History

“The Bingham mining district played a crucial role in the history of Utah, mining in the American West, and the development of large porphyry copper deposits. Following an initial discovery of mineralization about 1850, the discovery of galena, which ultimately led to the exploitation of the Canyon’s ore deposits, was made in 1863. Many of the early engineering developments of large scale, open-pit copper mining were initiated in the early 1900s by the adjoining Utah Copper and Boston Consolidated Companies at Bingham. Bingham also played an important role in the Allies efforts during World Wars I and II. The Bingham mining district is Utah’s largest producer of copper, gold, molybdenum, silver, lead, and zinc and is one of the most productive districts in the world.”

Phillips, C.H., and Krahulec, K., 2006, Geology and History of the Bingham Mining District, Salt Lake County, Utah: Utah Geological Association, Mining Districts of Utah, 41 p.