Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit & Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
|
Production Start | ... |
Mine Life | 2047 |
The Candelaria copper mining operations are part of the Candelaria Copper Mining Complex.
In early 2022, a feasibility study update was completed for expansion of throughput of the underground mines from 14 ktpd to up to 26 ktpd and included underground crushing and conveying systems and a surface secondary crushing plant.
The expansion project is currently under evaluation based on the latest Mineral Reserves and other potential changes anticipated for the base LOM (being the LOM without expansion). |
Source:
p. 22,86
As part of its Candelaria segment, the Company owns 80% of Compañia Contractual Minera Candelaria S.A. and Compañia Contractual Minera Ojos del Salado S.A.’s copper mining operations and supporting infrastructure in Chile. The remaining 20% ownership stake is held by Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. and Sumitomo Corporation.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- IOCG
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
- Vein / narrow vein
- Skarn
- Manto
Summary:
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 ........
Mining Methods
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
Summary:
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 ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Source:
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Reserves at December 31, 2023:
Mineral Reserves for the Candelaria open pit and underground for the Candelaria property are estimated at cut-off grades of 0.14% and 0.44% copper, respectively.
OP Mineral Resource estimates is reported with cut-off grades of 0.13% copper.
Underground Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.38% copper.
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
73,512 kt
|
Copper
|
0.28 %
|
206 kt
|
Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
73,512 kt
|
Gold
|
0.08 g/t
|
189 koz
|
Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
73,512 kt
|
Silver
|
1.3 g/t
|
3,073 koz
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
348,896 kt
|
Copper
|
0.44 %
|
1,518 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
107,566 kt
|
Copper
|
0.72 %
|
776 kt
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
348,896 kt
|
Gold
|
0.11 g/t
|
1,178 koz
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
107,566 kt
|
Gold
|
0.17 g/t
|
574 koz
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
348,896 kt
|
Silver
|
1.48 g/t
|
16,579 koz
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
107,566 kt
|
Silver
|
3.03 g/t
|
10,461 koz
|
Indicated
|
Stockpiles
|
74,255 kt
|
Copper
|
0.3 %
|
223 kt
|
Indicated
|
Stockpiles
|
74,255 kt
|
Gold
|
0.08 g/t
|
191 koz
|
Indicated
|
Stockpiles
|
74,255 kt
|
Silver
|
1.3 g/t
|
3,104 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
530,878 kt
|
Copper
|
0.39 %
|
2,096 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
466,764 kt
|
Copper
|
0.81 %
|
3,765 kt
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
530,878 kt
|
Gold
|
0.1 g/t
|
1,662 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
466,764 kt
|
Gold
|
0.18 g/t
|
2,737 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
530,878 kt
|
Silver
|
1.36 g/t
|
23,276 koz
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
466,764 kt
|
Silver
|
3.36 g/t
|
50,474 koz
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
9,701 kt
|
Copper
|
0.2 %
|
19 kt
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
44,327 kt
|
Copper
|
0.74 %
|
327 kt
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
9,701 kt
|
Gold
|
0.05 g/t
|
17 koz
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
44,327 kt
|
Gold
|
0.18 g/t
|
258 koz
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
9,701 kt
|
Silver
|
0.82 g/t
|
256 koz
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
44,327 kt
|
Silver
|
2.09 g/t
|
2,976 koz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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