Deposit Types
The copper-gold sulphide mineralization present at the Candelaria Copper Mining Complex is generally referred to as iron oxide copper gold (IOCG). Depending on lithology and the structural setting, the polymetallic sulphide mineralization can occur as veins, hydrothermal breccias, replacement mantos, and calcic skarns (Sillitoe, 2003).

The Candelaria IOCG deposit lies within the metamorphic aureole of the Lower Cretaceous magmatic arc plutonic complex that is located within the Candelaria-Punta del Cobre district, Atacama Region, northern Chile. IOCG deposits are primarily defined by their elevated magnetite and / or hematite with elevated copper and gold contents (Sillitoe, 2003). The IOCG belt located in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile and southern Peru is part of a volcano-plutonic arc of Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age. The arc is characterized by voluminous tholeiitic to calc-alkaline plutonic complexes of gabbro to granodiorite composition and primitive, mantle-derived parentage. Major arc-parallel fault systems developed in response to extension and transtension induced by subduction roll-back at the retreating convergent margin.

Most of the sulphide mineralization at Candelaria and Ojos del Salado occurs in breccias, stockwork veinlets, and disseminations in andesite, especially where the rocks are strongly foliated. Highergrade copper mineralization is controlled by stratigraphy in mantos and by faults, trending pre ........

Minera Candelaria consists of the Candelaria Open Pit, La Española Open Pit and the Candelaria Underground mines.

The Candelaria and the Minera Ojos del Salado operations are located close to each other, resulting in shared surface infrastructure such as the concentrator and tailings dam, as well as a common management structure. The ore from the Candelaria Open Pit, Candelaria Underground is processed at the Candelaria processing plant.

The open pits will operate with an overall mining rate of approximately 294,000 tonnes per day for the next 10 years. As the final Candelaria Phase 13 waste stripping is completed the overall mining rate will decline. A stockpile strategy has been developed to maximize the grade of material going to the processing facility. Direct milling ore will average 0.61% copper from Candelaria and 0.43% copper from Española. A lower grade stockpile ore will be recovered to meet plan capacity as required. The mine operates five electric shovels and five hydraulic shovels, and will require a fleet of 55 haulage trucks, seven production drills, and a fleet of support equipment.

The Candelaria Underground mine has been producing a steady state production rate of up to 14,000 tonnes of ore per day by 2022 as per the LOM plan. The average LOM grade is 0.78% copper.

Open Pit Mine Design
The Candelaria open pit was designed to be mined in several phases of development. As of December 2022, four phases of develop ........

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