Key Data:
Location
Atacama Desert, northern Chile
Ownership
Xstrata plc (100%)
Geology type
Porphyry copper
Mineral type
Copper oxides and sulphides
Reserve base
239.2Mt grading 0.36% copper, proven and probable (2005)
Annual production
63,147t cathode copper (2005)
Processing method
Heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning to produce cathode copper
Key Equipment:
Mining
P&H mining shovels and blasthole drills