Large Mines

Fort Knox Gold Mine near Fairbanks, owned by Kinross Gold (Canadian)
Fort Knox open pit

Mining today is a massive industry. Most major mines in Alaska are owned by foreign corporations.


© Sandy Lonsdale
Riddle Ridge Nickel Mine, Oregon
Riddle Ridge open pit mine

Depending on the distribution of ore, a mine near Tangle Lakes could be open pit or ...


Pogo Underground Mine near Delta, Alaska
Pogo underground mine

... underground. Even underground mines can have large "footprints."


© Jim Kuipers
Tyrone Copper Mine, New Mexico
Tyrone open pit copper mine, New Mexico

Open pit mines (strip mines) remove the natural features of the land.


Photo courtesy Earthworks
Bingham Canyon Waste Rock: 7 miles long, 1000 feet high
Bingham Canyon mine waste rock

Both open pit and underground mines have waste rock dumps ...


© cNorthern Plains Resource Council
Processing Mill, Stillwater Underground Platinum Mine, MT
Processing mill at Stillwater underground platinum mine

... mill complexes ...


Tailings Pond and Dam, Fort Knox Mine near Fairbanks
Tailings pond and dam at Fort Knox near Fairbanks

... and tailing stacks and ponds.


11-Mile Haul Road between True North and Fort Knox, Fairbanks
11-mile haul road between True North and Fort Knox, Fairbanks

Transmission lines and access roads extend a mine's footprint.


Photo courtesy NAEC
Hauling ore from Red Dog Mine, Northwest Alaska
Hauling ore from Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska

Health concerns include toxic dust escaping from ore trucks.


Photo courtesy Earthworks
Zortman-Landusky Mine, Montana
Toxic drainage from Zortman-Landusky Mine in Montana

Drainage from mines can contain toxic substances, some of which, like this, must be treated forever.