Hardrock Mining: Boom and bust

Hard rock mining still rides the cycles of boom and bust in the West of the United States. Large scale pit mines to solitary prospectors and their burros make up the varied face of this American industry.

From California to New Mexico, Washington to South Dakota, the country is dotted with mining ventures. The once freewheeling attitude of companies has been checked the past 30 years by stringent environmental controls.

Gold, Copper, Silver, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Nickel, Uranium and Platinum forms the list of minerals that are still in high demand in this country, but must now be extracted from the earth without repeating the disasters of the past.

Join photographer Peter Essick above and below ground as he explores this iconized American tradition.

Explore visually by choosing thumbnail images (above) or linearly from start to finish by Topic (left).

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