What is the Twin Creeks gold mine and where is it located?
The Twin Creeks gold mine is a surface mining operation in Nevada, United States. The bottom of this pit remains invisible to observers standing at its rim.
Questions about Open-pit mining
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How many tons of ore move daily from large open-pit mines?
Almost one million tons of ore and waste rock move daily from the largest mines. A couple thousand tons move from small mines each day.
When does an open-pit mine stop operating due to economic factors?
Open-pit mines typically work until mineral resource exhausts or overburden ratio becomes uneconomic. Increasing ratio of overburden to ore makes further mining financially unviable for operators.
Where are the world's ten largest open-pit mines located according to 2015 data?
Bingham Canyon Mine sits in United States while Mir Mine operates in Russia. Super Pit Gold Mine exists in Australia alongside Big Hole located in South Africa.
Why do open-pit mines use benches and what is their typical thickness?
These operations dig on benches which describe vertical levels within the hole. Large mine benches typically measure 12 to 15 metres thick according to technical specifications.