World's First Two Open-Pit Copper Mines

   This 1909 photo shows the Boston Con Open-Pit Mine on the top of the Copper Hill and the Utah Copper Open-Pit Mine at the bottom with an unmined area between the two open-pit mines. The Utah Copper can't, for much longer, continue to mine without undermining the overlying levels of the Boston Con. In 1910 the two companies merged and retained the name of the "Utah Copper Company". The Utah Copper, from 1910 on, could rightfully claim the title of the world's first open-pit copper mine. After the merger the Utah Copper steam shovels quickly dug levels across the previously unmined area so that "The Hill" soon had levels from top to bottom.