Working list: World’s deepest open pit mines past and present

Morenci Copper Mine – photo by author

The following list identifies more than 120 of the deepest open pit mines in the world. As additional data for other mines is found, the list will be updated accordingly. A separate post will be prepared on the deepest quarries, so they are not included here.

Bingham Canyon Copper Mine – Source: sciencephoto.com

When a mine has multiple open pits, the depth of the deepest pit is listed unless data is known for each pit, in which case the pits are listed separately. If the current depth is unavailable, the planned depth ups completion is used. Dates provided are when the mine was an open pit operation. Peace!

Homestake Gold Mine – Source: TripAdvisor.com

Mine name/Primary minerals/Dates operated/Location/Depth in feet/Meters

1. Morenci copper (1937-present) – Clifton, AZ = 4,450 feet/1,356 m upon completion

2. Cuajone copper (1976-present) – Moquegua Region, Peru = 4,232 feet/1,290 m

3-4. Bingham Canyon copper (1906-present) – Salt Lake City, UT = 3,937 feet/1,200 m

Buenavista copper – Cananea, Mexico = 3,937 feet/1,200 m

5. Climax molybdenum (1916-present) – Leadville, CO = 3,117 feet/950 m upon completion

6. Chuquicamata copper (1882-present) – Calama, Chile = 2,789 feet/850 m

7. Kumtor gold (1997-present) – Issyk-Kul Region, Kyrgyzstan = 2,762 feet/842 m upon completion

8. Sarcheshmeh copper (1972-present) – Kerman Province, Iran = 2,756 feet/840 m upon completion

9. Highland Valley copper (1962-present) – Logan Lake, BC, Canada = 2,640 feet/805 m

10. Palabora copper (1956-?) – Phalaborwa, South Africa = 2,625 feet/800 m

11. Fort Knox gold (1997-present) – Fairbanks, AK ~ 2,600 feet/792 m

12. Toquepala copper (1960-present) – Tacna, Peru = 2,297 feet/700 m

13. Ray copper (1880-present) – Kearny, AZ = 2,149 feet/655 m

14. Escondida copper (late 1990s to present) – Atacama Desert, Chile = 2,113 feet/645 m

15. Udachny (1971-present) – Udachny, Russia = 2,067 feet/630 m

16. Jwaneng diamond (1982-present) – Botswana = 2,051 feet/625 m

17. Bagdad copper (1970-present) – Bagdad, AZ = 2,001 feet/610 m

18-22. Muruntau gold (1967-present) – Uzbekistan = 1,969 feet/600 m

Fimiston “Super Pit” gold (1893-present) – Kalgoorie, WA, Australia = 1,969 feet/600 m

Argyle diamond (1985-2020) – WA, Australia = 1969 feet/600 m

Gerva coal – (1981-present) – Gerva, India = 1,969 feet/600 m

Detour Lake gold (1983-present) – Cochrane, ON, Canada = 1,969 feet/600 m upon completion

23. Tyrone gold, copper, and silver (1967-present) – Silver City, NM = 1,952 feet/595 m planned depth upon completion

24. Tsentralny coal – Kirovsk, Russia = 1,936 feet/590 m

25. Vostochny gold – Yeruda, Russia = 1,903 feet/580 m

26-27. Grasberg gold and copper (1972-present) – Papua, Indonesia = 1,804 feet/550 m

Thompson Creek molybdenum (1983-2007 and 2027-?)- Challis, ID = 1,804 feet/550 m

28. Berkeley Pit copper (1955-1982) – Butte, MT = 1,780 feet/540 m

29-30. Escondida Norte – Atacama Desert, Chile = 1,722 feet/525 m

Mir diamond (1957-present) – Mirny, Russia = 1,722 feet/525 m

31. Kisladag gold (1997-present) – Gümüskol, Turkiye = 1,706 feet/520 m

33. Cresson gold (1995-present as open pit) – Victor, CO = 1,699 feet/518 m

33-39. Kibali gold (2013-present) – Orientale, Congo = 1,640 feet/500 m+

Betze gold – Carlin Trend, NV = 1,640 feet/500 m

Sibaysky copper – Sibay, Russia = 1,640 feet/500 m

Hambach coal (1978-present) – Elsdorf, Germany = 1,640 feet/500 m

Nanfen minerals – Nanfen, China ~ 1,640 feet/500 m

Cadia-Ridgeway gold (2002-present) – Cadia Valley, NSW, Australia ~ 1,640 feet/500 m

Korkinsky coal (1931-2017) – Korkino, Russia = 1,640 feet/500 m

40. Akyem gold (2013-present) – New Abirem, Ghana = 1,526 feet/465 m

41-42. Venetia diamond (1992-preset) – Alldays, South Africa = 1,476 feet/450 m

Zhelezny iron ore – Kovdor, Russia = 1,476 feet/450 m

43. Aitik copper (1968-present) – Gällivare, Sweden = 1,411 feet/430 m

44. Sierrita copper (1959-present) -Green Valley, AZ = 1,400 feet/427 m currently and 3,150 feet/960 m upon completion

45. Santa Rita/Chino copper (1910-present) – Silver City, NM= 1,350 feet/411 m

46. Cerro de Pasco silver – Cerro de Pasco, Peru = 1,320 feet/402 m

47-49. Nchanga copper (1955-present) – Chingola, Zambia = 1,312 feet/400 m

Shishen ion ore (1953-present) – Kathy, South Africa = 1,312 feet/400 m

Lebedinsky iron ore – Gubkin, Russia = 1,312 feet/400 m

50. Gol Gohar iron ore (1990-present) – Sirhan, Iran = 1,280 feet/390 m

51-52. Rossing uranium (1976-present) – Arandi, Namibia = 1,280 feet/390 m

53. Homestake gold (1877-1945) – Lead, SD = 1,250 feet/381 m

54-55. Barnat gold (2023-2029) – Malarctic, QC, Canada = 1,247 feet/380 m

Chapada copper and gold – Alto Horizonte, Brazil = 1,247 feet/380 m

56. Yuzhniy Gok iron ore (1955-preset) – Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine = 1,230 feet/375 m currently; 2,018 feet/615 m upon completion

57-59. Robinson copper (1908-present) – Ely, NV = 1,200 feet/366 m

Empire iron ore (1964-2016) – Marquette, MI = 1,200 feet/366 m

Tilden iron ore (1928-1950/1975-present) – Marquette, MI = 1,200 feet/366 m

60. Malartic gold (?-2023) – Malartic, QC, Canada = 1,181 feet/360 m

61-63. Asbestovsky chrysolite asbestos – Asbest, Russia = 1,148 feet/350 m

Diavik diamond (2003-present) – NWT, Canada = 1,148 feet/350 m

Fushun West coal – Fushun City, China = 1,148 feet/350 m

64. New Cornelia copper (1917-present) – Ajo, AZ = 1,100 feet/335 m

65. Batu Hijau gold/copper/silver (2000-present) – Sumbawa, Indonesia = 1,033 feet/315 m

66. Pinto Valley copper (1972-present) – Globe, AZ = 1,001 feet/305 m

67. West Detour gold (planned) – Cochrane, OH, Canada = 991 feet/302 m upon completion

68. Ekati/Sable diamond (2018-present) – NWT, Canada = 984 feet/300 m

69. Jagersfontein diamond – Jagersfontein, South Africa= 902 feet/275 m

70. Lavender copper (1950-1974) – Bisbee, AZ = 900 feet/274 m

71. Orapa diamond (1971-present) – Orapa, Botswana = 869 feet/265 m currently with planned depth of 1,558/475 m

72. Mogalakwena platinum (1993-present) – Mokopane, South Africa = 804 feet/245 m

73. Kimberley “Big Hole” gold – South Africa = 790 feet/240 m

74. Inden coal – Inden, Germany = 755 feet/230 m

75-76. Aikhal diamond (1961-1997) – Aykhal, Russia = 755 feet/230 m

Rio Tinto borax (1987 as open pit – present) – Boron, CA = 755 feet/230 m

77. Gibraltar copper (1972-present) – Williams Lake, BC, Canada ~ 750 feet/229 m

78. Dipka coal (1992-present) – Korba, India = 722 feet/220 m

79. Keketuohai #3 rare earth minerals ( ) – Keketuohai National Park, China = 659 feet/201 m

80-82. Catoca diamond (1997-present) – Saurimo, Angola = 656 feet/200 m currently with planned depth of 1,969 feet/600 m by 2034

Garzweiler II coal – Germany = 656 feet/200 m – added 5/7/24

Black Fox gold (2009-present) – Matheson, ON, Canada ~ 656 feet/200 m

83. Republic iron ore (1872-1928 and 1950s-1981) – Republic, MI = 647 feet/197 m

84-85. Cullinan diamond (1902-present) – Gauteng, South Africa = 623 feet/190 m

Mount Milligan copper and gold – BC, Canada = 623 feet/190 m upon completion

86-87. Adams iron ore (1963-1990) – Kirkland Lake, ON, Canada = 600 feet/183 m

Benson iron ore (1941-1978) – Star Lake, NY = 600 feet/183 m – now a lake

88-91. Cerrejón (1985-present) – Albania, Colombia = 591 feet/180 m

Mountain Pass rare earth minerals (?-2056) – Mountain Pass, CA = 591 feet/180 m

La Caridad copper (1976- present) – Nacozari Viejo, Mexico = 591 feet/180 m

Malanjkhand copper (1982-present) Malany, India = 591 feet/180 m

92. Mesquite gold (1986-present) – Brawley, CA = 570 feet/174 m

93. Hull–Rust–Mahoning iron ore (1895-present) – Hibbing, MN = 535 feet/163 m

94. Mahnomen iron ore (1916-1960s) – Ironton, MN = 525 feet/160 m – now a lake

95. Boroo gold – Barunnharaa, Mongolia ~ 509 feet/155 m upon completion

96-97. Yerington copper (1952-2000) – Weed Heights, Nevada >500 feet/152 m – now a toxic lake – added 5/9/24

Wharf gold and silver (1984-present) – Lead, SD = 500 feet – added 5/19/24

98-99. Hollinger gold – Timmins, ON, Canada = 492 feet/150 m

Pine Cove gold (2010-2023) – Baie Verte, NL, Canada = 492 feet/150 m – being filled post closure

100. North Detour gold (planned) – Cochrane, ON, Canada = 472 feet/144 m upon completion

101. Embarrass iron ore – Biwabik, MN = 465 feet/142 m – now a lake

102. Gladstone gold (proposed) – Waihi, New Zealand = 459 feet/140 m upon completion

103. Karnataka/Narrain South Block iron ore – Chitradurga, India = 459 feet/140 m

104. Portsmouth iron ore – Crosby, MN = 450 feet/137 m – now a lake

105. Rouchleau iron ore – Virginia, MN = 450 feet/137 m

106. Thar coal (2019-present) – Tharparkar, Pakistan= 443 feet/135 m

107. Sacramento copper (1917-1931) – Bisbee, AZ = 435 feet – became part of the Lavendar Open Pit

108. Red Dog zinc and lead (1989-present) – Kotzebue, AK = 400 feet/122 m

109-110. Grootegeluk coal – South Africa = 394 feet/120 m

Bulhgah gold – Saudi Arabia = 394 feet/120 m

111. St. James iron ore – Aurora, MN = 381 feet/116 m – now a lake

112. Finsch diamond (1961-present) – South Africa = 328 feet/100 m

113. Canisteo iron ore – Colraine, MN = 300 feet/91 m – now a lake

114. Lind iron ore – Lind Township, MN = 284 feet/86 m – now a lake

115. Tahawus Pit 1 titanium (1942-1989) – NY = 280 feet – now a lake

116. Morroco iron ore – Crosby, MN = 265 feet/81 m – now a lake

117. Pennington iron ore – Ironton, MN = 259 feet/79 m – now a lake

118. Huntington iron ore – Ironton, MN = 258 feet/77 m – now a lake

119. Tahawus Pit 2 titanium (1942-1989) – NY = 240 feet – now a lake

120. Virginia iron ore – Trommaid, MN = 225 feet/69 m – now a lake

121. Perlite perlite – Socorro, NM = 200 feet/61 m

122. Wilpinjong coal (2006-present) – Wollar, NSW, Australia ~ 197 feet/60 m

123. Mayoufang – Mayoufang, China = 131 feet/40 m – now a pond

124. Kanichee metals (1933-1937/1973-1976) – Temagami, ON, Canada = 115 feet/35 m

125. Mines of Spain lead – Dubuque, IA ~ 100 feet/30 m

Jwenga Diamond Mine – Source: miningreview.com

More Information Needed

• Mountain iron ore (1892-1956) – Mountain Iron, MN
• Gil gold – Fairbanks, AK
• Pogo gold (2006-present) -Delta Junction, AK
• True North gold – Fairbanks, AK (1994-2004)
• Manh Choh gold (2024-2029) – Tok, AK
• Radomiro Tomic copper (1995-present) – Calama, Chile
• Kamoa-Kakula copper – Congo
• Safford copper – Safford, AZ
• Tris uranium – Mauritania -under development
• Xinjing/Alxa Left Banner coal – China
• Baorixile coal (1998-present)- Hulunbuir City, China
• Dexing copper – China
• Antianbao coal (1986-present) – Shuozhou, China
• Wharf gold (?-2030) – Lead, SD
• Bald Mountain gold (1983-present) – Ely, NV
• Cortez gold – Elko, NV
• Marigold gold (1988-present) – Valmy, NV
• Round Mountain gold – Tonopah, NV
• Tocantinzinho gold (2017-present) – Para, Brazil
• Santa Luz gold (2020-present) – Santa Luz, Brazil
• Salobo gold and copper (2012-present) – Carajas, Brazil
• Iduapriem gold (1992-present) – Takoradi, Ghana
• Tarkwa gold (1961-present) – Ghana
• Mirador copper/gold – Ecuador
• Mae Moh coal (1978-present) – Thailand
• Mansourah-Massarah gold (2022-present) – Saudi Arabia
• Sukhaybarat gold – Saudi Arabia
• Ad Duwayhi gold (2016-present) – Saudi Arabia
• As Suq gold (2014-present) – Saudi Arabia
• Al Hadeetha copper/gold (2019-present) – Oman
• Hassai gold (1992-present) – Sudan
• Kasmunda coal (1978-present) – Korba, India
• San Cristobal silver/zinc/lead (2007-present) – San Cristobal, Bolivia
• Houndé gold (2017-present) – Burkina Faso
• Rabbit Lake uranium (1975-2016) – SK, Canada
• Mishi gold (2002-2021) – Wawa, ON, Canada
• Haile gold (1827-present) – Kershaw, SC
• Christmas copper ( 1906-1982) – Winkleman, AZ
• Mineral Park copper (1963-present) – Kingman, AZ

Wharf Gold Mine – Source: listen.sdpb.org

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Mir Diamond Mine -Source: sun-surfer.com