Approfondimento

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE ANACONDA COPPER MINING COMPANY

directed by Gita Saedi

For over a century, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company dominated the economy and culture of Montana. Its legacy continues to shape the future of Montana. The 1977 demise of the company had far-reaching implications for the region that continue to shape Montana's economy, culture, and environment.

Anaconda Copper Mining Company (also known 1899-1915 as the Amalgamated Copper Mining Company) was one of the largest trusts of the early 20th century. Founded in 1881 when Marcus Daly bought a silver mine, the company expanded rapidly based on the discovery of huge copper deposits. Daly built a smelter to process copper mined in Butte. By 1910, Anaconda had expanded its operations and bought the assets of two other Montana copper companies. In 1922 it bought mining operations in Mexico and Chile; the latter was the largest mine in the world and yielded two-thirds of the company's profits. The company added aluminum reduction to its portfolio in 1955