copper mine tour salt lake city

12732 Bacchus Hwy. Herriman, UT 84096

Kennecott Copper Mine

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Join Rio Tinto Kennecott for the Visitor Experience at Bingham Canyon Mine.

Rio Tinto Kennecott | Photo Gallery

Rio Tinto Kennecott

Rio Tinto Kennecott Visitor Experience  

The Rio Tinto Kennecott Visitor Experience is dedicated to educating the public about Kennecott's key role in modern life, safe mining practices, and responsible environmental stewardship. Learn about our history and see first-hand the gigantic scale of our operation, vehicles, and artifacts. Discover how ore gets processed and refined to become 99.99% copper, an essential element in today’s infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology.

Our Kennecott mine has operated for 120 years, providing domestically -sourced copper to the United States and beyond. As we look towards the energy transition, Kennecott will continue to play an important role by responsibly mining and smelting this critical mineral for our electric vehicles, our renewable energy, and numerous other vital applications.

Reservations

Tickets are $6 each and children under the age of five are free. All proceeds will be generously donated to the Kennecott Charitable Foundation.

Tickets should be purchased in advance. Walk-up visitors run the risk of not being able to visit the mine overlook if they are at capacity that day. Walk-up visitors will need to use a credit card to complete an onsite ticket purchase. Cash transactions are not available at the Visitor Experience.

Kennecott Charitable Foundation

The Kennecott Charitable Foundation is a Utah-based charitable organization committed to positively impacting Utah residents and the community since its inception in 1992. This includes supporting charities and non-profits that assist vulnerable populations in the Salt Lake region. The Foundation raises money for worthy organizations through tax-deductible entrance fees to the Kennecott Visitor Experience. The Bingham Canyon Lions Club contributes additional funds to the Foundation from items sold at the Gift Shop.

Bingham Canyon Lions Gift Shop, located in the Lark visitor parking area, sells an assortment of items. From copper jewelry and trinkets to educational excavation kits, visitors of all ages are sure to find something special to take home with them. While there is a vending machine available with drinks, food is not available for purchase.

Safety Policies  

Safety is essential to everything they do at Kennecott - and your safety is their number one priority when visiting the Bingham Canyon Mine. They are committed to protecting the health and safety of all our employees and visitors. All safety rules and policies must be followed.

• Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult
• You must use the shuttle services to visit the overlook
• Children and adults must wear a seat belt while on the shuttle – car/booster seats are not required, and infants may be held in arms during travel
• Stay inside the designated visitor area (always fenced or otherwise)
• Use of drugs, alcohol or smoking/vaping are strictly prohibited
• Firearms, knives, and other weapons are prohibited on all Rio Tinto Kennecott property
• Unauthorized use of drones or professional photography are prohibited on all property

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120 years of mining Premier American copper. Many more to come.

Copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, tellurium.

Refined copper production

2023 figures

Our Kennecott mine is a world-class, integrated copper  mining operation located just outside Salt Lake City, Utah, in the United States. Kennecott has been mining and processing minerals from the rich ore body of the Bingham Canyon Mine since 1903, and today is one of the top producing mines in the world. Our operation includes a concentrator, smelter and refinery and tailings storage facility.

Reducing our carbon footprint

Kennecott has one of the lowest carbon footprint of any copper producer in the United States — and initiatives such as the 2019 power plant closure and a shift to renewable energy sources have removed more than 1 million tons of CO 2 emissions, lowering Kennecott’s annual carbon footprint by as much as 65%. We’ve paired 1.5 million MWh of electricity with Green-e Energy certified carbon-free renewable energy certificates, primarily from wind and solar resources. And we’re trialling underground battery electric vehicles  at Kennecott to improve employee health and safety, increase productivity, and reduce carbon emissions from future underground mining fleets. We’re using a battery electric haul truck and loader to evaluate performance and suitability as part of underground development work.

In October 2022,  Kennecott launched a renewable diesel trial , which will compare acceleration, speed, cycle times, fuel usage, and engine inspection reports for 2 trucks running on renewable diesel versus 2 trucks running on conventional diesel.

Trialling both battery-electric vehicles and renewable diesel will ensure we can pick the solutions that are best tailored to our operational needs, based on actual data.

These are important milestones in achieving Rio Tinto’s goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 .

120 Years of Responsibly Mined Copper

Visit the Bingham Canyon Mine

The Visitor Experience  is dedicated to educating the public about the key role Kennecott plays in modern life, safe mining practices, and responsible environmental stewardship. Learn about our history and see first-hand the gigantic scale of our operation, vehicles, and artifacts. Discover how ore gets processed and refined to become 99.99% copper, an essential element in today’s infrastructure, manufacturing, and technology.  You can also learn more about the Bingham Canyon Mine by taking a virtual tour of our operation . 

Improving energy efficiency

At Kennecott, we continue to look for new ways to improve energy efficiency and increase our on-site-generated power supply. The $10 million, 6.2 MW combined heat and power (CHP) system – large enough to power 6,000 average-sized homes – is one example of how we are doing this, generating enough power to supply up to 50% of the electrical needs of the refinery.

CHP, also known as cogeneration, is an efficient, clean, and reliable way to generate power from a single fuel source.

Responsible production

Our voluntary commitments and accreditations include a number of global, regional and national organisations and initiatives, and industry accreditation programs.

Kennecott currently has several environment, social and governance (ESG) partnerships and additional partnerships planned for 2023. Key partnerships include:

• Utah Clean Air: Kennecott is a founding member of this clean air initiative organisation.
• Natural History Museum of Utah: We share an educational experience about minerals, geology, and responsible mining.
• Utah Clean Energy: The Climate Innovation Center is a net-zero climate showcase.
• Salt Lake County: We have a partnership to develop several miles of trails in Butterfield Canyon, in and around 500 acres of Kennecott land, to provide more recreational opportunities to our local community.
• Loveland Living Planet Aquarium: We’re involved in community engagement to protect our waters and natural habitat.
• American Heart Association: We’re helping save and improve lives by funding a variety of programs and initiatives such as Adopt-A-Clinic and Heart & Stroke Walk.

In 2020, the Kennecott operation became the first in the world to be awarded the Copper Mark , the industry’s first and only independent assurance program – verifying the copper is responsibly produced. Originally developed by the International Copper Association with input from stakeholders including customers, NGOs and producers, the Copper Mark assures that our copper meets the highest environmental and social standards, including a transparent and responsible supply chain.

Our Kennecott operation has also been awarded the Molybdenum Mark, an independent certification that the molybdenum from our site is responsibly produced with high environmental, social and governance standards. As a by-product from copper mines, molybdenum has a critical role to play in the green transition as a vital material in clean energy technologies and sustainable construction practices in many areas. This certification demonstrates our continued commitment and leadership to sustainability – to be a responsible producer that is committed to finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

We are also progressing innovative ways to reduce waste from our operations and while supplying critical minerals that are crucial to the energy transition. So in May 2022, Kennecott began production of tellurium, a critical mineral used in solar panels that is helping develop a new US supply stream for the renewable energy industry.

US copper products and by-products

We produce a range of copper products and by-products essential for the low-carbon transition and everyday life, featured stories.

Fuelling our trucks with renewable diesel

Diesel made from renewable raw materials is helping us reduce emissions

Turning slime into solar panels

Our Kennecott copper mine is extracting a rare, valuable metal from waste

Nose to tail mining

Making the most of what we take from the ground

We’ve now completed the first phase of the south wall pushback at Kennecott, extending the mine’s life to 2026. We are gradually accessing higher copper grades.

Stripping for the $1.5 billion second phase, extending operations to 2032 , remains on track. The investment will further extend strip waste rock mining and support additional infrastructure development, to allow mining to continue into a new area of the ore body and deliver close to one million tonnes of refined copper between 2026 and 2032.

We are also progressing feasibility studies to extend open pit mining at Kennecott beyond 2032. The planned mine expansion, referred to as Apex , will produce an additional 1.5 million tons of copper and extend the life of mine to about 2040.

In September 2022, we approved a $55 million investment  in development capital to start underground mining and expand production at Kennecott. Underground mining will initially focus on an area known as the Lower Commercial Skarn (LCS), which will deliver a total of around 30 kilotonnes of additional high quality mined copper through to 2027 alongside open cut operations. The first ore is expected to be produced in early 2023, with full production in the second half of the year. It will be processed through the existing facilities at Kennecott, one of only 2 operating copper smelters in the United States.

Environment

Kennecott is committed to environmental stewardship. Employees work diligently to prevent, reduce and remediate effects of the operation on the environment. Kennecott sets self-imposed environmental performance targets to drive continuous improvement. We strive to be a leader in environmental performance by demonstrating responsible management of natural resources, reducing our environmental footprint and exceeding community expectations for sustainable development.

Kennecott has transformed acreage once dominated by over-grazed lands, salt evaporation ponds and illegal dumps into a 3,670-acre shorebird and waterfowl reserve along the south shore of Great Salt Lake.

In 1996, we helped to create the Kennecott Inland Sea Shorebird Reserve (ISSR) under a mitigation plan and today, the reserve is one of the largest and most successful mitigations in the United States. The number of bird species using the reserve area has gone from 50 in 1995 to 200 – a 300% increase – and today, approximately 120,000 birds use the reserve every year.

Kennecott communities

Our commitment to making a positive impact in the communities in which we operate – and where so many of our employees live – is an important part of how we do business. For example, we have been working with the Natural History Museum of Utah for more than 40 years on award-winning science education programs, community enrichment initiatives and exhibits about the natural world. In 2008, we donated copper, which today, adorns the outside of the Museum’s home at the Rio Tinto Center.

Rio Tinto Kennecott Groundbreakers

Collecting and preserving the history of our community.

Copper plays a critical role in the clean energy transition

From the days of antiquity, copper has been used for its many benefits: tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity.

Latest Kennecott releases

Rio tinto kennecott to fully transition to renewable diesel.

SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rio Tinto will replace its entire fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah from 2024. Kennecott’s fleet of 90 haul trucks and all heavy machinery will begin to transition to renewable diesel in the first quarter of 2024, along with consumption from the concentrator, smelter, and refinery. The transition will

Rio Tinto Kennecott donates $10 million to Museum of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As part of its 120th-anniversary celebration, Rio Tinto Kennecott announced a donation of $10 million for the Museum of Utah, which is currently being built on the grounds of the Utah State Capitol complex. The Museum is slated to open in 2026 under the umbrella of the Utah Historical Society. The donation, which will be distributed over the next 10 years, represents Ke

Rio Tinto Kennecott completes construction of solar power plant

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Rio Tinto has completed construction on a new 5-megawatt solar power plant at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah. The 12,800 solar panel power plant will be commissioned in coming weeks, enabling Kennecott to reduce its operational emissions by 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.The plant will serve as a pilot project with the goal of exp

Independently verified, responsibly produced

Independent industry stewardship programs help assure our customers of our responsible value chain. Our Kennecott and Oyu Tolgoi  copper operations have been awarded the Copper Mark, the copper industry’s independently assessed responsible production program. Kennecott has also been awarded the Molybdenum Mark , an application of the same rigorous framework to molybdenum producers - molybdenum is a copper mining byproduct and a vital material in clean energy technologies and sustainable construction practices. These 2 certifications demonstrate our continued commitment to responsible production as we find better ways to provide the materials the world needs.

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Contact Kennecott

Rio tinto kennecott.

4700 Daybreak Parkway South Jordan Utah 84009 United States

T: + 801 204 2000

Community enquiries

For enquiries or complaints, please contact us.

T: + 801 204 2070 E: [email protected]

Visitor experience

Open 7 days a week From April to October (weather permitting) 12732 Bacchus Hwy Herriman Utah 84096 United States

E: Kennecott visitor experience

W: Buy tickets

24-hour environmental enquiries hotline

T: + 801 569 6331

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With the exception of the use of cookies, Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website.   However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.

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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our  Privacy Policy ), and also applicable data privacy laws.

Online Privacy Statement

How we process personal data provided or obtained through this website.

With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website.   However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.

Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.

If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at  [email protected] ).

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As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.

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Kennecott Copper Mine and Great Salt Lake Tour from Salt Lake City

Tags: Salt Lake City , Attractions , Bus Tours

Visit two Utah treasures in one day on this tour from Salt Lake City. Explore the Kennecott Copper Mine, the world???s largest excavation and open-pit copper mine that???s one of the few man-made creations visible from space. Then, visit the famous Great

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Guided Tour of Worlds Largest Copper Mine From Salt Lake City

Set out on a journey like no other as you set out on a guided tour from Salt Lake City to explore the world’s largest man-made excavation at Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine.

The sheer magnitude of this colossal mine will leave you in awe, surrounded by the breathtaking Rocky Mountains.

But what lies beyond the surface of this impressive site? Stay tuned to uncover the secrets of this iconic location and what makes it a must-visit destination for those seeking a glimpse into the world of mining operations.

• Witness the largest man-made hole on the planet
• Gain insight into intricate techniques for copper extraction
• Appreciate the grandeur and significance of the mine
• Experience the massive scale of mining operations

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Tour Details

Set out on a captivating 3-hour group tour to the Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine, the largest man-made hole on the planet, with a round-trip transfer from your Salt Lake City hotel included.

Visitors will explore the mining process, witnessing firsthand the massive scale of operations at this impressive site. The tour provides insights into the intricate techniques utilized to extract copper from the earth.

Plus, guests may catch glimpses of local wildlife that have made their home around the mine, showcasing the coexistence of industrial activities and nature in this unique setting.

The experience offers a blend of education and awe-inspiring sights, making it a must-visit destination for those intrigued by the mining industry and curious about the surrounding environment.

Additional Information

For further details about the tour’s accessibility and passenger requirements, please refer to the following information. The tour offers various accessibility options and isn’t wheelchair accessible. It’s conveniently located near public transportation for easy access. Child-friendly activities are available, with infants required to sit on laps during the tour for safety. The tour provides an engaging and informative experience suitable for all ages. Plus, there are opportunities for interactive learning and exploration throughout the visit.

• Accessibility options
• Child-friendly activities
• Convenient location near public transportation
• Infants must sit on laps
• Interactive learning opportunities

Cancellation Policy

Upon cancellation of the tour less than 24 hours in advance, travelers will not be eligible for a refund. The refund process is straightforward: cancel 24 hours before for a full refund, but if the cancellation is made within 24 hours of the tour, no refund will be issued. This policy is in place due to the need to finalize arrangements and ensure the best possible experience for all participants. Plus, the tour is weather-dependent, so in cases where weather conditions make it unsafe to proceed, the tour may be canceled, and travelers will be notified promptly. Please refer to the table below for a summary of the cancellation policy.

How do Viator travelers rate their experiences at the world’s largest copper mine in Salt Lake City? Reviews for the tour showcase a mix of opinions based on various factors, including weather conditions and traveler experiences. Here are some key points to consider:

Weather Conditions : Reviews mention that the tour experience can be greatly influenced by the weather, so it’s advisable to check the forecast before booking.

Traveler Experiences : Travelers have reported a range of experiences, from being awestruck by the sheer size of the mine to feeling underwhelmed by certain aspects of the tour.

Guide Knowledge : Some reviewers praised the guides’ expertise and engaging commentary.

Scenic Drive : The journey through the Rocky Mountains was highlighted as a scenic and enjoyable part of the experience.

Overall Satisfaction : Despite mixed reviews, the majority of travelers seemed satisfied with their visit to the world’s largest copper mine.

Booking and Pricing

Curious about the booking process and pricing for a guided tour of the world’s largest copper mine from Salt Lake City? Viator offers the tour with the product code 5900P13, starting from £112.56. It is advisable to book early as the tour is likely to sell out. Viator provides various booking options and guarantees a confirmation at the time of booking. The tour includes a round-trip transfer from your Salt Lake City hotel, live commentary during the tour, and admission tickets to the mine. Comparing prices with other tour operators in the area might be beneficial to ensure you get the best deal. Check out the table below for a quick pricing comparison:

Navigating to the world’s largest copper mine from Salt Lake City involves a scenic drive through the Rocky Mountains before embarking on a 3-hour group tour at the Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine. Along the way, visitors can explore various transportation options and enjoy nearby local attractions , such as charming mountain towns with quaint shops and restaurants, picturesque overlooks offering stunning views of the rugged landscape, scenic byways winding through the majestic peaks, wildlife sightings including deer, elk , and maybe even a bald eagle, and historical sites showcasing the region’s mining heritage. These attractions provide a taste of the diverse experiences awaiting travelers en route to the impressive Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine.

Visitors embarking on the tour of the world’s largest copper mine can look forward to discovering a myriad of captivating highlights that showcase the grandeur and significance of the Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine.

The tour offers a fascinating insight into the intricate mining process, where guests can witness firsthand the massive machinery and techniques involved in extracting copper from the earth.

Plus, visitors will learn about the environmental impact of such large-scale mining operations, including measures taken to mitigate and manage these effects.

The tour provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the sheer scale of human ingenuity and the natural resources harnessed in this impressive endeavor.

Safety Guidelines

To ensure the safety of all participants, adherence to the designated guidelines is imperative throughout the entirety of the tour.

Safety Guidelines:

• Always wear the provided safety gear, including hard hats and closed-toe shoes.
• Stay within the marked paths and follow the instructions of the tour guide at all times.
• In case of an emergency, listen carefully to the guide for evacuation procedures.
• Avoid touching any equipment or machinery during the tour.
• If you have any medical conditions or concerns, inform the guide before the tour begins.

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Common questions

Can visitors bring their own cameras or drones to capture images of the mine.

Visitors can bring their own cameras to capture images of the mine, but drone regulations might restrict drone usage. Photography guidelines should be followed to ensure a smooth experience. It’s essential to respect the rules in place.

Are There Any Restrictions on What Visitors Can Bring With Them on the Tour?

Visitors on the tour must adhere to food restrictions and tour regulations regarding personal belongings. Safety precautions are in place to ensure a smooth experience. Bringing cameras or drones may have specific guidelines for use.

Are There Any Age Restrictions for Participating in the Tour of the Copper Mine?

Age restrictions: Participants of all ages are welcome on the tour. Camera restrictions : Photography is allowed throughout the experience. Visitors can capture the stunning views and the massive scale of the Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine.

Is There a Gift Shop or Souvenir Store at the Mine Where Visitors Can Purchase Memorabilia?

Visitors can explore the gift shop at the mine for souvenirs and memorabilia. Cameras and drones are not allowed for safety reasons, but photography is permitted in designated areas. Guests can capture memories to cherish.

Are There Any Restroom Facilities Available During the Tour of the Mine?

Restroom facilities are available during the tour for visitors’ convenience. There are no camera restrictions , so guests can capture memorable moments. Enjoy the experience worry-free with necessary amenities and the freedom to document your adventure.

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Experience the awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur of Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine on a guided tour from Salt Lake City. With round-trip transfers, live commentary , and admission included , visitors can enjoy the rich history and operations of this iconic site.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable journey into the heart of one of the world’s largest man-made holes, set against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Book your tour now for a truly memorable adventure!

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Salt Lake City Tours

City Sights is Salt Lake City’s premier sightseeing bus tour company for over 40 years running. We offer several guided tours of top Utah attractions every day. Our tours include entertaining narration by expert local guides, each with over a decade of professional experience. Explore the sights of Salt Lake City, Great Salt Lake, Bingham Canyon Mine of Kennecott Utah Copper, attend a Tabernacle Choir performance, and experience the one-of-a-kind “show-tour” of Salt Lake City: the Trolley Adventure! Join us on a tour today.

Five-Star Rating on TripAdvisor!

Highly recommend the Salt Lake City Tour w/ Tabernacle Organ Performance. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and provided a great history of the city as well as points of interest along the tour. The Tabernacle Organ recital was spectacular. Thanks to the tour guide for a great experience for two first time visitors to Salt Lake City!

I did all 3 tours..The 5 hour City tour on a Sunday, so saw the Tabernacle choir..a must! I also did the Copper mine and the Great Salt Lake tour. The weather was poor for the copper canyon tour, but it was lovely by the afternoon for the Lake tour! All the buses arrived on time and all 3 drivers drove with care and were really informative!

There is a lot to see during this tour, the highlight being the choir performance - visually and musically beautiful. With so much to see, our guide was a key component to making the tour the fun time it was. He was very knowledgeable and did a great job. You could tell he loved talking about his city and its heritage.

Our guide and bus driver was an excellent people person. Gave us all an indepth talk on history of Salt Lake City whilst showing travellers all of the city's attractions. He got to know where we all came from ,made us feel at ease and offered great loal advice. Overall a very enjoyable 3.5 hr tour.

Kennecott Copper Mine – Things to do in Salt Lake City

One of the most memorable things to do in Salt Lake City is to visit the largest man-made hole in history. The Kennecott Utah Copper Mine located in Bingham Canyon is nearly three miles wide and getting close to one mile deep. Pictured above you will see the terraces or roads; there are over 500 miles of road within the copper mine pit, enough to stretch from Salt Lake City to Denver. On a hot summer day, over one million gallons of water is used to suppress dust as the giant haulage trucks travel over them. This enormous hole used to be a mountain nearly 8400 feet in elevation, and after several billion tons of rock were extracted over the span of a century, it is now the largest man-made hole on earth. Join us on the Kennecott Copper Mine Tour to see this unbelievable sight for yourself.

Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine

Top ways to experience Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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The Kennecott's Bingham Canyon Copper Mine is shown Wednesday, May 11, 2022, in Herriman, Utah. (AP)

Mine games: Photo shows extraction site for copper, not lithium

If your time is short.

This image shows a copper mine in Utah, not a lithium mine.

A recent Facebook post shows two scenes: a deep sand-colored pit dotted with vehicles and structures, and a bucolic pasture with cattle grazing around an oil rig. 

"Lithium for electric cars," reads text on the first image. On the second: "Oil for cars."

But this comparison that looks askance at electric vehicles misses the mark. The first image doesn’t show the site of "lithium for electric cars." 

An April 14 Facebook post sharing the images was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta , which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

A reverse-image search led us to a 2022 YouTube video posted by Montesinos Drone World, the account of aerial videographer Francisco Montesinos . Montesinos didn’t immediately respond to PolitiFact’s questions about the post.

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The Facebook post’s image appears about a minute into the video, titled "Bingham (Kennecott) Copper Mine — World’s largest open pit excavation)."

Kennecott Utah Copper, a subsidiary of mine owner Rio Tinto Group, has been mining copper from the Bingham Canyon Mine in Utah since 1903 . Kennecott Utah Copper also extracts gold, silver, molybdenum and tellurium. The Salt Lake Tribune reported in 2019 that production of copper and other metals would continue there through at least 2032.

Lithium typically is mined in South America and Australia.

Rio Tinto didn’t respond to PolitiFact’s questions about the Facebook post, but other company and news photos of the mine resemble the image in the post.

We’ve previously fact-checked posts that purport to show lithium mines that are actually copper mines. 

We rate claims the image in this Facebook post shows a lithium mine False.

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The Principles of the Truth-O-Meter

Our Sources

Facebook post , April 14, 2024

PolitiFact, Photo does not show lithium mine — it’s a copper mine , May 11, 2022

Rio Tinto, Kennecott , visited April 20, 2024

Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto Kennecott visitor experience , visited April 20, 2024

YouTube, Bingham (Kennecott) Copper Mine - World's Largest Open Pit Excavation (4K Aerial) , June 19, 2022

The Salt Lake Tribune, Kennecott’s Bingham Canyon Mine will last until at least 2032 , Dec. 3, 2019

Montesinos Drone World Instagram account , visited April 20, 2024

Montesinos Drone World Facebook account , visited April 20, 2024

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