Aerial and satellite photos reveal massive mines scarring the earth’s surface
Humans have always dug into the earth for new resources. But while millennia-old techniques like crystalizing salt in evaporating pools still exist all over the world, cavernous open pit mines like Chile’s Escondida copper mine (nearly four kilometers wide) are far more representative of what modern resource extraction looks like. Below, images taken from airplanes, satellites and even astronauts on the International Space Station reveal how insatiable mining has irreversibly altered the face of the earth.
An aerial view of the open pit of CODELCO'S Andina at Los Andes Mountain range, near Santiago city The Andina mine in Chile. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado The Andina mine in Chile. To match feature CANADA-DIAMONDS/ The Diavik diamond mine, south of the Arctic Circle in Canada's Northwest Territories. Reuters/Cameron French The Diavik diamond mine, south of the Arctic Circle in Canada's Northwest Territories. Chiquicamata Mine, Chile A satellite image of the Chuquicamata copper mine in Chile. NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Space Systems, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team A satellite image of the Chuquicamata copper mine in Chile. An aerial view shows the Rusal Achinsk Alumina Refinery's Mazulsky limestone mine, near the Siberian town of Achinsk The Mazulsky limestone mine, near the Siberian town of Achinsk, Russia. Reuters/Ilya Naymushin The Mazulsky limestone mine, near the Siberian town of Achinsk, Russia. An aerial view shows the Titimukhta gold operation in Krasnoyarsk region The Titimukhta gold operation, in Eastern Siberia, Russia. Reuters/Ilya Naymushin The Titimukhta gold operation, in Eastern Siberia, Russia. An aerial view from a plane shows the Blagodatnoye gold operation, owned by Polyus Gold International company, in Krasnoyarsk region The Blagodatnoye gold mine, in Krasnoyarsk Eastern Siberia, Russia. Reuters/Ilya Naymushin The Blagodatnoye gold mine, in Krasnoyarsk Eastern Siberia, Russia. An aerial view of Anglo American's Los Bronces copper mine with several glaciers in the background at Los Andes Mountain range The Los Bronces copper mine in Chile. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado The Los Bronces copper mine in Chile. iss022e008282_large The Escondida copper mine in Chile's Atacama Desert, seen from the International Space Station. NASA The Escondida copper mine in Chile's Atacama Desert, seen from the International Space Station. AERIAL VIEW OF OPEN CAST LIGNITE MINE NEAR SOUTH OF LEIPZIG. A open-cast lignite mine near Lippendorf south of Leipzig, Germany. Reuters A open-cast lignite mine near Lippendorf south of Leipzig, Germany. Mining trucks travel along roads at Chile's Radomiro Tomic copper mine near Chuquicamata mine Mining trucks travel along roads at Chile's Radomiro Tomic copper mine. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado Mining trucks travel along roads at Chile's Radomiro Tomic copper mine. Heavy machinery is pictured in a quarry at the Ariab mine The Ariab mine in Sudan. Reuters/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah The Ariab mine in Sudan. A general view shows the La Caridad copper mine in Nacozari in the state of Sonora The La Caridad copper mine in Nacozari. Mexico. Reuters/Henry Romero The La Caridad copper mine in Nacozari. Mexico. Aerial view shows mineral-coloured water pooled in salt flat holes on Senegal's coast Salt flats in Senegal. Reuters/Finbarr O'Reilly Salt flats in Senegal. iss037e022990_large The Rio Tinto US Borax mine in California, seen from the International Space Station NASA The Rio Tinto US Borax mine in California, seen from the International Space Station An aerial view of the Soquimich lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat in northern Chile An aerial view of the brine pools and processing areas of the Soquimich lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat, Chile. Reuters/Ivan Alvarado An aerial view of the brine pools and processing areas of the Soquimich lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat, Chile.
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