:31and it's been used in some of the most iconic works of art and architecture in history.
02:35The ancient Romans were among the first to recognize the quality of this marble,
02:39using it for sculptures, buildings, and monuments.
02:42The Pantheon and Trajan's Column in Rome, for example, were made with marble from this site.
02:47And during the Renaissance, Carrara marble gained even greater fame,
02:50as it became the material of choice for some of the world's greatest artists.
02:54Michelangelo sourced his marble from Carrara, and his masterpiece, the Statue of David,
02:58was carved from a single block of marble from this quarry, as were many of his other works.
03:04The quarrying techniques used in Carrara have changed over the centuries.
03:07In ancient times, workers used chisels and hammers to extract the marble,
03:11which was a very labor-intensive process.
03:13But today, modern machinery, including diamond wire saws and heavy equipment,
03:18allows for way more efficient and safer extraction.
03:21The town of Carrara, near the quarry, has a long history of artisans and craftsmen
03:26who have passed down their skills through the generations.
03:28The extraction process has, though, altered the landscape of the Alps there,
03:32and there are ongoing debates about the environmental impact of continual quarrying on the mountains.
03:37In modern times, however, Carrara marble continues to be a symbol of luxury and elegance.
03:42It's used in high-end architecture and design projects worldwide,
03:46meaning that with plenty more still to be extracted,
03:48marble will continue to be sourced from the site for many years.
03:5313. Oyutolgoy, Mongolia
03:57Oyutolgoy, which is in the South Gobi Desert in Mongolia,
04:01is one of the largest and most important copper and gold mining projects in the world.
04:06The mine, which is often referred to as Mongolia's economic lifeline,
04:10plays a vital role in the country's economy,
04:12contributing a substantial portion of its GDP and government revenue.
04:16The discovery of this deposit in the early 2000s was a game-changer for Mongolia.
04:21The mine is around 50 miles to the north of the Mongolian-Chinese border,
04:25and it's known for its vast reserves of copper, gold, and silver.
04:28The name Oyutolgoy translates to mean turquoise hill in Mongolian,
04:32and it definitely has an unusual color
04:34because of the presence of turquoise-colored copper minerals in the area.
04:38The quarry is a joint venture between the Mongolian government
04:41and the Canadian mining company Turquoise Hill Resources,
04:44which is majority-owned by the multinational mining giant Rio Tinto.
04:48The Mongolian government owns about 34% of the project,
04:51while the Turquoise Hill Resources holds the remaining 66%.
04:55It's made up of an open-pit and underground component,
04:58and the open-pit mine known as the Southern Oyu Deposit began production in 2013
05:02and has since become one of the largest copper and gold producers in the world,
05:06while the Underground Mine 2, which targets the deeper, higher-grade ore bodies,
05:10is considered one of the most significant mining developments in recent history.
05:14For a country like Mongolia, which is landlocked and has a relatively small population,
05:19the economic impact of such a large-scale mining project is a game-changer.
05:24But it's not all been positive, though,
05:26as it's led to various negotiations and disputes between the Mongolian government and Rio Tinto
05:31over issues such as revenue sharing, taxation, and project management.
05:35As with all large mines and quarries, though,
05:37there have been concerns about the environmental impact of the mine,
05:40particularly in such an arid and ecologically sensitive area as the Gobi Desert.
05:4612. Cerro Verde, Peru
05:50Cerro Verde is one of the most important copper mines in the world
05:53and can be found in the mountainous region of southern Peru.
05:56It was originally discovered in the early 20th century,
05:59but it wasn't until the latter part of that century that large-scale commercial mining began.
06:04This mine primarily produces copper,
06:05but it also yields significant amounts of molybdenum,
06:08which is a metal that's used to strengthen steel.
06:10Over the years, Cerro Verde has undergone several expansions,
06:13transforming it from a modest operation into one of the largest copper mines on the planet.
06:18One of the most significant expansions happened in the early 2000s.
06:22This included the construction of new processing facilities
06:25and the development of an additional open-pit operation,
06:27which increased the mine's production capacity.
06:30And in 2015, another major expansion project was completed.
06:34The mine operates primarily as an open-pit quarry,
06:37where large quantities of ore are extracted and processed.
06:40The copper ore here is of relatively low grade,
06:43but the sheer volume of the deposit, combined with advanced mining techniques,
06:47allows for the extraction to be economically viable.
06:50The ore is processed on-site using large-scale crushing,
06:53grinding, and flotation facilities,
06:54which produce copper concentrate for export to smelters around the world.
06:58The molybdenum process as a byproduct is also sold on the global market,
07:02adding to the mine's profitability.
07:04In a region that's already stressed by limited water resources,
07:08its water usage has been a point of contention with local communities.
07:12Cerro Verde has invested in water management systems,
07:15including a wastewater treatment plant that supplies water for its operations,
07:18but concerns remain about the long-term sustainability of water use in this area.
07:23It is, though, mainly seen as a benefit to the local people and the wider region as a whole,
07:27and with far more material to remove, there's no signs of things slowing down.
07:3311. The Shishen Mine in South Africa
07:37The Shishen Mine, which is in the northern Cape province of South Africa,
07:41is one of the largest and most significant iron ore mines in the world.
07:45The mine is near the town of Ketu, which is known as the iron ore capital of South Africa,
07:50and it's part of the larger Kalahari Basin,
07:52which is a region that's renowned for its vast mineral resources.
07:55Discovered in the 1950s, Shishen began operations in 1953,
07:59initially as a relatively small-scale operation,
08:02but over the years it's grown into one of the largest open-pit mines in the world,
08:06covering an area of approximately 8.6 miles or 14 kilometers in length,
08:11and up to 1.2 miles or 2 kilometers in width.
08:14Shishen is primarily an open-pit mine,
08:16which means that the iron ore is extracted from the surface rather than from underground tunnels.
08:21The mine's operations are highly mechanized,
08:23with the use of massive trucks, shovels, and drills to extract and transport the ore.
08:27This means the mine's able to produce over 30 million tons of iron ore each year.
08:32The material extracted here is of exceptionally high quality,
08:35with a high iron content of around 64%.
08:39This makes it sought after on the global market,
08:41particularly by steel manufacturers.
08:43The ore processed on-site is producing both lumps and fine products,
08:47which are then transported by rail to the port of Saladana Bay,
08:50about 530 miles away.
08:52With the majority being shipped to the customers in Asia, particularly in China,
08:56it's the largest consumer of iron ore on Earth.
08:59Number 10. Mount Whaleback, Australia
09:03Mount Whaleback. It's another one of the largest iron ore mines in the world,
09:07located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
09:10Operated by BHP, it's near the town of Newman,
09:13which is a remote outpost in the heart of the Pilbara,
09:15and it's played a crucial role in the development and prosperity of that region.
09:19The discovery of iron ore here at Mount Whaleback in 1957
09:22marked the beginning of a new era in Australia's mining history.
09:26The deposit is of exceptional quality, with a high iron content and low impurities.
09:32The deposit itself is a massive ore body,
09:34stretching over 3 miles or 5 kilometers in length,
09:37and this means it's the largest single-pit iron ore mine in the world.
09:42Mining operations on the site officially started in 1968,
09:45and it quickly became one of the most productive in the world.
09:48The pit here is now one of the largest, too,
09:50measuring around 3.5 miles or 5.5 kilometers in length,
09:540.9 miles or about 1.5 kilometers in width,
09:57and over 1,600 feet or 500 meters in depth.
10:01The sheer scale of the operation is unbelievable,
10:04with massive trucks and shovels working around the clock to extract and transport this ore.
10:09From there, the iron ore is shipped to customers around the world,
10:11particularly in Asia, where it's used in steelmaking.
10:14The high-quality ore here has been critical resources for the global steel industry,
10:18contributing to the construction and manufacturing sectors worldwide.
10:22The mine is a source of revenue both for the state and federal governments
10:26through taxes and royalties,
10:27and it's also provided tens of thousands of jobs,
10:30both directly in the mine and indirectly through the associated industries
10:33such as transportation, equipment manufacturing, and services.
10:37The town of Newman, originally established to support the mining operations,
10:41has grown and developed alongside the mine,
10:43and has hugely benefited from the economic opportunities provided by Mount Whaleback.
10:49Number 9. Chukicamata Mine in Chile
10:53The Chukicamata, usually simply referred to as Chuki,
10:56is a historically important copper mine that's in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
11:01It's not only one of the largest open-pit copper mines on the planet,
11:04but also one of the deepest,
11:05with a history that's influenced both the local region and the global copper market.
11:10The origins of Chukicamata can be traced back to ancient times
11:13when indigenous peoples mined these rich copper deposits in the area.
11:17However, large-scale industrial mining began in the early 20th century,
11:21initially under the control of American companies,
11:23particularly the Guggenheim family and the Anaconda Copper Company.
11:27In 1915, Chuki started a large-scale production,
11:30quickly becoming a major source of copper,
11:32which was essential for industrialization
11:34and later for the war efforts during both world wars.
11:37The pit here measures approximately 2.7 miles or about 4.3 kilometers in length,
11:421.9 miles or 3 kilometers in width,
11:44and reaches a depth of over 2,800 feet or 850 meters.
11:49For much of the 20th century,
11:50this mine was the largest one in the world,
11:52producing millions of tons of copper each year,
11:54and the sheer scale here required the development of an entire infrastructure,
11:58including railways, processing plants,
12:00and the nearby mining town of Chukicamata.
12:03The copper extracted here is processed on-site
12:06using large-scale crushing, grinding, and flotation facilities,
12:09and the resulting copper concentrate is then smelted and refined
12:12to produce high-purity copper cathodes,
12:14which are then exported to markets around the world.
12:17In recent years, it's undergone changes here
12:20as part of a wider modernization effort by Codelco,
12:23the open-pit mine which has reached the limits of its economic viability
12:26due to the depth and operational challenges,
12:28has transitioned to an underground operation.
12:31The underground expansion, known as the Chukicamata Underground Mine,
12:34represents one of the largest mining projects in Chile's history.
12:38It aims to extend the life of this mine by several decades,
12:41tapping into the deeper, higher-grade ore bodies beneath the old pit.
12:468. Hull-Rust Mahoning Mine, United States
12:51The Hull-Rust Mahoning Mine in Hibbing, Minnesota,
12:54is often referred to as the Grand Canyon of the North,
12:58and it's played a critical role in the development of iron and steel industries in the U.S.
13:02Its history dates back to the late 19th century,
13:05which was a time when the United States was rapidly industrializing.
13:08In 1895, prospectors discovered large deposits of high-grade iron ore in the area,
13:13and by 1896, mining operations had begun.
13:17The ore extracted from the Hull-Rust Mahoning was particularly valuable
13:20due to its high iron content and low impurities,
13:23making it ideal for steel production,
13:25and the mine supplied much of the iron ore used by U.S. steel,
13:28which was the dominant force in the American steel industry throughout the 20th century.
13:33Today, the open-pit mine is around 8 miles or 13 kilometers in length,
13:373 miles or 4.8 kilometers in width,
13:39and reaches depths of more than 600 feet or about 183 meters.
13:43It is one of the largest man-made excavations in the world,
13:46and at its peak,
13:47it was producing as much as a quarter of all the iron ore mined in the United States.
13:51Over the course of its operation,
13:53the mine has produced more than 1.4 billion tons of iron ore.
13:58It is still an active mining operation,
14:00though on a reduced scale compared to its peak years.
14:03The mine is also a popular tourist attraction,
14:05drawing visitors who come to see the enormous size and learn about its history.
14:09The view from the mine's observation deck offers an incredible perspective of this vast pit,
14:14showing the impact of human industry on the natural landscape.
14:19Moving on to number 7.
14:20The Grasberg Mine in Indonesia
14:23The Grasberg Mine, which is in the highlands of Indonesia,
14:26is a huge copper and gold mine.
14:29It was discovered in 1936 by Dutch geologist Jean-Jacques Dozy.
14:33The Grasberg deposit wasn't developed until much later,
14:36thanks to its remote location.
14:38It wasn't until the 1970s,
14:40when the Freeport McMoran secured mining rights from the Indonesian government,
14:43that the large-scale operations began.
14:46Grasberg is a one-of-a-kind deposit,
14:48containing some of the world's largest reserves of copper and gold.
14:51The mine has several distinct operations,
14:53including an open pit mine,
14:55an underground block cave mine,
14:56and various processing facilities.
14:59The open pit mine, once the largest of its kind,
15:01reaches a depth of nearly 2,000 feet or about 600 meters.
15:05The underground mining operations,
15:07which have become the focus as the open pit phases out,
15:10involve sophisticated methods to extract ore from deep beneath the surface,
15:14employing cutting-edge technology to maintain productivity.
15:17At its peak, the mine produced nearly 3 million ounces of gold
15:21and more than 800,000 tons of copper each year.
15:24This makes it one of the most important sources of these metals in the world.
15:28This has been, though, one of the most controversial quarries of recent times,
15:31because of the environmental damage it's caused.
15:34The tailings or waste material from the mining process have been a major problem,
15:38with billions of tons being discharged into the nearby river systems,
15:42leading to environmental degradation and impacting local ecosystems.
15:46The scale of this impact has drawn some criticism from environmental groups,
15:50but has had the most impact on the local indigenous communities.
15:53These people have seen their traditional lands and livelihoods
15:56disrupted by the mine's operations,
15:58and while the Freeport has implemented various
16:01community development programs and compensation schemes,
16:04tensions have remained high.
16:076. KALGOORLIE SUPER PIT IN AUSTRALIA
16:11The Kalgoorlie Super Pit in the Goldfields regions of Western Australia
16:15is one of the largest open-pit gold mines in the world.
16:18It's known officially as the Phimiston Open Pit.
16:20This super pit is on the outskirts of the town of Kalgoorlie, Boulder,
16:24which is a place that's inextricably linked with the gold rush era
16:28and the wider story of gold mining in Australia.
16:30The super pit dates back to the late 19th century
16:33when prospectors first discovered gold in the Kalgoorlie area.
16:36In 1893, three Irishmen, Paddy Hannon, Tom Flanagan, and Dan Shea,
16:41found gold near Mount Charlotte, triggering the gold rush that attracted thousands.
16:45This led to the establishment of the Golden Mile,
16:48which was a stretch of rich gold-bare ore
16:50that would become one of the most famous mining districts in the world.
16:54For many years, the Golden Mile was home
16:56to various small underground mines operated by different companies.
16:59However, in the 1980s, Australian entrepreneur Alan Bond
17:02consolidated these individual leases into a single operation,
17:05leading to the creation of the Super Pit.
17:08While Bond's financial difficulties eventually led to the sale of the project,
17:12the concept of the Super Pit remained,
17:14and it's been operated ever since by the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines,
17:18a joint venture between Northern Star Resources and Saracen Mineral Holdings.
17:23The Super Pit is now around 2.5 miles or 3.5 kilometers long,
17:270.9 miles or 1.5 kilometers wide, and almost 2,000 feet deep.
17:32This mine operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,
17:36with a fleet of trucks, shovels, and drilling rigs that work to extract the ore.
17:40The gold ore from the Super Pit is processed on-site
17:42at the famous Denengiji processing plants,
17:45a process that involves crushing the ore
17:47and using a combination of gravity and a chemical process such as cyanidation
17:51to extract the gold.
17:53The extracted gold is then refined into bars,
17:56which are then further refined off-site to produce high-quality gold bullion.
18:00The Super Pit's been a major contributor to Australia's gold production,
18:03and it's produced around 700,000 ounces of gold each year at its peak.
18:085. THE VENETIAN DIAMOND MINE IN SOUTH AFRICA
18:12The Venetian Diamond Mine, located in the Limpopo province of South Africa,
18:16is a major contributor to the global diamond supply,
18:20and it plays a critical role in the South African economy.
18:23It's owned by De Beers, one of the world's leading diamond companies.
18:26Venetia is the largest diamond mine in South Africa.
18:29Discovered in 1980, the mine officially began production in 1992,
18:33and since then, it's consistently produced high-quality diamonds,
18:36including many of gem quality.
18:38The mine is approximately 50 miles from the town of Musina
18:41and lies within the Limpopo-Mobio belt,
18:44a region known for its rich geological formations.
18:47The mine operates as an open-pit mine,
18:48with its mining operations initially focused on extracting diamonds from the surface.
18:53The open pit ops have created a vast excavation site that's easily visible from the air,
18:58with the mine's pits reaching depths of over 1,300 feet or 400 meters.
19:02The surface mining operations were initially projected to last until about 2020,
19:07but advancements in mining technology and the mine's vast resources
19:10have extended the life of the pit.
19:12As surface-level resources begin to deplete, however,
19:15De Beers has begun an ambitious underground expansion
19:18to ensure the mine's continued productivity well into the 2040s.
19:22The underground expansion is expected to cost over $2 billion,
19:26and it's designed to tap into the deeper kimberlite pipes
19:28that are inaccessible from the surface.
19:31This project involves the construction of extensive underground tunnels
19:34and infrastructure to reach far below the surface
19:37and is expected to produce diamonds of an even higher quality.
19:40De Beers has also invested heavily in social and environmental programs in the region
19:44and has implemented extensive environmental management practices
19:47to minimize the mine's impact.
19:49These initiatives include water conservation programs,
19:52wildlife protection efforts, and the rehabilitation of mined land.
19:56Phoenicia operates in a region that is rich in biodiversity,
19:59and De Beers' conservation efforts are aimed at ensuring
20:02that mining activities don't adversely affect the natural environment.
20:064. The Escondida Mine in Chile
20:10Escondida Mine, which is in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile,
20:13is the largest copper mine in the world.
20:15It's operated by BHP, which holds a majority stake,
20:18and is co-owned by Rio Tinto and a consortium of Japanese companies.
20:22Since it began operations in 1990, the mine has become a powerhouse,
20:26contributing significantly to Chile's economy and to the global market for copper.
20:31The discovery of the Escondida deposit in 1981 was a major one.
20:35It was located in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert,
20:38one of the driest places on Earth.
20:39The Escondida ore body was found to be extraordinarily rich in copper,
20:43with significant quantities of gold and silver as byproducts.
20:47Its open-pit mining operations began in 1990,
20:50and the mine quickly ramped up to become the world's largest copper producer.
20:54The mine consists of two main pits, Escondida and Escondida Norte,
20:58as well as several smaller satellite operations.
21:01The processing ore here is conducted on a massive scale.
21:05The ore is crushed, ground, and subjected to a flotation process
21:08that separates the copper concentrate from the waste rock.
21:11The concentrate is then transported to nearby smelters
21:14or exported to refineries around the world.
21:17The mine has also developed a process for bleaching lower-grade ores,
21:20which allows the extraction of copper from material that would otherwise be considered waste.
21:25The Escondida's production levels are second to none,
21:28often exceeding one million tons of copper each year,
21:32which represents a significant share of the global market.
21:35This high level of production has made Escondida a key player in the global economy.
21:39Escondida is why Chile is the world's largest copper producer,
21:42and it contributes significantly to the country's GDP.
21:46Water scarcity in the Atacama Desert is, though, a major problem,
21:50as copper production is water-intensive.
21:52To deal with this, BHP has invested in a desalination plant
21:55to provide sustainable water supply for the mine,
21:58reducing its reliance on local freshwater resources.
22:01So, as well as researching and improving technology for their own use,
22:04it's now being deployed to improve water supplies for residents, too.
22:093. Mirny Mine in Russia
22:12The Mirny Mine in the Sakha Republic in eastern Siberia
22:16is one of the world's most famous diamond mines
22:18and one of the largest man-made excavations on Earth.
22:21The discovery of the Mirny kimberlite pipe in 1955 by geologists
22:26happened during a geological expedition in the harsh and remote Siberian wilderness.
22:31The finding was so significant that the geologist was awarded a prestigious Lenin Prize.
22:36The site, named Mirny after the nearby town,
22:38was soon developed into one of the Soviet Union's most important mining operations.
22:43The Mirny Mine is an open-pit diamond mine,
22:45and at its peak, it was the second-largest excavated hole in the world.
22:49The pit measures approximately 3,900 feet or 1,200 meters in diameter
22:53and reaches a depth of over 1,700 feet or 520 meters.
22:58Mining here began in 1957,
23:00and the mine became a huge source of diamonds, producing millions of carats each year.
23:05The diamonds extracted here were of high quality
23:08and contributed substantially to the Soviet Union's economy.
23:11But the extreme conditions in Siberia,
23:13with temperatures often dropping below negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit
23:16or negative 40 degrees Celsius,
23:18made mining at Mirny a major challenge.
23:21The permafrost, which extends deep into the ground,
23:23had to be managed carefully to prevent it from melting
23:26and causing the walls of the mine to collapse.
23:28By the early 2000s,
23:29the open-pit operations here were becoming less economically viable
23:33due to the increasing depth and cost of extraction.
23:35So in response, Alrosa, the state-owned diamond mining company that operates Mirny,
23:39began transitioning to underground mining.
23:42The switch to this underground mining marked a new phase in their history,
23:45ensuring continuation of diamond production at the site.
23:49The underground mine is among the deepest in the world,
23:51reaching depths of over 4,000 feet or 1,200 meters,
23:54ensuring Mirny's place as a symbol of Russia's diamond industry,
23:58with its iconic open pit serving as a reminder
24:01of the country's industrial achievements during the Soviet era.
24:05Number 2. The Garzweiler Mine in Germany
24:08Garzweiler Mine in the North Rhine-Westphalia region of Germany
24:12is one of the largest and most controversial brown coal mines in Europe.
24:16It's operated by the German energy company RWE.
24:19Garzweiler has become a focal point in discussions about energy policy,
24:23environmental impact, and the transition to renewable energy.
24:26It's an open-pit lignite mine,
24:28which means that the coal is extracted from a large surface quarry.
24:32The lignite found here in Garzweiler is of relatively low energy content
24:35compared to harder coals like anthracite.
24:38But there's so much of it, and it's been a key energy source for Germany,
24:41particularly in the post-World War II era,
24:43when the country needed to rebuild its energy infrastructure,
24:46that the mine's been named after the nearby village of Garzweiler,
24:49much like any other village in the area,
24:51that's been partially or fully destroyed to make way for mining operations.
24:55The Garzweiler Mine is divided into two sections, Garzweiler I and Garzweiler II.
25:00I has been in operation since the 1980s,
25:02while II has developed since the 2000s after much debate and resistance.
25:07The lignite extracted here is mainly used to fuel nearby power plants,
25:10which provide electricity to millions of homes and industries in Germany.
25:14But this isn't the only environmental impact of the mine,
25:17as it's also had a destructive effect on the local area too.
25:20Entire villages have been relocated to accommodate this expanding mine,
25:24leading to the displacement of thousands of people.
25:26Historic buildings, churches, and farmlands have been lost,
25:29and the landscape has been permanently altered,
25:32leaving behind massive craters where once fertile land existed.
25:36The relocation process has been the source of social tension,
25:39with many residents and activists opposing the destruction
25:42of their homes and cultural heritage.
25:44The future of the Garzweiler Mine is increasingly uncertain,
25:48as Germany transitions away from coal and towards renewable energy.
25:53In recent years, the German government has committed to phasing out coal by 2038,
25:57as part of its energy transition strategy.
26:00This has led to discussions about the gradual closure of the Garzweiler,
26:03so RWE has already begun planning for eventual reclamation of the mine,
26:08which will involve filling in the pits and restoring the land for other uses,
26:11such as agriculture, forestry, or recreation.
26:151. The Bingham Canyon Mine in the United States
26:20Bingham Canyon Mine, also known as the Kennecott Copper Mine,
26:23is by far the largest and most famous open-pit mine in the world.
26:28It's near Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States,
26:30and it's been an important part of the American mining industry for over a century.
26:35Its origins can be traced back to the mid-19th century,
26:37when, in the 1860s, rich mineral deposits were discovered.
26:41At first, the site was mined for precious metals like gold and silver,
26:45but it wasn't until 1906, when the Utah Copper Company
26:48began large-scale copper extraction, that Bingham Canyon became a key part of.
26:53The mine's development was driven by the increased demand for copper,
26:56particularly for use in electrical wiring and other industrial applications.
27:00The Bingham Canyon Mine is an open-pit mine,
27:02and currently the pit is more than 2.5 miles or 4 kilometers wide
27:06and over 3 quarters of a mile or 1.2 kilometers deep,
27:10making it the largest man-made excavation on Earth.
27:13The ore here is extracted is rich in copper,
27:16but it's also containing other valuable metals including gold, silver, and molybdenum.
27:21The copper ore is processed on-site at the Kennecott, Utah, Copper Smelter,
27:24where it undergoes a series of crushing, grinding,
27:26and flotation processes that separate the copper from the waste rock.
27:30It's produced more than 19 million tons of copper since operations began,
27:34making it one of the most productive mines in history.
27:37The mine has also been a significant source of employment and economic activity in the region,
27:41providing jobs for thousands of workers and generating substantial revenue.
27:45The copper produced here has been critical for the development of modern infrastructure,
27:49particularly in the U.S., and without it,
27:51the country would have struggled to develop as fast as it has done.
27:55There's been a cost to this, though,
27:57as it's resulted in the accumulation of massive waste rock piles and tailing ponds,
28:01which must be carefully managed to prevent any contamination.
28:05In recent years, Bingham Canyon Mine has also become a popular tourist attraction,
28:08bringing in visitors who are interested in seeing one of the world's largest
28:12and most impressive quarries.
28:14There's no sign of it being emptied or operation-stopping, though,
28:17as with increased demand for copper around the world,
28:20particularly with the push toward renewable energy and electrification,
28:23Bingham Canyon Mine remains a vital asset that the country will continue to rely on for many decades.
28:30Thanks for watching, everybody.
28:31I'll see you next time.
28:35Thank you to our channel members.