| Key Data |
|---|
| Producer of | Copper |
| Location | Northern Chile |
| Ownership | BHP-Billiton (57.5%), Rio Tinto (30%), JECO Corporation (10%), International Finance Corporation (2.5%) |
| Geology type | Copper porphyry deposit with primary sulphides overlain by secondary oxides |
| Mineral type | Primary – chalocopyrite and bornite; Secondary – covellite and chalcocite |
| Reserve base | 3,900Mt proven and probable (2005) |
| Annual production | 87.7Mt of sulphide ore, yielding 1.17Mt of copper, 139,000oz of gold and 5.9Moz of silver (2005/06) |
| Mining method | Open pit |
| Processing method | Sulphide ore – SAG milling and flotation to recover concentrates; Oxide ore – acid leaching and electro-winning to produce copper cathodes |
| Employment | 2,200 |
| Key Equipment |
|---|
| Open pit | Bucyrus 495 electric mining shovels |
| | Caterpillar 793B and 973C haul trucks |
| | Komatsu 830E haul trucks |
| | Bucyrus 49-R and 49-RII electric drills |
| | Ingersoll Rand DMM2 diesel-powered drill |
| | Wenco International fleet management system |
| Contractors | Pre-stripping: Cia. Minera del Pacifico |
| | Plant: Fluor Daniel |
| | Pipeline: PSI-JRI Ingenieria |
| | Port: Sandwell |
| | Accommodation: Sabinco |
| Featured Suppliers |
|---|
| American Mine Research - Mine Monitoring Systems, Belt And Gas Monitoring, Ground Monitors, Electric Circuit Breakers, Speed Sensors |
| Clariant Mining Chemicals - Chemicals for Mineral Treatment |
| Cognis Corporation - Solvent Extraction Reagents and Services |
| Cytec Industries - Leading-Edge Chemistry for the Global Mining Community |
| FLSmidth Dorr-Oliver Eimco - Flotation, Agglomeration and Filtering |
| FLSmidth Minerals - Engineered Mineral Processing Equipment |
| Flygt - Reliable Fluid Handling Solutions for the Mining Industry |
| GE Transportation Systems - Electric Drive Systems |
| Grindex - Submersible Drainage, Sludge and Slurry Pumps |
| Hansen Transmissions - Gear Units and Power Transmission Products |
| Koch Transporttechnik - Bulk Material Handling and Processing Systems |
| Nalco Company - Process and Water Treatment Services for the Mining Industry |
| Norcast - Abrasion resistant Mill and Crusher Liners and Conical-Shaped Grinding Media |
| REMA TIP TOP - Conveyor Belt Maintenance, Wear and Corrosion Protection |
| Shaw-Almex Industries Ltd - Conveyor Belt Vulcanizing Equipment |
| TAKRAF - Surface Mining and Bulk Handling Equipment |
| Voith Turbo - Start-Up Components |
