Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Crush & Screen plant
- Heap leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
|
| Mine Life | 10 years (as of Jan 1, 2015) |
Source:
p. 16, 24,351
In 1997, Codelco inaugurated the first operation led by Chileans, the Radomiro Tomic mine, then the Gabriela Mistral in 2008.
Codelco Corp. operates seven mine sites (known as “divisiones”): Chuquicamata, Ministro Hales, Radomiro Tomic, Gabriela Mistral, Salvador, Andina, El Teniente, in addition to the Ventanas Smelter and Refinery.
Summary:
Porphyry copper deposit, its main mineralized body is oxidized in a mineralized zone, mainly Chrysocolla, Black and Atacamite oxides in low presence, deposited under sterile coverage of post mineral gravels with an average thickness of 50 m.
Summary:
Gabriela Mistral in it´s 8th Division operates the largest fleet of autonomous trucks in the world. A fleet of 17 Komatsu 930E4 AT Trucks, allowing to transport 210,000 ton/day of materials.
Processing
- Sulfuric acid (reagent)
- Crush & Screen plant
- Heap leach
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
Source:
Summary:
The production process involves different stages: crushing (primary, secondary and tertiary), acid curing in drums, heap leaching, tailings disposal, solvent extraction (SX), electro-winning (EW), and the cathodes produced are transported to the Mejillones port.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|
Copper
|
Head Grade, %
| ......  | ...... | 0.43 |
Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Copper
|
t
| ...... | ...... | 107,247 | 122,737 | 121,712 | 125,009 | 121,012 |
All production numbers are expressed as cathode.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2013 |
|
Ore tonnes mined
| 38,180 kdmt | 39,430 kdmt | 40,503 kdmt | |
|
Daily mining capacity
| | | | 210,000 t |
|
Annual mining capacity
| | | | 76 Mt |
Reserves at December 31, 2020:
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
252 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.35 %
|
0.9 Mt
|
|
Probable
|
35 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.33 %
|
0.1 Mt
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
287 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.34 %
|
1 Mt
|
|
Measured
|
259 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.34 %
|
0.9 Mt
|
|
Indicated
|
43 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.32 %
|
0.1 Mt
|
|
Inferred
|
107 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.34 %
|
0.4 Mt
|
|
Total Resource
|
409 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.34 %
|
1.4 Mt
|
Heavy Mobile Equipment as of January 1, 2013:
| HME Type | Model | Size | Quantity |
|
Backhoe
|
|
|
1
|
|
Dozer (crawler)
|
|
|
3
|
|
Dozer (rubber tire)
|
|
|
5
|
|
Drill
|
|
|
4
|
|
Grader
|
|
|
3
|
|
Loader
|
|
|
2
|
|
Shovel
|
|
73 cu. yd
|
2
|
|
Truck (haul)
|
.......................
|
330 t
|
17
|
|
Truck (water)
|
|
|
3
|
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Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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Aerial view:
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