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1952 Map of Bingham Canyon

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Bingham Canyon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Copper Pit Mine dominates the landscape of the Oquirrh Mountains, revealing the massive industrial footprint of mid-century Utah. This 1952 survey, updated with photorevisions through the 1970s, illustrates the complex infrastructure required for large-scale extraction, including the Bingham West Dip Tunnel, Apex Shaft, and several other named tunnels like the Highland Tunnel. The map captures the physical displacement of the earth through extensive Waste Dump sites and the specialized Smelter facility at International.

Transportation networks are heavily influenced by the mining economy, featuring the Denver and Rio Grande Western RR alongside the Bingham Canyon and Camp Williams R R (Abandoned). The topography is remarkably steep, rising from the Tooele Valley to high summits such as Nelson Peak and Clipper Peak. Local landmarks like the KDYL Television Tower and the settlement of Bingham Canyon provide important cultural context for the region's development during this era.