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Bingham,UT - Weber County - c1933 - Bingham Canyon Mine Photograph :

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Photographic Images Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:50.00 - 100.00 USD
Bingham,UT - Weber County - c1933 - Bingham Canyon Mine Photograph :
Cabinet card showing a large, open-pit copper mine dominating the upper half of the image, with a variety of buildings, automobiles, and several sets of railroad tracks running to and around the mine itself. Measures 6 1/2" x 4 1/2" with 1/4" border all-around and no matte. Contrast is medium to high, with some fading noted near the top edge. Focus is very sharp, with details evident throughout the image. No photographer is noted. Written in pencil on the reverse is "This is the largest copper mine in the world. Bingham, Utah. Oct - 1 -33." The writing is difficult to read as it appears that the photo was attached to something and removed, leaving part of the backing still attached to the photo. The mine covers the upper 1/2 of the image, while below are a number of buildings. Many of these have autos parked on the street in front of them, while railroad tracks and a bridge move from left to right cross the image. Brigham Canyon is located in the Oquirrh Mountains, about twenty-five miles southwest of Salt Lake City. It was settled in 1848 by two Mormon pioneers. Ore was originally discovered, forgotten, and rediscovered in 1863. The 1873 arrival of the railroad reviving lode mining. The consolidation of claims by Boston Consolidated and Utah Copper Companies required large amounts of capital as well as cheap labor. The flood of immigrants made Bingham one of the most ethnically diverse areas in Utah. However, the expansion of the mine (pictured above) into the world's largest open-pit copper mine gradually swallowed many of these small settlements [Ref: media.utah.edu/UHE/b/BINGHAMCANYON].