Chino Open Pit Copper Mine

The Chino Mine ("Chino" is Spanish for the "Chinaman"), also known as the Santa Rita mine, is an open-pit copper mine located in the town of Santa Rita (elevation 5,699 feet), New Mexico. It is so large that it can be seen from space. Nearly two miles across the mine is so wide that the 40-foot tall trucks are barely visible to the naked eye.The huge open-pit mine was once the largest in the world, but has been surpassed by Chuquicamata, and is perhaps the oldest mining site still being used in the American southwest. Note: I found the vastness of the mine almost escapes capture by photography. For perspective you should know the little steps on the far side are called benches and they are 50 ft. each. The power line poles are another way to gain perspective.
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