NASA’s image of the Morenci open-pit copper mine in southeast Arizona, North America’s leading producer of copper. Phelps Dodge employs over 200 people in the mining and refining operations. This ASTER image uses shortwavelength infrared bands to highlight in bright pink the altered rocks in the Morenci pit associated with copper mineralization. Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team.
In time for Earth Day 2011, NASA gives a gift to humanity with this gallery of images. They all aren’t brand new, but I believe that this is the first time some of them have been shown. Anyway, even if you didn’t do anything for Earth Day over the weekend, grab a cup of joe and give yourself a zen moment as you poke through this gorgeous gallery.