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Chile
Escondida Mine

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 Location:
150 km SE from Antofagasta, Chile

  Regional Office:
Cerro El Plomo 6000, Las Condes
Santiago
Chile
7560623
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WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Financials
  • Fleet
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start...
Mine Life57 years (as of Jan 1, 2022)
Escondida in Chile is the world’s largest copper mine. Escondida’s two pits feed three concentrator plants, as well as two leaching operations (oxide and sulphide).


Owners

Source: p. 490,492
CompanyInterestOwnershipInvestor's Info
Jeco 2 Ltd. 2.5 % Indirect
JECO Corp. 10 % Indirect
Rio Tinto plc 30 % Indirect
BHP Group Ltd. 57.5 % Indirect
Minera Escondida Ltda. (operator) 100 % Direct
Minera Escondida Limitada operates the Escondida property. Current ownership, which has been stable since 2010 is BHP (57.5%), Rio Tinto (30%), JECO Corporation (10%) and JECO 2 Limited (2.5%).

Minera Escondida Limitada holds mining concessions in accordance with the current mining laws and national constitution of Chile.

Contractors

Subscription required - Subscription is required.


Deposit Type

  • Porphyry


Summary:

Both Escondida and Escondida Norte are porphyry copper deposits, being the deposit type typical of the majority of Chilean/Andean copper deposits. The deposits lie in the Escondida-Sierra de Varas shear lens of the Domeyko Fault System. The deposits are supergene-enriched copper porphyries with primary mineralisation associated with multiple phase intrusions of monzonite to granodiorite composition into host volcanics. The deposits are related geographically and geologically to porphyry bodies intruded along a regional lineament which exerts strong control over the regional distribution of deposits of this age and type. The Escondida cluster is formed by the Escondida (including Escondida Este) and Escondida Norte - Zaldívar porphyry copper deposits. The latter corresponds to the same ore body mined by two different companies and operations. Additionally, the porphyry copper deposits of Chimborazo and Pampa Escondida, as well as Pinta Verde, have been recognised. Escondida Deposit Alteration and Hypogene Mineralisation Much of the feldspathic porphyry shows sericitic alteration in shallow levels already exploited an advanced argillic zone and at deeper only along fault zones. Quartz, pyrophyllite and subordinate alunite, diaspore, and svanbergite are reported (Brimhall et al., 1985; Alpers and Brimhall, 1988). At depth and as remnants in the sericitic zone, patches of chlorite-sericite alteration exist, which give way downward to biotite in andesitic volcanic rocks and k-f ........


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader


Summary:

Minera Escondida Limitada(MEL) is a mining operation that uses conventional open pit methods to extract mineral reserves containing economic quantities of copper to produce both cathodes and copper concentrates. The mineral reserves are based on the LOM plan which only considers open pit mining. Since the start of operations at MEL, the mine has operated using an open pit mining method, utilising trucks, and shovels/excavators. This method is suited to the large copper porphyry deposits mined by MEL as the deposits are low grade, high tonnage and located relatively close to the surface. Drill and Blast The mining operation begins with the drilling process; drill samples are sent to an assay laboratory for analysis. The assay results are used to mark out zones of ore, leach, and waste rock, which are mined separately. Waste Removal and Storage After the blasting is completed, ore and waste are mined by excavators loading onto trucks. Overburden and waste loads can be used for fixing roads, building ramps, or simply placed on the Overburden Storage Facility. The mine design criteria are listed below: • Surface mining approach • Minimum operating width of 80 m • Haul road design width of 40 m • Bench height of 15 m • Maximum road grade of 10% • Bench face angle and catch berms vary based on geotechnical sector • Typical blasting grid ranging from 7x7 until 11x14m • Final wall Control Drill Pattern 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 m depending on sector • Blasthole diameter of 6.1/2, 9, 10 ........


Crushing and Grinding
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Processing

Flow Sheet: Subscription required

Summary:

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Production:

CommodityProductUnits2023202220212020201920182017
Copper Total kt  ......  Subscription required ^
Copper Cathode kt  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required288232
Copper Metal in concentrate kt  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required926540
Gold Metal in concentrate koz  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Silver Metal in concentrate koz  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
^ Guidance / Forecast.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics202220212020201920182017
Total tonnes mined  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required417,469 kt416,411 kt
Tonnes milled  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required125,566 kt118,275 kt
Daily milling capacity  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Annual production capacity  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required350 kt of copper cathode350 kt of copper cathode350 kt of copper cathode
Annual milling capacity  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required153.7 Mt153.7 Mt153.7 Mt
Daily mining rate  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at June 30, 2022:
Cut-off criteria:
Mineral Resources: Oxide 0.20%SCu, Mixed 0.30%TCu, Sulphide 0.25%TCu or 0.30%TCu depending on processing.

Ore Reserves: Oxide 0.20%SCu, Sulphide 0.30%TCu and greater than variable cut-off (V_COG) of the concentrator, Sulphide Leach 0.25%TCu and lower than V_COG and with >30% of copper carried by more leachable copper minerals.

CategoryOreTypeTonnage CommodityGrade
Proven Heap leach 1,420 Mt Copper 0.42 %
Proven Sulphide 3,160 Mt Copper 0.7 %
Proven Oxide 129 Mt Copper 0.58 %
Probable Heap leach 233 Mt Copper 0.4 %
Probable Sulphide 1,750 Mt Copper 0.57 %
Probable Oxide 53 Mt Copper 0.52 %
Proven & Probable Heap leach 1,650 Mt Copper 0.42 %
Proven & Probable Sulphide 4,910 Mt Copper 0.65 %
Proven & Probable Oxide 182 Mt Copper 0.56 %
Measured Sulphide 5,080 Mt Copper 0.59 %
Measured Oxide 90 Mt Copper 0.59 %
Measured Mixed 64 Mt Copper 0.51 %
Indicated Sulphide 3,750 Mt Copper 0.51 %
Indicated Oxide 30 Mt Copper 0.54 %
Indicated Mixed 51 Mt Copper 0.47 %
Inferred Sulphide 10,100 Mt Copper 0.53 %
Inferred Oxide 6 Mt Copper 0.69 %
Inferred Mixed 25 Mt Copper 0.48 %
Total Resource Sulphide 18,900 Mt Copper 0.54 %
Total Resource Oxide 126 Mt Copper 0.58 %
Total Resource Mixed 140 Mt Copper 0.49 %

Financials:

Units2022202120202019201820172016
Capital expenditures M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required 997   999   2,268  
Revenue M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required 8,774   4,576   5,071  
After-tax Income M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required 2,221   516   505  
EBIT M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
EBITDA M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required 4,921   2,397   1,743  
Operating Cash Flow M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required


Pipelines
Source: Subscription required


Heavy Mobile Equipment:
HME TypeModelSizeQuantityStatusRef. Date
Bulldozer ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Cable reel truck ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Dozer (crawler) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Dec 5, 2022
Dozer (rubber tire) ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Drill ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Grader ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Loader (FEL) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Shovel (hydraulic) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Shovel (rope) ....................... Subscription required 73 cu. yd ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Shovel (rope) ....................... Subscription required 73 cu. yd ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Tire manipulator ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Jul 13, 2018
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Proposed Aug 30, 2022
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Truck (haul) ....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Truck (water) ....................... Subscription required Existing Jun 30, 2022
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 5, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 5, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 8, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 5, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 5, 2022
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 17, 2023
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Staff:

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
Subscription required Subscription required Subscription required 2022
Subscription required 2015

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
Annual Report 2022
Form 20-F 2022
Other 2022
Other 2022
Other 2022
Press Release 2022
Technical Report 2022
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018
Other 2018
Annual Report 2017
Annual Report 2017
Annual Report 2017
Annual Report 2016
Annual Report 2015
Corporate Presentation 2015
Annual Report 2014
Other 2001
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Subscription required - Subscription is required.

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