This picture shows the March 16, 1906 startup of the world's first large-scale open-pit copper mine -- the Boston Con's Bingham Canyon, Utah mine. The Boston Con started its operation as an underground mine from which ore was extracted to prove the grade and tonnage of the orebody and also for determine the best methods for milling the ore. Note the area near the center of the picture that caved in to the older underground workings. This mine level was partially dug by horse-drawn scrapers and manpower to make room for the tracks and for the steam shovel to begin the large-scale mining operation.
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