Burra Burra Mine February 12, 2006 The Burra Burra Mine,
entrance shown above, is located near Ducktown, in eastern
Tennessee. It was mined for its copper and goes down
approximately 1 mile (1.6 km). When the mine was being
excavated, timbers were needed for support, and many trees in
the vicinity of the mine were cut down. This caused a chain
reaction that nearly destroyed the surrounding landscape.
Additionally, over the years, excavated dirt and ore residue
washed into streams, fouling wetlands and destroying aquatic
habitats. Though an effort has been made to clean up the
watersheds near the mine, 300 acres of denuded land has been set
aside as a memorial to the ecological devastation. Though the
mine is no longer active, garnet and pyrite can be collected.