Over $48 BILLION in 100 Years | Mining Copper with Montana Resources

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In today's vlog, Aaron and BuildWitt were in Butte, Montana with Montana Resources, visiting their massive copper mining site. There were 495 shovels, 994 loaders, and more.
They mined the gray ore and hauled it to the crusher, which crushes 80 tons an hour, then went to the plant, where it would be turned into copper. Initially they blast the material to get that perfect fragmentation. It also creates less work for the crusher, making it essential for mining. This work is reliable, high paying, satisfying, and has great security.
Overall, this job focused on the processing part of mining. The ore gets mined with the shovels, hauled out of the pit, brought to the crusher, the material goes into a secondary crusher, and then goes into the plant. Once it goes into the plant, it's combined with water and thrown into ball and rod mills. The metal balls pulverize the rocks to a powder, then are pumped out into flotation tanks and combined with chemicals. After it's separated, you have copper which is sent to smelters.
To learn more about Montana Resources, click here: www.montanaresources.com/about/
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Video Chapters
0:00 - Intro
2:32 - 495 Loading 793
5:42 - In the Pit
8:01 - Talking Blasting
9:27 - Dozer Hybrid
11:33 - Heavy Machinery Symphony
12:44 - Mining Overview
16:03 - Outro

[@AaronWitt]

Register for the Dirt World Summit NOW! dirtworld.com/dirt-world-summit

[@Duvstep910]

Seeing a dozer in the back of a mining truck is awesome

[@AaronWitt]

yeah pretty damn cool to see

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

That was pretty cool

[@rangerdanger822]

I missed it what was the time stamp? (Nevermimd I found it)

[@GRamerDim]

timestamp?

[@Duvstep910]

@@GRamerDim it's in the intro

[@lukeplume]

Hi Aaron My grandfather was the one who purchased the first 990 and 992 loaders to convert into the Tiger 590 and 690 wheel dozer. They purchased the IP from us in 97' and today branded the 844 and 854. We was based in Perth WA at the time, but today back home in the UK and today sell a bunch of special applications for the Cat/Volvo dealerships - water carts, fuel carts, fuel lube, hooklifts etc.

[@AaronWitt]

woah that's amazing... we've seen a few around and they're awesome

[@lukeplume]

@@AaronWitt If you’re ever at Wyoming machinery and speaking to any grey haired guys who have been at the dealership 20+ years ask about Tiger Engineering and the 690D wheel dozer. Used to sell heaps there into the coal mines. Ever in the UK give me a shout. Cheers Aaron

[@emilyemily4946]

Emily Emily

[@apolloskyfacer5842]

Back in the earlier days of copper mining at Butte, the ore was very rich and produced world famous mineral specimens such as Covellite (Purple Copper Ore) Such specimens are greatly sought after by collectors and attract a premium price now.

[@AaronWitt]

fantastic

[@emilyemily4946]

eemily792-v Ok 👏 👍

[@buztrevor5755]

Best job I ever had was in a small open pit. That was 50 years ago but this video shows the whole process very well, even though Butte is miles bigger than where I worked. Incidentally, Butte is one of the world's great mines and it reallly was an engine for development of the American prosperity. Not enough people appreciate this!

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

I love what you are doing to promote American business. Always inspiring.

[@AaronWitt]

Thank you for watching! We’re doing our best to highlight the people who keep our country moving

[@emilyemily4946]

Full Name Emily Emily

[@jonava5999]

I would like to mention two things, the video editing is awesome and the information presented is useful! Combine the both and you have an awesome video! I love the vids and they really help solidify some concepts in my materials engineering class, thank you !

[@AaronWitt]

thank you so much for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@emilyemily4946]

Acara saya

[@williamriedel1686]

We were just in Butte last week after touring the local area mining ghost towns. Very much enjoyed your informative videos, this one was particularly interesting.

[@xtctrader1467]

This video should be required viewing in public schools to teach our young folks about the necessity to mine copper, if they want to drive an electric vehicle.

[@AsianNIGMA]

Copper is the easy part, it’s the lithium that’s valuable

[@paulpeters5199]

These videos just keep getting better and better I really hope you guys never quit making them especially the way you explain everything in detail it’s perfect

[@Macbrzful]

Always cool to see a B495 ERS or CAT 7495 working. I enjoyed my time in South Milwaukee making this awesome equipment

[@JZONE14U]

Amazing shots, I'm retired now but still miss all the action

[@tutekohe1361]

I have been down what was the highest grade ore copper mine in the world - Ecton Mine in Derbyshire, UK. It’s ore averaged 17% pure copper, but the mine was played out by the late 1700s. I understand the best mines now are less than 1% copper and the global supply is only going to get worse.

[@TechGorilla1987]

Copper is one of the few metals to be found in it's natural, metallic state in nature. Large chunks of it play havoc with the tramp cylinders on gyratory crushers.

[@ZE0XE0]

youd be surprised how many metals form in a native form in nature, albeit in microscopic pieces. Bismuth, tin, and many others you wouldnt normally expect.

[@hellgaa91]

If these were longer I’d still watch, would’ve loved to see more of that dozer in the haul truck

[@greggreg2263]

Great video I had no idea of the process of getting copper out of the ground until this video🎉

[@AaronWitt]

Thanks for watching!

[@emilyemily4946]

Orang yang dapat melihat nama Anda

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

Montana is so badass. Montana should be it’s own country.

[@AaronWitt]

god's country up there man

[@krakenwoodfloorservicemcma5975]

I know, I lived out there 13 years. It’s a wasteland.. some funny characters though. Bunch of rodeo Clowns 🤡

[@conorbohan5106]

Beautiful camera work

[@nathanielluke2084]

agreed. Phenomenal shots

[@AaronWitt]

thank you!!

[@entrepreneurlife649]

Great videos. If you want to add in more of the interviews, I'd be happy with a longer video.

[@AaronWitt]

we will see what we can do

[@emilyemily4946]

apa yang baru.

[@79noel]

Now you need to get with John Sacco from Sierra and do an episode on how this copper concentrate becomes real copper and how recycling plays a huge part in all combined with new construction.

[@AaronWitt]

we'll see what we can do

[@79noel]

@@AaronWitt , I know he would have to be down for it. But you don't realize how big the scrap world is and how the same problems you see in the dirt world are the same when it comes to recycling and demolition industry. I do all 3 and it's crazy to see the correlation within all 3 industries.

[@emilyemily4946]

Akses aplikasi yang kurang aman

[@thehillbillyhilton3557]

Did you get to see the maps of the underground workings there in Butte? There's a ton of mining history all over that area

[@AaronWitt]

yeah the maps are insane

[@jamesmilos9909]

Hopefully went to the museum of mining history there!

[@thehillbillyhilton3557]

@@jamesmilos9909 right! I talked to one of the folks there in Butte and he told me about how many sink holes pop up every week (3+)from all the old workings under the town. Hopefully goin to get back out that way and do some more prospectin and explorin.

[@syn4848]

I remember seeing a few months ago you had 20k. Nice to see you gaining subs, definitely deserved

[@AaronWitt]

thank you very much!! Hopefully many more soon!

[@emilyemily4946]

Nama Emily Emily

[@tomrogers9467]

Interesting how after over 100 years of machine technology development, the original dipper - stick - cable operated configuration is still viable. Shows what geniuses the inventors were back then!

[@73DiamondReo]

nice to see some shovels working everyday

[@thomasmorison8093]

I love this channel so much. Such good insight into the mining industry.

[@deanharrison7926]

I work in the Berkeley Pit in 1970 to 1975 was a dozer operator and worked in the tire shop things are sure different now, sill Rember the Columbia gardens

[@AaronWitt]

wow that's amazing

[@timothynix587]

My Grandfather worked in the pit also..his name is Roland Nix ..3 sons born in Butte..Jerry.James & Terry Nix..I lived there in the middle 80s working @ the stockyard auctions with my Dad Jim Nix..I loved the highlands .. & Butte is a very cool place..

[@AjGalloway95]

I love all the explaining forreal more of that please!

[@AaronWitt]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@Treehandler]

Was working in Pawtucket, RI on a big tunnel job on the bay for their waste treatment plant. Not quite as much material as Vinagros job but should Be somewhere around 200,000 cubic yards. Did all of the land clearing and brush mowing for the job, for Digregorio and Pare. Not sure on timeline for the start of the tunnel dig, but rest of the project is well under way.

[@AaronWitt]

that sounds like an awesome project we'll look into it

[@danielmarshall4587]

Great point you make regarding job security, AMEN to job security. Another lovely vid cheers.

[@suburbancowboy9]

The dozer unloading off the haul truck was awesome to see

[@AaronWitt]

we lost it when we noticed it was carrying a dozer

[@chrishudson7188]

Interesting video. Would love to see some tours of under ground mines as well.

[@AaronWitt]

every mine I've been to is fantastic. They're all a bit different

[@emilyemily4946]

Nama Belakang Emily

[@crakkbone8473]

Excellent video my man. Keep it up!

[@maksz6204]

Thanks you Aaron! You are a true friend keep up the good work!

[@maksz6204]

🙋‍♂️😘💪

[@AaronWitt]

thanks for watching!

[@just_some_internet_guy]

Fantastic learning experience. Everything fits together and is presented very well. Thanks for sharing.

[@AaronWitt]

thanks for watching!

[@emilyemily4946]

Mengontrol Siapa saja yang disimpan sebagai Kontak

[@jamescaliendo1030]

Killer video man!! They just keep getting better, from NYC to Butte MT!

[@AaronWitt]

thank you James!

[@bob_frazier]

The best, least expensive advertisement for Montana Resources ever made.

[@AaronWitt]

Thanks Bob I appreciate that

[@davidmexicotte9862]

I love this channel. I hope to see it grow

[@heavydutyrepair64]

GOD BLESS YOU YOUNG MAN ,I LOVE YOUR CONTENT ,KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK

[@AaronWitt]

thanks John!!

[@emilyemily4946]

Emily Emilv Emilv Emily

[@IanCresswell]

Great done work here.

[@rp1645]

Thank you for explaining the whole process lots of overberden. Was interesting to see a Rebranded CAT rope shovel, that they left the BE color. I bought a used 190 Dynahoe so I could Keep a piece of BE History in my yard. It's my Garden mining machine, for my backyard it's like having those Rope shovels, my Garden area is small.

[@AaronWitt]

that's fantastic

[@emilyemily4946]

eemily792 v Mei 2021 Emily...

[@InfinityProjector]

You are making really nice videos! Thank you for doing it!

[@AaronWitt]

thanks for watching!

[@emilyemily4946]

Apa yaan

[@yanceyloyless3713]

Keep cranking out good videos like this. Good work

[@AaronWitt]

thanks for watching!

[@emilyemily4946]

Apa yang bisa saya lakukan?

[@John1911]

That was very informative and well done.

[@AaronWitt]

glad you enjoyed it!

[@scottholman3982]

It looks like you were at the Continental pit mine, which is close to the Berkley pit in Butte. There are about 10,000 miles of tunnels under Butte from the days of underground mining.

[@AaronWitt]

yep that's the spot

[@emilyemily4946]

Apa yang salah?

[@franktrask1264]

Good to see that Butte has stuck with Bucyrus in the end, like all of the old Divisions of Anaconda did for most of a lifetime! And good to see some of tghe place still going after a long history underground. Frank Trask Graduated Montana School of Mine 1964

[@ninetyseven7656]

Thanks

[@carolinafrog4365]

interesting! that's really high output then! most copper mines ive been to, using electrolysis they created plates of 99.7% pure copper(anodes?), piled em up into 4,000lb stacks and (for security purposes, thats all im sayin) but those mines... i never saw trains hauling ore, so... dang you found a biggin!

[@semidemiurge]

The ore at Butte has a concentration of about 0.49%. So a ton of ore will have about 10 pounds of copper.

[@egibson2266]

It’s incredible to me that this return not only covers the costs of the operation we just saw but it also “very” profitable. Is that considered a good rerun of ore?

[@bmach9342]

@E Gibson 1 ton of material isn't very much. The average construction site dump truck can haul like 10 - 16 tons at a time. Put that into perspective with how many tons are in one shovel scoop at this place.

[@Mr.XYZ6775]

👍 Those electric shovels look like P&H's original shovel machines and the dipper ( not called bucket ) I'm familiar with the structure of the dipper, the door and latch that lets the material fall out, tooth and shrouds, there was a lot of selling and buying of companies back then to now. Wow what memories this brings back. I worked at P&H 1996 - 2002 as engineering consultant. Show more surface mining please. Earth before 🌎 🏜🏝🏞🏕🏡 after ???

[@francomtz7115]

The more videos I see from you the more I like them .

[@djteako]

Just an FYI, the main reason they use rubber tired dozers is not for mobility issues. they are used to maintain the area around the shovels, and the shovels are electric. There is a huge "extension cord" running on the ground connecting the shovel to the power supply, and it gets buried at times. The risk of damaging it with a rubber tired dozer is minimal, compared to a tracked unit which would cut it and short it out and most likely kill the operator and destroy the machine

[@AaronWitt]

this is a benefit but I see tracked dozers maintain the floor around shovels and draglines very often

[@djteako]

@@AaronWitt Yeah, when they used to run draglines and bucketwheels at Syncrude, the draglines and Hydraulic excavators were done with dozers, but the bucketwheels and cable shovels were done with rubber tired ones. We were always told its because of the umbellic cord (power cord) and that it lays on the ground for the after two,

[@joebond5012]

A fascinating insight into copper mining. I wonder, once the pit is fully dug out, how much water it would take to fill it up!

[@xtctrader1467]

Seeing that 994F Front End Loader makes me tingle.

[@montanasnowman3138]

Worked at Ford in butte and I used to deliver parts and work on mine trucks. Ford used to test their new engines and truck in the mine. You would have a old body style with the newest engine for testing in severe conditions

[@ernierundall1336]

That was great you need to go to the call mines

[@bdubbs75]

very interesting. great video.

[@AaronWitt]

Thanks for watching!

[@tomhogan264]

I enjoy u guys , nice job!

[@AaronWitt]

thanks Tom!!

[@NovelConsumer]

This is some awsome stuff, wounder if we can see some surface miners in use sometime?

[@efrainberrios8494]

Awesome!

[@michaela3562]

Great Video!

[@AaronWitt]

thanks Michael!

[@yoraphael0minecraft]

Correction on a correction ! Love it 😅

[@JarradDRS]

What do the truckies reference for backing under the shovel? It doesn’t appear to have any guides on it. Shovels in Australia have guides on the dipper and rear of the house for self spotting into position while the truck on the other side of being loaded.

[@Bowiiihowdy]

Those older Bucyrus shovels look a fair bit smaller than the newer models.. we had one at highvale and it was quite a bit bigger than our t282s

[@leecrotty6344]

Are they the same thing as the ‘big brutus’ in bucyrus, kansas?

[@avenheavner108]

Video was great I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot like always! Do you have any idea when the next watch me work episode is going to come out because I have been waiting for a episode! Great video and I’ll catch you on the next one!

[@AaronWitt]

we've got one this week I think!

[@avenheavner108]

@@AaronWitt great to hear! I will be looking forward to it Arron! Catch you on the next one!

[@BadgerBadgerBadger28]

Great vid

[@AaronWitt]

thanks for watching!

[@masonstump1579]

Look at morenci mine. Largest copper mine in the us and second largest in the world. $4 billion in copper last yr alone

[@mickking5913]

It was funny when you said about production and how important it is and the shovel had been sitting some time without a truck.

[@1farmer608]

Forgive me if you mentioned it but why does the trucks have led screens with numbers on the side?

[@AaronWitt]

that typically indicates the weight of material onboard the truck

[@austinotto3551]

Y’all need to come to black thunder

[@AaronWitt]

I visited a few years ago and we're working on making it happen again

[@Wileybird03]

Nice. Good ol butte America👍👍. Did you go see the berkley pit

[@jonathanlanglois2742]

Butte is actually a french word which means "small hill". I would be rather curious to know how that location ended up with that name.

[@dyankog]

Probably the best app from you..

[@57043]

BUEN TRABAJO

[@dylanbotsford2881]

Ah good ole Butte

[@joshuajackson4402]

Don't Forget Morenci Mine also one of the largest mines

[@jonathanlanglois2742]

An interesting note is that there is an old road along highway 15 which has been taken over by the mine.

[@foresthorton8375]

have you ever tried to get into the Bagdad mine out i Arizona?

[@burnttoast4139]

Its interesting how diffrent the colour of the concentrate is compared to the greenish grey copper that we get out at golden grove

[@yaboijon2989]

I used to live near butte in belgrade and i had no idea there is a copper mine i might drive by the next time i go visit belgrade.

[@jonbeecroft4912]

if you want to see a big hole have a look at the super pit in kal WA Australia

[@AaronWitt]

I hope to visit soon!!

[@jonbeecroft4912]

@@AaronWitt you will be impressed also Mt whale back in Newman WA

[@jestestuman]

Cat has bought Bucyrus, so these large shovels are just repainted Bucyrus units, maybe they started to implement some changes already but they cannot have more competence in this area than Bucyrus.

[@johnnymurff4137]

As always awesome production and explained. Maybe one day you're a professor of geology at some university. But I'm sure you're just fine with what you're doing 🙂 I wonder tho what is the purpose of the wheel dozer pushing the waste or brown stuff on that hill.. keep up the good work

[@AaronWitt]

I'll stick to my day job for now!

[@poormangaming2970]

Usually the wheel dozer is used to clean up haul road and around the shovel cause the shovel can't do the clean up the spills from loading the truck.

[@emilyemily4946]

apa yang bisa saya

[@joesilvasr9733]

Why do they drive in the left hand lane on the hall roads?

[@AaronWitt]

Safer so if there’s a collision the cabs aren’t the first to hit one another

[@williamfullerton8287]

Loaded trucks on the more solid material

[@ForeignLifestylestory]

can tell your green.. but you did a good job at explaining everything.. good job

[@AaronWitt]

I am and thank you

[@scotabot7826]

Can't believe how much material is left in the shovel after each dump. Man, that is a lot of material over a weeks time!! Not to efficent!

[@andrewrees8749]

I agree just noticed, op needs to lift the bucket higher to empty it.

[@doolittlegeorge]

Copper *"cathode"* pricing as I think the refined product is technically called has come well down in price. Might have to add more to the stack as such. Great content! Moly is a really valuable byproduct!

[@ZE0XE0]

Montana resources would not be able to operate this mine if copper was their only product. the prices of molly keeps them afloat.

[@rileygardner4336]

Any plans to come to Australia? In particular Western Australia

[@freethinkingamerican80]

Must be taken to the Kennecott smelter that's just down the street from the Kennecott mine here in SLC. Have you done a video on that yet?

[@AaronWitt]

No hopefully one day. A lot of this actually makes its way out of the country

[@chris77777777ify]

Looks more like a quarry

[@RobertLidstroem]

Ok just subscribed since i saw your videos for 5 mins. Im in construction, sort of, scaffolder..... The video that talks about your company. What do you and the people around you know about the dirtworld? Have you worked in the business? Since Aaron keeps cleaning his hands everytime he touches a crawler and in the oilsands video he said to the cameraguy "dont back into that, your jacket will get dirty" 🤣🤣🤣 Just wondering! As said, love the channel, the insight, the videography!

[@collingalbraith4343]

What are the lines moving the shovel around made of? It’s not rope right?😅

[@robinndolo938]

that's a lot of carry back

[@thanos9846]

Wonder if it will look like the Berkeley Pit when they are done?

[@caseymurphy244]

That's what I was thinking. I live in Missoula. My grandfather worked there before there was a Pit.

[@abangisa]

Mantap om

[@skorpikh]

Hi, nice video ! How about getting some material handlers on camera ? :)

[@juniordelarosa748]

I want to work at a mine so bad

[@jlhighfield9116]

Your vocabulary coach has his worked cut out for him, subed and liked. Nice

[@AaronWitt]

thanks for following along and watching

[@zahirkhan-vg2nq]

I wish I work with this kind of company as an excavator operator 🙆

[@kylelaw7210]

What % copper is the copper concentrate

[@ChuckBeefOG]

Imagine being the guy that has to pressure wash the mill once a year haha.

[@njonebale7889]

Great video! I have a question…so is the cancer in the dust or the chemicals…no just kidding! Why do mines use wheel loaders and not just use more shovel buckets since they move more yardage per cycle? Never understood that…I know there is a good reason though.

[@mitchrabe2155]

Shovels are slow to tram on their tracks (& expensive undercarriage wear). Loaders can go from one place to another very quickly and without undercarriage wear.

[@AaronWitt]

Yep thanks Mitch

[@njonebale7889]

Thanks guys, makes perfect sense now.