Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Crush & Screen plant
- Flotation
- Heap leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Filter press
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 86 years (as of Jan 1, 2021) |
Collahuasi has consistently ranked within the top 4 copper mines by production globally over the past decade. |
Source:
The mine is operated by a joint venture company, Compania Minera Dona Ines de Collahuasi SCM. The joint venture partners are Glencore (44 per cent.), Anglo American (44 per cent.), and Japan Collahuasi Resources (JCR) is a consortium of Japanese companies led by Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (12 per cent.).
Contractors
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Summary:
The Collahuasi district is located in Northern Chile, Tarapacá Region, and hosts large Copper-Molybdenum porphyry-type deposits: Ujina, Rosario a high sulphidation vein deposit as Rosario Oeste and a oxide copper deposit as Rosario Sur.
Mineralisation at Rosario and Ujina is mainly associated with veins, especially in Rosario. These major Cu-Ag-As veins include the NNE trending Montezuma and La Grande vein systems and the NW-trending Rosario and Poderosa vein systems (Masterman, et al,. 2005). The two deposits show typical profile of a secondary enrichment process: a leach cap, a copper oxides zone, a secondary enrichment blanket and a primary sulphide core. To the west of Rosario is located Capella, which is an exotic copper deposit with copper oxides associated to gravels, probably derived from the Rosario porphyry.
The Rosario deposit is characterized by a dome-shaped zone of copper mineralization centred on the Rosario and Collahuasi porphyries. The centre of the mineralised zone contains bornite, chalcopyrite, and primary chalcocite and generally lacks pyrite. Copper mineralization occurs as both disseminations and fracture- controlled veinlets. The deposit contains a thin, erratically developed secondary enrichment blanket underlain by a relatively high-grade primary chalcopyrite zone. The lack of a well-developed secondary enrichment blanket is due to both presence of structures and level of oxidization. In addition, the secondary zone is offset ........
Summary:
The mining method applied since the beginning of the operation, which will not change for the LOM, it is conventional truck and shovel open pit mining.
Source:
Processing
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Crush & Screen plant
- Flotation
- Heap leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Filter press
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
Oxide and mixed ores are treated by heap-leaching, solvent-extraction and electro-winning (SX-EW). Sulphide ore is crushed, ground and treated by flotation.
Main Facilities
- 3 SAG mills and 4 ball mills with sequential flotation (3 lines)
- 36 rougher cells 127m3 & 24 300m3
- 27 cleaner cells 127m3& 27 160m3
- 190km pipeline carries slurry to Punta Patache where molybdenum concentrate and moisture are extracted.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Copper
|
Head Grade, %
| ...... | ...... | ...... | 1.29 | 1.25 | 1.22 |
Production:
| Commodity | Product | Units | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Copper
|
Metal in concentrate
|
t
| ...... | ...... | ...... | 559,100 | 523,900 | 501,800 | 433,100 |
|
Silver
|
Metal in concentrate
|
koz
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
|
Gold
|
Metal in concentrate
|
koz
| ...... | ...... | ...... | | | | |
|
Copper
|
Cathode
|
t
| | | | | 100 | 4,800 | 22,200 |
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
|
Ore tonnes mined
| ...... | ...... | 87,253,200 t | 51,886,400 t | 64,733,500 t | 67,602,600 t |
|
Tonnes processed
| ...... | ...... | 54,133,100 t | 49,470,500 t | 49,886,800 t | 49,406,800 t |
|
Total tonnes mined
| ...... | ...... | | | 264 Mt | 252 Mt |
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Reserves at December 31, 2021:
Ore Reserves: cut-off grades – 0.3% %TCu
Mineral Resources: cut-off grades – 0.3%TCu
Low Grade Sulphide Flotation Mineral Resources are reported including stockpiles.
| Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven & Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
337.7 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.56 %
|
1,891 kt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Sulphide
|
2,674 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.97 %
|
25,990 kt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
1,156 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.46 %
|
5,354 kt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
337.7 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.013 %
|
44 kt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Sulphide
|
2,674 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.028 %
|
739 kt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
1,156 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.01 %
|
121 kt
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
Sulphide
|
976.1 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.91 %
|
8,877 kt
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
Oxide & Mixed
|
69.1 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.71 %
|
489 kt
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
383 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.47 %
|
1,799 kt
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
Sulphide
|
976.1 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.032 %
|
310 kt
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
383 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.016 %
|
61 kt
|
|
Inferred
|
Sulphide
|
595.5 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.95 %
|
5,657 kt
|
|
Inferred
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
413.5 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.43 %
|
1,778 kt
|
|
Inferred
|
Sulphide
|
595.5 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.016 %
|
95 kt
|
|
Inferred
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
413.5 Mt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.004 %
|
17 kt
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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Aerial view:
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