10 Biggest Mining Operations in The World

Summary

This video explores the world's 10 largest mining operations, from the Grassburg gold and copper mine in Indonesia, which is a significant taxpayer and believed to be worth a hundred billion dollars, to the Escondida mine in Chile, the world's leading copper producer. It also covers the El Teniente, the world's largest underground copper mine, and the Mir diamond mine in Russia, which faced extreme weather challenges. The Orapa diamond mine in Botswana, the Karajás iron mine in Brazil, and the Greenbushes lithium mine in Australia are also highlighted, showcasing the scale and impact of these operations on the global economy and the environment.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Grasberg mine in Indonesia is home to the largest gold reserve and one of the top copper reserves in the world, controlled by Freeport-McMoRan.
• ⛏️ The Escondida mine in Chile is the largest source of copper globally, accounting for 32% of global production, with operations 10,000 feet above sea level in the Atacama Desert.
• 🏔️ El Teniente in Chile is the largest underground copper mine, with 1,900 miles of tunnels, and is operated by Chile’s state-owned company, Codelco.
• 🛠️ Chukicamata, another major copper mine in Chile, has been mined since 550 A.D., producing billions of tons of copper and continuing to expand with new tunnels.
• 💎 The Mir mine in Russia, a massive diamond operation, had one of the largest diamond productions and reopened in 2009 after being halted due to a flood.
• 💍 Botswana’s Orapa diamond mine is the largest in the world by area and is a key driver of Botswana’s economy, producing 10.8 million carats of diamonds annually.
• ⚒️ Brazil’s Carajás iron mine, discovered by accident in 1967, is the largest iron ore mine in the world, producing massive amounts of iron and other minerals.
• 🔋 Western Australia's Greenbushes mine is the largest lithium producer globally, supplying materials for lithium-ion batteries used in electronic devices.
• 💰 Uzbekistan’s Muruntau gold mine, one of the largest gold deposits in the world, produces millions of ounces of gold annually and continues to grow in production.
• 🏞️ The Bingham Canyon mine in Utah is the largest artificial excavation and the deepest open-pit mine, producing millions of tons of copper since 1906.

Q & A

What is the largest known gold reserve on Earth located in?

The largest known gold reserve on Earth is located at the Grasberg gold and copper mine in Indonesia.

In which year was the Grasberg mine discovered, and when did mining operations begin?

The Grasberg mine was discovered in 1936, but mining operations didn't begin until the 1970s.

What is the significance of the Escondida mine in Chile's economy?

The Escondida mine in Chile is the world's leading producer of copper, accounting for 32% of all production and making up a massive portion of the Chilean GDP.

How deep is the Chuquicamata copper mine, and what is its historical significance?

The Chuquicamata copper mine is 3,200 feet deep and is the largest open pit copper mine in the world. It has been in operation since 1910, with mining activities dating back to the 6th century.

What is unique about the Mir diamond mine in Russia?

The Mir diamond mine in Russia is unique because it was built 280 miles away from the Arctic Circle and was the largest diamond mine in Russia and one of the biggest in the world.

How does the Orapa diamond mine contribute to Botswana's economy?

The Orapa diamond mine contributes significantly to Botswana's economy by transforming the country from an impoverished nation to a thriving middle-income country, with most of the diamond revenue being reinvested in health, education, social assistance, and public infrastructure.

What is the significance of the Karajás iron mine in Brazil?

The Karajás iron mine in Brazil is the world's largest iron mine and is fully owned by the Brazilian mining company Vale, playing a crucial role in Brazil's status as the second-largest iron producer in the world.

What is the Greenbushes mine known for, and how does it impact the global lithium market?

The Greenbushes mine in Western Australia is known for being the largest lithium mine in the world, accounting for over one-fifth of global lithium production, which is vital for the production of lithium-ion batteries used in various rechargeable devices.

What is the Muruntau gold mine's annual gold production, and what is its significance?

The Muruntau gold mine in Uzbekistan produced 3 million ounces of gold in 2021. It is one of the largest gold operations on Earth and is a significant contributor to the global gold supply.

What is the historical background of the Bingham Canyon mine, and what is its current status?

The Bingham Canyon mine, discovered in 1848, is the largest artificial excavation site in the world and the deepest open-pit mine. It is currently managed by Rio Tinto and Kennecott Utah Copper, accounting for over 16% of copper produced in the United States.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 World's Largest Mining Operations

The script describes some of the world's most significant mining operations, including a massive gold mine in Uzbekistan, a copper mine in Chile's Atacama Desert, an iron mine in Brazil, and a diamond mine in Russia. It details the discovery and production of these mines, emphasizing the scale of operations and their economic impact. The Grassberg mine in Indonesia, for instance, is highlighted for its vast gold and copper reserves, with production figures and ownership details provided. The Escondida mine's significance to Chile's economy and its sustainable energy initiatives are also discussed.

05:02

🏭 Chilean Copper and Russian Diamond Mines

This paragraph focuses on the El Teniente copper mine in Chile, which is the largest underground mine globally, and its historical and operational significance. It discusses the mine's challenges, such as its location in the Andes and the extensive tunnel network. The script also covers the Chuquicamata copper mine, including its size, depth, and historical context. Additionally, it details the Mir diamond mine in Russia, from its discovery by Soviet geologists to its current operations and the challenges faced due to the harsh climate.

10:02

💎 Diamond Mines and Economic Impact

The script provides an overview of the Jwaneng diamond mine in Botswana, emphasizing its size, production, and the economic transformation it brought to the country. It discusses how diamond revenues are reinvested into public services and infrastructure, contributing to Botswana's low corruption ranking. The Karajás iron mine in Brazil is also highlighted, detailing its accidental discovery, ownership, and the scale of iron ore reserves it contains.

15:02

🚜 Gold Mining and the Future of Muruntau

This paragraph delves into the Muruntau gold mine in Uzbekistan, one of the largest gold operations globally, with details on its size, production, and the geological processes that formed the deposit. It also mentions the Bingham Canyon mine in Utah, the largest artificial excavation visible from space, and its historical significance and production of copper, gold, silver, and molybdenum. The paragraph concludes with a mention of a rock slide incident at Bingham Canyon mine and the mine's contribution to U.S. copper production.

Keywords

💡Gold Mine

A gold mine is a type of mine where gold is extracted from the ground. In the context of the video, it refers to large-scale operations that have significant economic and geological importance. The script mentions the Grasberg gold and copper mine in Indonesia, which is highlighted as having the largest known gold reserve on Earth, emphasizing the scale and value of such mining operations.

💡Copper

Copper is a reddish-brown metal that is an essential component in various industries, particularly in electrical wiring due to its high conductivity. The video discusses the Escondida mine in Chile, which is the world's leading producer of copper, contributing significantly to Chile's GDP and global copper supply.

💡Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert, mentioned in the script, is a virtually rainless plateau in Chile, which is home to several large mining operations. The desert's harsh conditions and unique geology make it a challenging yet rewarding environment for mining, particularly for copper.

💡Iron Mine

An iron mine is a place where iron ore is extracted from the earth. Iron is a key component in steel production. The video references the卡拉加斯铁矿 in Brazil, which is the world's largest iron mine, highlighting the importance of iron in global industrial activities.

💡Diamond Mine

A diamond mine is a location where diamonds are extracted from the earth. Diamonds are highly valued for their hardness and are used in various industries, including jewelry and industrial applications. The Mir mine in Russia, as described in the script, is an example of a diamond mine that has been a significant source of diamonds for decades.

💡Open Pit Mine

An open pit mine, also known as an open-cast or open-cut mine, is a type of mining where the minerals are extracted from an open-top pit created by removing the overlying soil and rock. The video describes the Chuquicamata copper mine in Chile, which is the largest open pit copper mine in the world, illustrating the scale of such operations.

💡Underground Mine

An underground mine is a type of mining where the minerals are extracted from beneath the surface, requiring extensive tunneling and excavation. The El Teniente copper mine, as mentioned in the video, is the largest underground mine in the world, showcasing the engineering feats involved in such operations.

💡Renewable Energy

Renewable energy refers to energy sources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power. The video discusses BHP's commitment to transitioning the Escondida mine in Chile to run on 100% renewable energy, demonstrating a move towards more sustainable mining practices.

💡Lithium Mine

A lithium mine is a location where lithium, a soft, silvery-white alkali metal, is extracted. Lithium is a key component in rechargeable batteries, particularly for electric vehicles and electronics. The video highlights the Greenbushes mine in Australia, which is the largest lithium mine in the world, emphasizing the growing importance of lithium for modern technology.

💡Gold Deposit

A gold deposit refers to a concentration of gold in the earth's crust that is economically viable to extract. The Muruntau gold mine in Uzbekistan, as mentioned in the script, is home to one of the largest gold deposits on Earth, indicating the vast wealth that can be found in such deposits.

💡Artificial Excavation

Artificial excavation refers to the process of creating a large hole or structure by human activity, often for mining purposes. The Bingham Canyon mine, as described in the video, is the largest artificial excavation site in the world and is visible from space, illustrating the scale of human impact on the landscape.

Highlights

The Grasberg gold and copper mine in Indonesia is the largest known gold reserve on Earth.

Grassberg mine is controlled by Freeport McMoRan and has produced over 53 million ounces of gold.

Escondida mine in Chile is the world's leading producer of copper, accounting for 32% of global production.

El Teniente is the largest underground mine in the world, with over 1900 miles of tunnels.

Chuquicamata is the largest open pit copper mine and the second deepest at 3200 feet.

The Mir diamond mine in Russia was the largest in the country and one of the biggest in the world.

The Orapa diamond mine in Botswana is the world's largest diamond mine, covering 0.46 square miles.

The Carajás iron mine in Brazil is the world's largest iron mine, discovered by accident in 1967.

Greenbushes mine in Australia is the world's largest lithium mine, supplying lithium for batteries.

Muruntau Gold Mine in Uzbekistan is one of the largest gold operations on Earth, producing 3 million ounces of gold in 2021.

Bingham Canyon mine in Utah is the largest artificial excavation site in the world, visible from space.

Grassberg mine is Indonesia's biggest taxpayer, contributing significantly to the country's revenue.

Escondida mine's transition to 100% renewable energy will displace 3 million tons of CO2 per year.

Kodelco, the state-owned company in Chile, manages all copper production, including the El Teniente mine.

Chuquicamata's expansion plans aim to deepen the mine by 2600 feet, extending its life by 50 years.

The Orapa mine's operations have transformed Botswana into a thriving middle-income country.

Greenbushes mine is undergoing a $1.9 billion expansion to double its size and production capacity.

Bingham Canyon mine has been in operation since 1906 and is the deepest open-pit mine on Earth.

Transcripts

from one of the biggest gold mines on

Earth located in the middle of

Uzbekistan and a massive copper

operation in Chile that sits ten

thousand feet above sea level in the

Atacama Desert to the world's largest

iron mine in Brazil that was discovered

entirely by accident and an unbelievable

diamond mine in Russia that was built

right next to a city here are the 10

biggest mining operations in the world

foreign

the year was 1936 a Dutch geologist

named John Dosey was climbing the

world's tallest Island Peak the

snow-capped mount Carstens on the

Indonesian island of West Papua as he

neared the top he noticed a strange rock

formation in the distance the green

streaks stole his attention he brought

samples back home for testing little did

he know he had stumbled upon a massive

deposit of gold and copper the grassburg

gold and copper mine houses the largest

known gold reserve on Earth some say

it's the second largest copper Reserve

in the world others say it's the third

either way there is a lot of gold and

copper down there the pit is about 60

miles north of Tamika a small town in

central Papua and though it was

discovered in 1936 mining didn't begin

until the 1970s today grassburg is

controlled by an American company called

Freeport McMoRan they've been there

since the beginning but thought they

mined the site dry in the mid-1980s

after some careful exploring in 1988 the

company found more gold deposits in the

area that's when they started printing

money between 1990 and 2019 grassburg

produced 53 million ounces of gold and

432 billion ounces of copper that's

equal to over 1 600 tons of gold all

that production makes grassburg

Indonesia's biggest taxpayer they

believe the reserves are easily worth a

hundred billion dollars in Revenue

the world's Undisputed primary source of

copper is the Escondida mine in Chile

it's located in the Atacama Desert and

makes up a massive portion of the

Chilean GDP they are the world's leading

producer of copper accounting for 32 of

all production they're just lucky they

found the mine Escondida means hidden in

Spanish the copper ore was buried under

thousands of feet of rock and Mountain

they had to drill through other known

copper deposits just to find it getting

there presented another challenge the

Escondido mine sits about 10 000 feet

above sea level in the Atacama Desert

it's also not your typical mining pit

the copper deposits stretch 11 miles

north to south and two miles east to

west production began in the 1990s but

unless they find another miracle deposit

the mine should only last into the 2030s

the mine's primary owner BHP Billiton is

a little more more optimistic in 2012

they estimated the mine had another 100

years of production left in her they're

also pretty happy with recent production

numbers in the first half of 2022 the

mine produced

824.4 kilotons of copper that was up 12

percent compared to 2021. they're also

making big moves on the sustainability

front according to BHP the mine will

soon run on 100 renewable energy they

did have to spend a pretty penny to

cancel their coal contracts about 1.1

billion dollars however moving to

Renewables should displace 3 million

tons of CO2 per year that's equal to 700

000 combustion engine cars

imagine a single road that stretched all

the way from New York City to Las Vegas

Nevada now bend that road like a

slithering snake and bury it below the

Andes Mountains in Chile what you'd have

is the El teniente copper mine the

largest underground mine in the world

but aren't all mines underground well

not necessarily most mines are open pit

meaning they're just a giant hole in the

ground you can't really dig holes in the

Andes mountains but you can dig tunnels

about 1 900 miles worth of tunnels we've

been digging those tunnels since 1819.

Legend has it that a fugitive Spaniard

stumbled upon the copper deposits and

started hauling them out by mule and

donkey in the early 1900s two American

men built a road to make moving the ore

much easier the mine was owned by a Utah

company until 1967. then the Chilean

government bought it in 1971 Chilean

president Salvador Allende nationalized

the copper industry all Chilean copper

now flows through one state-owned

company kodelco copper production hit a

six-year low in 2015 to compensate

kodelco opened another mine within the

El teniente division they predicted the

new expansion would produce 50 000 tons

of copper each year they also started

another expansion that would deepen the

Mine by about 328 feet the new Mine

level project costs about 5.4 billion

dollars but should extend the mine's

life another 50 years

the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile is

an arid landscape with little vegetation

however it has plenty of raw minerals

hidden underground in 2021 the mining

sector contributed

317 billion dollars to Chile's GDP

that's about 15 percent of all the money

they make much of it likely came from

the chuki kamata copper mine the largest

open pit copper mine in the world it's

also the second deepest at 3 200 feet

deep 9500 feet wide and sixteen thousand

feet long all of New York's Central Park

could fit inside current operations at

chuki kamata have been the same since

1910 but people had been mining copper

long before the Inca and Spanish

conquistadors used the mine to make

tools and weapons then in 1899 someone

found a well-preserved mummy buried deep

in the mine he became known as copperman

and his remains date back to 550 A.D now

if we've been mining chuki Hamada since

the 6th Century wouldn't it be empty by

now well they believe there's still

1.76 billion tons of copper down there

that's why in 2007 the Chilean

government suggested digging tunnels

under the mine they finalized the plans

in 2009 and the environmental agencies

granted approval in 2010. by 2060 the

mine should be nearly 2 600 feet deeper

it'll also cost the government about 4.2

billion dollars to dig of course they'll

make that back overnight with all the

copper they find the new tunnels should

produce 140

000 tons of ore per day

in the summer of 1955 a group of Soviet

geologists were trekking through Siberia

when they encountered a pleasant

surprise they discovered traces of a

rare volcanic rock called kimberlite in

case you aren't a geologist kimberlite

means diamonds for their Discovery these

men received the Lenin prize one of the

highest honors in the USSR the Russians

began building ASAP they quickly learned

that digging a mine 280 miles away from

the Arctic Circle isn't easy the area

experiences seven months of winter each

year the ground freezes making it hard

to penetrate then in the summer it turns

the slush making it very unstable it got

so cold at times that engine oil would

freeze and tires would shatter still the

Soviets persevered and mere mine was

born at the time it was the largest

diamond mine in Russia and one of the

biggest in the world by the 1960s Mir

was cranking out 10 million carats of

diamonds each year the more they dug the

more diamonds they found by the 1990s

they had reached

1120 feet deep then a flood in the pit

bottom halted production the mine

changed hands several times after the

Soviet Union collapsed when production

finally stopped in 2004 mere mine was

the second largest excavated hole on

Earth it was so big that you weren't

allowed to fly over it there was a

chance the downward airflow could suck

helicopters in like a vacuum mirror

reopened in 2009 and should last another

50 years it's currently owned by Al Rosa

the world's largest Diamond miner by

volume they employ about 70 percent of

the local community about 35

000 people

arapa Botswana is home to about 9 000

people four schools and the world's

largest diamond mine the mine covers a

.46 square mile area that's about 300

acres of land for the record the White

House only sits on 18 acres of land the

Europa mine is owned and operated by

Botswana Diamond company in partnership

with de Beer's diamond Co a team of De

Beer's geologists discovered the mine in

March of 1967. conveniently it was only

a year after Botswana declared

independence from Britain in his first

year orapa produced over 1.4 million

carats of diamonds it only went up from

there they operate seven days a week and

produce over 20 million tons of ore from

that ore they pull about 10.8 million

carats of diamonds each year botswana's

entire economy relies on the Europa mine

thanks to all those diamonds they

evolved from an impover Irish Nation to

a thriving middle-income country

according to the international monetary

fund transparency is the name of the

game where other countries might get

greedy botswana's government reinvests

in its people most of the diamond

Revenue goes towards health education

social assistance and public

infrastructure they're also ranked 35th

among countries regarding corruption for

the record the United States is 24th

Denmark is number one and Somalia is

dead last

thank you

when we think of giant Minds we like to

picture silver gold and plenty of

diamonds but the world still needs iron

too and we get most of it from the

karajas iron mine in Para Brazil the

mine is fully owned by a Brazilian

mining company called Veil according to

their estimates about 7.2 billion tons

of iron ore are waiting for them karajas

is the world's largest iron mine but it

wasn't discovered until

1967. even then they found it completely

by accident a team of geologists from

U.S steel was flying over the Amazon

rainforest when they had to make an

emergency landing to refuel they landed

their helicopter on a hill that seemed

rather odd it was Barren too Barren for

something in a remote corner of the

rainforest they tested the ground and lo

and behold it was basically made of iron

they also discovered manganese tin

copper aluminum and and gold but iron

was still the real prize the United

States said we found it so it's ours the

Brazilian government didn't want to hear

it they made a deal to split the mine in

1970. Vale took 51 ownership U.S steel

took the other 49 then U.S steel sold

their half in 1977 so now the mine is

fully controlled by Brazil today Brazil

produces the second most iron in the

world Australia's number one accounting

for 35 percent of global iron ore

production

thank you Western Australia is home to

Green Bush's mine the largest lithium

mine in the world Our Lives run on

lithium look at all the rechargeable

items in your room from your laptop and

your phone to your gaming consoles and

Bluetooth headphones they all likely run

on Lithium-ion batteries there's a good

chance your lithium came from

greenbushes Australia they produce about

1.95 million tons of lithium every year

for the record your average cell phone

has less than a gram of lithium the

mining project is split between two

companies a Chinese company called

tianchi lithium Industries owns a 51

steak the other 49 percent is owned by

an American company Albemarle Corp both

stand to make insane amounts of money as

lithium demand keeps Rising according to

reports Global lithium demand should

grow by 33.3 percent every year to keep

Pace with demand the green Bush's mine

is current currently going through an

expansion process they hope to build two

more processing facilities to produce

more battery juice than ever before

today the green Bush's open pit

operation is about 870 feet deep they've

been digging since 1888 when the area

was mostly mined for tin the lithium-ion

battery wouldn't be invented for another

88 years we have a British chemist named

Michael whittium to thank for that if

you're watching this video on your

smartphone or laptop say thank you

Michael Whittingham they first

discovered lithium at greenbushes in

1980. they had no idea how valuable it

was at the time to them it was just a

soft geological Oddity they began a

small-scale mining operation in 1983

then production exploded in the 2000s as

the push towards electric cars became

more mainstream as of 2021 greenbushes

accounts for over one-fifth of global

lithium production plans to expand the

mine are already in place the 1.9

billion dollar expansion will double the

mine's size we're talking 1.6 miles long

over a half mile wide and about 1 500

feet deep

if you zoom in on Central Uzbekistan

you'll see a massive circular cavity

surrounded by nothing but desert you'll

see trucks driving in and out like ants

on a hill each one is full of

humankind's most precious metal gold you

would be looking at the muruntao Gold

Mine one of the largest gold operations

on Earth according to NASA the muruntal

mine is home to one of the biggest gold

deposits on Earth today it stretches 1.8

miles across the kizukum desert and over

2 000 feet into the ground in 2021 the

mines spat Out 3 million ounces of gold

that's a hundred and eighty seven

thousand five hundred pounds or about

seven and a half fully loaded school

buses the gold deposit was first

discovered in 1958. before that the

Tau mine was a main source of

turquoise dating back to the ancient

Silk Road geologists believe it took

millions of years for the golden

muruntao to rise to the surface during

that time ancient oceans closed and

disappeared mountains sprouted from the

earth and tectonic shifts changed our

planet forever today the muruntal mine

is owned and operated by navoy Mining

and metallurgical combinet a state-run

company they have invested Millions if

not billions of dollars into growing the

mine over time as of 2023 muruntao is in

its Stage 5 development phase by 2026

navoy hopes to produce 50 million tons

of ore per year but remember that

doesn't mean 50 million tons of gold

the Bingham Canyon mine near Salt Lake

City Utah is the largest artificial

excavation site in the world covering an

area of 4.7 square miles it's one of the

few man-made objects you can see from

space other sites include the Three

Gorges Dam and the Palm jumera in Dubai

the canyon mine is also the deepest open

pit mine on Earth at three quarters of a

mile deep they say it's produced more

copper than any other mine in history

about 17 million tons Bingham Canyon has

been in operation since 1906. it was

discovered in 1848 by two Mormon

Brothers Sanford and Tom Bingham they

reported their findings to Brigham Young

the then president of the LDS church he

basically told them it wasn't worth it

so Sanford and Tom didn't stake their

claim another Utah Mining Company came

by in the 1860s and the rest is history

today it's owned by Rio Tinto an Anglo

Australian company meanwhile the

Kennecott Utah copperco manages all

mining operations that's why some locals

call it the Kennecott copper mine

instead of Bingham Canyon it accounts

for more than 16 percent of copper

produced in the United States they also

dabble in Gold Silver and molybdenum a

mineral used in steel Alloys in April of

2016 a massive rock slide shuttered

production at the Bingham County mine

according to reports

165 million tons of rocks slid to the

bottom of the pit thankfully nobody was

in the mine when the landslide occurred

well that's all we have for you today

but if you enjoyed this video and want

to see another just like it then be sure

to click the link on screen now with

that thanks for watching and be sure to

tune in next time

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