[Picture on page 26]

The world’s deepest opencut gold mine, in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia

[Credit Line]

Courtesy Newmont Mining Corporation

Then, in 1893, miners started coaxing gold from the ground near Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia. Since that time, over 1,300 tons has been extracted from what is described as “the richest square mile [2.5 square kilometers] of gold-bearing dirt in the world.” That area is still producing gold and now boasts the world’s deepest opencut gold mine​—a man-made canyon over one mile [1.5 km] wide, nearly two miles [3 km] long, and more than 1,200 feet [360 m] deep!