Comments on: ARCHIVE: Photo essay of Bingham Canyon after landslide

By: AuntSue

AuntSue — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 07:57:49 +0000

Fascinating! My dad worked there during high school, until he graduated from college. Always a fun place to visit. So glad that RioTinto handled this responsibly with no loss of life. Proud you are a Utah industry.

By: Larry Southwick

Larry Southwick — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 01:02:49 +0000

Unfounded propositions

I’m not certain how any knowledgeable professional could make such baseless and snide inferences to the effect that (1) the mining “plan designed by (supposedly) mining engineer”, (2) ignorant claims of possible “improper operation”, (3) outrageous assertions that “had the accident been planned?” and (4) totally unfounded assertions that “mine management just ignored correct (if any) design.”

Other posts on this web site by this same individual (re closing of Cliffs Wabush mine in Canada) were equally preposterous and unfounded. No technical and hazardous endeavor could be conducted on the irresponsible ground rules being insinuated.

There seems to be a fixation against mining as a business for profits. Mining operations such as Bingham Canyon illustrate a uniform
management, employee and union attention to effective safety policies, monitoring of same, checks and balances between divisions and services, and well qualified mine and plant engineering.

Industrial activity involves risks, but as stated by others here and certainly from a review of reports on the slide, no “tempting of fate” was found in the investigations. If there is evidence to the contrary in this instance, then it would help if such information were provided before making such serious accusations. Speculation and a plethora of opinionated “may’s” and “might’s” do not substitute for actual facts.

Baseless stink bombs with malicious intent do not an insight reveal nor a contribution make. Nor does any professed professionalism excuse such offensive remarks.

Outside of all that, it was a great collection of photos!!. Kennecott did a professional job getting everyone out of the mine in time and getting it back into production quickly.

Larry M. Southwick

By: Geoff the geo

Geoff the geo — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 00:43:35 +0000

I was a visitor to the pit lookout possibly in the mid 1980s and was impressed by the size of the thing – and was startled to see a train emerge from a tunnel in the distance! When did the mine go to trucks only?

By: Wayne Johnson

Wayne Johnson — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:55:43 +0000

This may be a stupid question, but I have not been able to find the answer…did the slide occur primarily in previously mined materials (i.e. a dump), or was it mostly in situ stuff?

By: Naun Claros S.

Naun Claros S. — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:59:49 +0000

If the incident was followed to the point that no human victims were in the toll, good call! why then the trucks were not taken out of the way? Did the signal of danger come too late for the trucks to be driven out? I believe there were insurance policies covering not only the damage but also the period or recuperation without production, not enough money for new trucks? My point is that a dozen trucks with damage in the operation no matter how well repaired are not at their best anymore and represent a danger to the workers as a whole….don´t they? Great pictures!

By: Bobby44

Bobby44 — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:42:45 +0000

Good presentation! I have worked for Rio Tinto and my experience has always been positive. Good call at 5mm. May the grand old mine continue safely.

By: Fred Barker

Fred Barker — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 10:06:09 +0000

Any well designed pit should cave in the day after you finish mining the ore. A job well planned and executed by Kennecott. Fred Barker

By: Sergo Cusiani

Sergo Cusiani — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 06:46:47 +0000

Would be interesting to view the pit design before the slide took place. That is, the drawing plan, designed by (supposedly) mining engineer, showing the outlines of the pit at the time. My suggestion is the slide was a result of improper operation. The question is, Had the accident been "planned" accidentally by the pit designer or had the mine management just ignored the correct (if any) design? The original plan can answer the questions. Just professional curiosity. http://www.geo-logaritmica.com/images/_bingham.JPG

By: fred

fred — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 06:10:44 +0000

in 1973, I think, My tramp partner Ron Pembleton and Dan Harger worked in the Shaft beside the pit then. We stayed in a hotel there in town. Ate in this place, was a bar and Cafe, one night we came home from the Shaft, and there was a Health Sign on the door that
it was shut down for being dirty…spit, spit to late to spit…anyway I guess the pit took the Shaft, and town and it is not there anymore.
We worked on the Rope Raise. One day Dan hit the wall with the diesel mucker and it fell away, far away, down the raise. It was under the Shaft floor. Wow!!! The Engineers moved it three times to avoid the old Stope, then hit it right on. Well, we filled it up with muck and topped it off with cement. Old under the ground Memories. We left there and went to Lead, South Dakota, you guessed it. HOMESTAKE 8300 foot level. TakeCare you Miners. quimby@quimbyminingservices.com

By: RockRabbit

RockRabbit — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 03:14:12 +0000

Beautiful pictorial of what could have been a disaster. Kudos to Kennecott and all of their employees.