Panguna Copper Deposit, Papua New Guinea

Click on Image to Enlarge  (JPG) Panguna Copper Deposit, Papua New Guinea (678,313 bytes) ( 2,603 x 1,600 )

The Panguna copper ore deposit was discovered in 1969 in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. It has one of the largest reserves in the world, with 1 billion tons of copper and 12 million ounces of gold. In 1989 the then world’s largest open pit copper-gold mine closed as a result of conflict between the mine owners and traditional land owners over the profits. The mine owners were also accused of poisoning the entire length of the Jaba River. The image was acquired November 12, 2013, covers an area of 24 by 39 kilometers, and is located at 6.3 degrees south, 155.5 degrees east.

Click on thumbnails below for full resolution images.

Panguna Copper Deposit, Papua New Guinea Type: (JPG) Size: (678,313 bytes) Resolution ( 2,603 x 1,600 )