Owner: BHP Billiton
Type of Mine: Copper, Gold, Silver, Uranium
Location: South Australia
Built: 1988
While technically an underground mine, BHP Billiton has scheduled expansions to make this the largest open pit mine in the world; a far stretch from what was once the Roxby Downs Sheep Station. Which makes sense when you realize that the site is host to massive copper, uranium, gold and silver deposits.
It is estimated that the Olympic dam holds reserves making it the fourth largest copper deposit and the largest deposit of uranium in the world. Even without the expansion the Olympic Dam requires 35 million litres of water for its daily activities.
Image courtesy of BHP Billiton; Olympic Dam Australia
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2 Comments
Billy
Hi Joshua,
Not sure of your exact definition, bit I think that you might have missed the largest open pit mine of them all. The Syncrude mine of the Athabasca oil sands cover around over 191square kilometers and the Suncor mine is not far behind. Although not as deep as the mines on your list, these two bitumen mines are each larger than many cities, and are easily visible from outer space.
Here’s a picture comparing them to the Greater Washington DC area. The next largest may be the North Rhine-Westphalia Lignite Mines in Germany.
Cheers,
William
Guest
Murantau Gold Mine – Uzbekistan – look that one up!