Santa Rita open pit copper mine

An Apache indian showed the Spanish an outcropping of copper in this area in 1799. The Mexicans started mining in 1804 and hauled 6 million pounds by mule to Mexico City! The Gadsen Purchase acquired 33000 square miles in this area for the USA from Mexico in 1854. The entire town of Santa Rita was moved in the 1950's since it sat on the deposit. Open pit with steam shovels started in 1910. Two billion tons has been moved since 1910. Today the pit in the photo is more than a mile across and 1600 feet deep. The tire in the photo (Bridgestone 46/90R57) with Andre and Bob G is from a truck that hauls 80 tons and costs $2.5 million. This is loaded in a single scoop from an electric shovel that costs $14 million. Imagine 40 automobiles being scooped and dropped into a truck! Annual production today is 100 million pounds. Massive, awesome, wow!
Terry