In 1906, Daniel C. Jackling pioneered large-scale open-pit copper mining at Bingham Canyon, Utah, revolutionizing the mining industry. This method allowed for the extraction of vast amounts of copper ore more efficiently than traditional underground mining. The success of open-pit mining at Bingham Canyon set a precedent for future mining operations and contributed significantly to the development of the American copper industry.

Open-pit mining at Bingham Canyon symbolized the scale of industrialization, influencing 20th-century poetry that critiqued corporate power and environmental degradation. Poets like Wendell Berry used this imagery to explore the impact of industry on the natural world.