Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Heap leach
- ROM/dump leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
|
| Mine Life | 2029 |
Beginning in the second half of 2015, El Abra operated at reduced rates to achieve lower operating and labor costs, defer capital expenditures and extend the life of the existing operations. |
Source:
p. 212
Codelco has a 49% interest in Sociedad Contractual Minera El Abra, with the remaining 51% owned by Cyprus El Abra Corporation, a subsidiary of FreeportMcMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
Summary:
The El Abra mine is a porphyry copper deposit that has sulfide and oxide mineralization. The predominant primary sulfide copper minerals are bornite and chalcopyrite. There is a minor amount of secondary sulfide mineralization as chalcocite. The oxide copper minerals are chrysocolla and pseudomalachite. There are lesser amounts of copper-bearing clays and tenorite.
Summary:
The available fleet consists of twenty-two 266-metric ton haul trucks loaded by four shovels with buckets ranging in size from 29 to 41 cubic meters, which are capable of moving an average of 214,000 metric tons of material per day.
Processing Technologies
- Heap leach
- ROM/dump leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
Summary:
The El Abra operation consists of an open-pit copper mine and a SX/EW facility with a capacity of 500 million pounds of copper cathode per year from a 125,000 metric ton-per-day crushed leach circuit and a similar-sized ROM leaching operation.
Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|
Copper
|
M lbs
| ......  | ...... | 324 | 367 | 343 | 338 |
All production numbers are expressed as cathode.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Daily mining capacity
| ...... | 214,000 t | 214,000 t | 214,000 t |
|
Annual production capacity
| ...... | 500 M lbs of copper cathode | 500 M lbs of copper cathode | 500 M lbs of copper cathode |
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Reserves at December 31, 2017:
| Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Recoverable Metal |
|
Proven
|
Heap leach
|
270 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.48 %
|
|
|
Proven
|
ROM leach
|
37 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.19 %
|
|
|
Probable
|
Heap leach
|
74 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.47 %
|
|
|
Probable
|
ROM leach
|
13 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.2 %
|
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Heap leach
|
344 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.48 %
|
2.1 B lbs
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
ROM leach
|
50 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.19 %
|
0.1 B lbs
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| | Commodity | Units | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|
Cash costs
|
Copper
|
USD
|
......  †
|
...... †
|
1.91 / lb†
|
† Net of By-Product.
- 'Investor' subscription is required.
Heavy Mobile Equipment as of December 31, 2017:
| HME Type | Size | Quantity |
|
Shovel
|
|
4
|
|
Truck (haul)
|
266 t
|
22
|