Mining has been a major industry for centuries, with many discoveries that have yielded significant profits for their owners. From gold to diamonds and other precious metals and stones, mining has created some of the world’s largest fortunes. Below are the 15 biggest and most expensive mining finds in history.
- The Cullinan Diamond: Discovered in South Africa in 1905, the Cullinan Diamond was the largest ever found at the time, weighing over 3,000 carats. The diamond was eventually cut into several smaller gems, including the Great Star of Africa, which is now part of the British Crown Jewels.
- The Witwatersrand Gold Rush: This was a major gold rush that occurred in South Africa in the late 19th century, which led to the discovery of the world’s largest gold deposit. The deposit has yielded over 1.5 billion ounces of gold, making it one of the most valuable mines in the world.
- The Grasberg Mine: Located in Indonesia, the Grasberg Mine is the world’s largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine. It has an estimated reserve of 2.8 billion ounces of gold and over 60 million tonnes of copper.
- The Chuquicamata Mine: This Chilean copper mine has been in operation since 1910 and has produced over 29 million tonnes of copper. It is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world.
- The Orapa Diamond Mine: This diamond mine, located in Botswana, is the world’s largest producer of diamonds by volume. It has an estimated reserve of over 150 million carats.
- The Escondida Mine: This Chilean copper mine is the world’s largest producer of copper, with an output of over 1.2 million tonnes per year.
- The Super Pit: This gold mine in Australia is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, producing over 600,000 ounces of gold per year.
- The Diavik Diamond Mine: This Canadian diamond mine is one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds, with an output of over 6 million carats per year.
- The Muruntau Gold Mine: This Uzbekistan gold mine is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, producing over 2 million ounces of gold per year.
- The Venetia Diamond Mine: This diamond mine in South Africa is the country’s largest producer of diamonds, with an output of over 4 million carats per year.
- The Carajás Mine: This Brazilian iron ore mine is one of the largest in the world, producing over 300 million tonnes of iron ore per year.
- The Olympic Dam Mine: This Australian mine is the world’s largest uranium deposit and one of the largest copper deposits. It also produces significant amounts of gold and silver.
- The Jwaneng Diamond Mine: This Botswana diamond mine is one of the world’s largest, producing over 12 million carats of diamonds per year.
- The Udachnaya Diamond Mine: This Russian diamond mine is one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds, with an output of over 10 million carats per year.
- The Bingham Canyon Mine: This Utah copper mine is one of the largest open-pit mines in the world, producing over 450,000 tonnes of copper per year.
In conclusion, mining has played a significant role in shaping the world’s economy, and these 15 mines have produced some of the most valuable discoveries in history. They have created immense wealth for their owners and have contributed to the development of countries around the world. Despite the challenges that come with mining, the industry continues to thrive, and new discoveries are
