Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, UT, USA

Located Salt Lake City Utah US Bingham Canyon celebrated its 100th anniversary June 2003. Bingham Canyon mine Copperton concentrator Garfield smelter comprise largest up-to-date integrated copper operations world: major investments past 15 years ensured economically environmentally operation. Cumulative copper output 17Mt mine.

For its life Bingham Canyon owned Kennecott Copper Corp. However post-1973 oil crisis shake-out company acquired British Petroleum sold Rio Tinto operates Bingham Canyon its 100% subsidiary Kennecott Utah Copper Corp. facilities employ 2,400 people.

In 2005 Rio Tinto committed $170m 1 pushback project extend pit Bingham Canyon 2017.

"Rio revealed 2008 studying deepening 1.2km pit shore extra 2.83 million tons copper resources."

Following research analysts investors Rio revealed 2008 studying deepening 1.2km pit shore extra 2.83 million tons copper resources.

SBM VSI5X Impact Crusher, VSI Impact Crusher, PE Jaw Crusher, JCE Jaw Crusher

A major molybdenum deposit discovered 2008. Additional porphyry mineralisation identified beneath southern wall pit. resources studied extraction pit methods.

However because economic downturn option expand underground operations suspended.

Rio hoped project 2009 copper valuing $22.67bn prevailing prices.

A major molybdenum deposit discovered 2008. Beneath southern wall pit additional porphyry mineralisation identified. resources being studied extraction pit methods.

SBM VSI Impact Crusher, PE Jaw Crusher, JCE Jaw Crusher, Symons Cone Crusher

In August 2010 Rio announced its Cornerstone project expected extend mine 2034. Rio seeking permission regulators push wall approximately 1,000ft deepen mine another 300ft 700Mt copper ore.

Rio generate source 100MW electricity Cornerstone expansion project. require obtaining 25 70 primary environmental permits relating air land.

SBM PE Jaw Crusher, JCE Jaw Crusher, Symons Cone Crusher, Hydraulic Cone Crusher

Geology reserves

The classic copper porphyry orebody not huge enjoys fairly uniform distribution sulphide mineralisation mainly chalcopyrite. existing pit worked 2013 pit underground continue that. end-2009 proven probable open-pit reserves totalled 524Mt grading 0.47% copper 0.044% molybdenum 0.25g/t 2.08g/t silver. Total resources 647Mt 0.477% copper 0.18g/t gold 0.034% molybdenum 2.1g/t silver.

Open-pit mining

The Bingham Canyon pit 2.5 miles wide deep. uses rotary drilling/blasting – shovel/truck – in-pit system blasts per day. costs management utilise cost-effective drilling loading haulage management tools available.

SBM JCE Jaw Crusher, Symons Cone Crusher, Hydraulic Cone Crusher, Spring Cone Crusher

One recent series major investments in-pit semi-mobile gyratory linked Copperton Concentrator 8km conveyor system. reduced haulage distances working faces substantially mine needs fleet Caterpillar mechanical Komatsu electric-drive trucks mostly 218t-capacity service P&H electric rope shovels.

SBM Symons Cone Crusher, Hydraulic Cone Crusher, Spring Cone Crusher, Jaw Crusher Mobile Crusher

Dispatching Modular computerised system Bingham utilises Thunderbird Pacific's drill monitoring logging systems. GPS Glonass used precise drill positioning. Germany's Takraf upgraded relocated semi-mobile in-pit conveyor system trucking distances down.

Ore processing

The Copperton concentrator expanded 1992 fitted world’s largest SAG ball mills flotation cells. grinding flotation lines sequentially yielding copper molybdenum concentrate. copper concentrate piped 27km smelter. its closure mid-2001 older supplied 20% copper concentrate smelting.

"Rio produces approximately 8% world's molybdenum."

The current smelting facilities result major investment comprising primary flash smelter flash converter system designed Outokumpu input Kennecott plus slag treatment plant. converter treats matte granulated powdered. 98.6% copper converter refined 99.5% copper anode furnaces.

SBM Hydraulic Cone Crusher, Spring Cone Crusher, Jaw Crusher Mobile Crusher, Cone Crusher Mobile Crusher

Cast anodes railed 3km refinery’s electrolytic tankhouse marketable high-purity copper produced silver content concentrate recovered.

Production

Having regarded minor contributor income Bingham Canyon increased demand molybdenum important. Income moly sales $30m 2002 rose $700m 2005. 2008 mine modified include areas higher moly content expense copper concentrator fine-tuned optimise moly recoveries expansion moly-recovery circuit commissioned mid-2006.

SBM Spring Cone Crusher, Jaw Crusher Mobile Crusher, Cone Crusher Mobile Crusher, Impact Crusher Mobile Crusher

Rio produces approximately 8% world's molybdenum expects 60 million pounds 2015. improve efficiency constructing autoclave process Magna molybdenum instead outsourcing. estimated cost $340m scheduled completed 2012. Operations expected 2013.

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