DOCSLIB.ORG

World Bank Document

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
World Bank Document ReportNo. 602a-CH Appraisalof FILECOPY CopperSector Project Public Disclosure Authorized Chile January7, 1976 Industrial ProjectsDepartment Not for PublicUse Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Document of the World Bank This document hasa restricteddistribution and may be used by recipients only in the performanceof their officialduties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosedwithout World Bankauthorization. CURRENCYEQUIVALENTS WEIGHTTSAID MEASURES Except where otherwise indicated,all All units are metric figures are auoted in U.S. Dollars (US$) and in Chilean Escudo (EO) US$ 1 E° 1,050 1 metric ton = 1,000 Kilograms E° 1 US$ 0.00095 1 metric ton = 2,205 Pounds E° 1,000 us$ o09524 1 kilometer = 0.62 Miles Fo 1,000,00 U0$ 952.38 1 meter = 39.3 Inches In October 1975, the Escudo was replaced by the Peso (Ch$) as Chile's monetary unit. Each Ch$ was initially designated as Ch-tt= F,°1000. The exchange rate and currency equivalentin effect on December 31, 1975 were as follows: US1$1 = Ch$ 8.50 Ch$ 1 = US$ 0.1176 Ch$ 1,000 = US$ 117.64 Ch$ 1,000,000 = US$ 117,6147.06 ABBREVIATIONSAND ACQDNYMS CAP- Cia de Acero de Pacifico (The State iron ore mining and steel making enterprise) CIMM- Centro de Irnvestigacion Minera y Metalurgica. (Mining and Metallurgical Research Center) CODELCO- Cornoraciondel Cobre (State enterpriseestablished to operate the major copper mines end related facilities) COR1- Corporacionde Formento de la Produccion (State industrial development corporation) ENAMI- 7Npreza Nacional de Mineria (State agency responsiblefor small and medium mining sector) IIG- Instituto de InvestigacionesGeologicas (GeologicalSurvey) SOMCEX-Sociedad Minera 7xploradory Explotadorde Minas (Explorationdrilling subsidiaryof CODELCO) Fiscal Year: January 1 to Dehcember31 CHILE COPPER SECTOR PROJECT APPRAISAL REPORT Table of Contents Page No. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS .............................. i - iii I. INTRODUCTION ....................... 1 II. THE COPPER SECTOR IN CHILE .......................... 2 A. History and Development of the Sector .......... 2 1. Early Development ......................... 2 2. Recent Development and Production Trends ... 2 B. 'Structureof the Sector ........................ 3 C. The State-Owned Enterprises ..... ...............4 1. CODELCO ................................... 4 2. ENAMI ..................................... 7 D. The Contribution of Sector to Chilean Economy ... 9 1. Foreign Exchange .......................... 9 2. Tax Revenues .............................. 10 3. Employment ....................... 10 E. Sector Performance ....................... 10 F. Investment Plans and Financing Needs of Sector .. 11 III. THE COPPER MARKET ........................ 12 A. Enternational Supply and Demand for Copper ..... 12 B. Copper Price Structure and Projections .... ..... 14 C. Marketing of Chilean Copper ......... ...........15 1. Sales Organization ...... ..................15 2. Sales Procedures ...... ....................15 3. Price Policy ....... .......................16 4. Destination of Sales ..... .................16 This report was prepared by Messrs. Bosson and Lorenz, Industrial Projects Department and Messrs McCarthy and Aguirre-Sacasa, Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Programs Department. Table of Contents (Continued) Page No. IV. THE PROJECT .......... ..................... 16 A. Background ............... 16 B. Description ....................................,16 1. CODELCO Projects ........................... 17 2. ENAMI Projects ............................ 20 C. Ecology ............. ................... 20 D. Organizationand Management ........ ............21 E. ImplementationSchedule ........... ............. 21 F. Project Costs .................. 21 G. FinancingPlan .................. 23 H. Procurement,Allocation of Bank Loan and Disbursement ............. 24 I. FinancialAnalysis of the Project .... ..........24 V. FINANCIALANALYSIS OF THE COMPANIES ..... ............25 A. CODELCO .........................................25 1. FinancialPosition ...... ..................25 2. Auditing ........... .......................26 B. ENAMI ..........................................27 1. FinancialPosition ...... ..................27 2. Auditing ........... .......................27 VI. ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATIONFOR THE PROJECT .............. 27 A. Benefits to the Economy ...... ..................27 B. Foreign Exchange Effect ...... .................. C. Employment Effect ........ ......................3 D. Economic Rate of Return ........................ 28 VII. AGREEMENTS REACHED ........... .......................28 ANNEXES 1 Glossary of Technical Terms 2-1 The Developrentof Copper in Chile 2-2 Structureof Copper Sector 2-3 CODELCO (Corporaciondel Cobre) 2-4 Empresa Nacional de Mineria (ENAMI) 2-5 Contributionof the Copper Sector to the Chilean Economy 2-6 Policies of the Copper Sector 2-7 Past Investmentsin the Chile Copper Sector 2-8 Future Expansionand Productionof the Copper Sector ANNEXES (Cont'd) 3-1 The Copper Market 3-2 Marketing of Chilean Copper 4 Project Description MAP - Location of Large and Medium-sizedMines (IBRD 11417) CHILE COPPER SECTOR PROJECT SUMMARYAND CONCLUSIONS i. This report appraisesa Copper Sector Project in Chile for a pro- posed Bank loan of US$33 million equivalent,consisting of several sub-projects which are directed primarily toward maintaining the country's copper output, and copper generated foreign exchange earnings, reducing operating costs and-- as a by-product of these objectives--marginally increasing Chile's proportion of processed copper. In addition to the specific sub-projects, the loan would include some important technical assistance aimed at strengthening the manage- ments of the two enterprises which are to carry out the sub-projects. ii. The loan would be made to the Republic of Chile and the proceeds on-lend to Corporacion de del Cobre (CODELCO) and Empresa Nacional de Mineria (ENAMI), the two state-owned entities, which account for more than 95% of the country'sproduction of copper. The loan would be for over 15 years, in- cluding 3.5 years of grace and bear an interest of 8.5%. The subloans to CODELCO and ENAMI (US$29.54million to the former and US$3.46 to the latter) would have the same maturities and grace periods as the Bank loan to Chile but would bear a 10% interest rate. iii. Chile's copper mining industry accounts for approximately 75% of the country's foreign exchange earnings. Copper production continues to provide the best opportunities for increasing Chile's foreign exchange earn- ings with relatively modest investment. The balance of payments situation in the short and medium term is likely to be decisively influencedby the fluctuations of world copper prices. Lowering costs by improving production efficiency is of considerable significance since earnings from copper are expected to provide a substantial component of government revenues in the future. iv. The Chilean copper sector comprises three groups of mining opera- tions: Gran Mineria (large-scale); Mediana Mineria (medium-scale) and Pequena Mineria (small-scale). The Gran Mineria is made up of five large mining operations, two of which, Exotica and Andina, started production only recently (1970-71); each of them was originally owned by US companies. After national- ization in 1971 these operationscame under the directionof CODELCO acting as a holding company, thus becoming the largest copper producing companyout- side of the USSR. The Gran Mineria currentlyaccounts for about 85% of Chile's copper output with two mines--Chuquicamataand El Teniente, respectively the largest nonferrous open-pit and underground mines in the world--contributing about 75% of Gran Mineria output. v. The Mediana and Pequena Mineria account for the remainderof Chile's copper production. The largest entity in these sub-sectorsis ENAMI whose - ii - primary function is to purchase and to process in its own smelting and refining facilities partially treated copper minerals from the small- and medium sized mining producers. vi. Chile is a member of the Conseil Intergouvernementaldes Pays Exportateurs de Cuivre (CIPEC) and accounts for 20-25% of the world's pub- lished reserves, 12-13% of its mine production and 20% of global net exports. Chile's sales are widely dispersed,placing it in a strong market position. However, the copper market is characterized by considerable price instability which has been having serious repercussions on Chile's foreign exchange earnings and tax revenues. After a period of very high prices, reaching US$1.52 per lb. in April 1974, the copper price fell during 1975 to below US$0.60 per lb., as the result of a temporary over-supplysituation created by a drop in demand due to the slowdown in the economic growth of the major copper-consuming countries. The CIPEC countries in November 1974 called for action to halt the decline in prices and agreed to temporarilyreduce their copper exports by 10%. A further cutback of 5% was agreed upon in April 1975, this time applying the reduction to productionas well. Some of the major US and Canadian copper companieshave similarly cut back production. Copper prices are expected, however, to improve during the remainder of the decade. In carrying out a cutback in copper production, Chile has shut down the Exotica Mine-- whnic2h was incurring substantial losses at the current low copper price--until some tech- nological problems which have come up in processingExotica ore can be solved.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Leader in Metals That Facilitate the Future
    Chile Leader in metals that facilitate the future Chile Leader in metals that facilitate the future The Projects section of this document has been prepared based on information provided by third parties. The Ministry of Mining has conducted a review limited to validate the existence and ownership of the projects, but the scope of this process does not confirm the accuracy or veracity of the technical data submitted by the parties. Therefore, the information on each project remains the exclusive responsibility of the interested parties identified on each data sheet. The Ministry of Mining is not responsible for the use and/or misuse of this information, and takes no responsibility for any commercial conditions that may be agreed between sellers and potential purchasers. Second edition Santiago, 2020 Editorial board Francisco Jofré, Ministry of Mining Bastián Espinosa, Ministry of Mining Javier Jara, Ministry of Mining We thank the collaboration of Empresa Nacional de Minería (Enami). Invest Chile. Instituto de Ingenieros en Minas. Colegio de Geólogos. Kura Minerals. Minería Activa. Design, layout and illustration Motif Diseño Integral SpA Photographs Ministry of Mining Printing Imprex Chile Leader in metals that facilitate the future 3 Table of Contents Letter from the Authorities ................................................................ 6 Prologue ............................................................................................. 9 Acknowledgments ...........................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Copper Democracy: an International Labor History of the Anaconda
    Copper Democracy An International Labor History of The Anaconda Company: 1945-1960 Willem Morris Undergraduate Senior Thesis Department of History Columbia University 29 March 2021 Seminar Advisor: Jude Webre Second Reader: Adam Tooze 2 Contents Acknowledgements 3 Introduction 5 Chapter 1: Red Metal, Red Miners 11 Chapter 2: For the Permanent Defense of Democracy 29 Chapter 3: Insulation of the Market 39 Chapter 4: “The Strike That Broke the Backs of the Unions” 59 Conclusion 70 3 Acknowledgements This project was special for me because of my family’s connections to the Anaconda Company. My family’s love and support is the reason I was able to make it to the point where I could attempt to write a senior thesis and this project is for them. My father is from Butte and both his father and his grandfather worked in the copper mines for the Anaconda Company. My father and many others from Butte have a remarkable loyalty to the town and after writing this thesis, I am able to fully appreciate why Butte is a special place for so many people. My mother’s grandfather, K. Ross Toole, also has a connection to the Anaconda Company; he was Anaconda’s foremost historian and critic. Thank you to my Grammie for telling me stories about him and for encouraging me to read and write. This project feels like the culmination of a lifetime of learning and there are so many people I would like to thank. Thank you to all of my teachers, professors, coaches, and mentors. Thank you Mrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Hydrology and Erosion Impacts of Mining Derived Coastal Sand Dunes, Ch~Aralbay, Chile
    This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. HYDROLOGY AND EROSION IMPACTS OF MINING DERIVED COASTAL SAND DUNES, CH~ARALBAY, CHILE Daniel G. Nearyl, and Pablo Garcia-Chevesich2 Chile has an economy strongly based on the the sand dunes with multiple row tree shelterbelts exploitation of its natural resources. Copper mining next to the town of Chafiaral. This paper examines represents the main export monetary income, the hydrologic processes which formed the sand employing thousands of people all along the country. deposits and the potential remediation program. The Chilean Copper Corporation (CODELCO), El Salvador branch, has been the primary mining STUDY AREA company, but it will be ending most of its activities Copper Mining by 201 1 unless copper prices stay at their record Chile is world's largest copper producer. levels. Besides the job consequences for the local Cuprous porphyry ore bodies that exist along the population, there are some serious environmental Andean Cordillera are responsible for Chile's vast issues that must be solved during the shut-down. mineral reserves. Some of the world's largest Nearly 12 km2 of contaminated sand dunes, opencast mines are located at high altitudes and located in the Bay of Chafiaral, Chile, are the result harsh cold and arid environments along the Andes of mining operations between 1938 and 1975 that Cordillera. During 2004 Chile's copper production released contaminated sediments to the bay. Even reached 5.3 million Mg. Other metallic minerals though the sediment release no longer occurs, the mined and smelted in Chile include gold, silver, coastal winds transport the heavy metals attached to molybdenum, zinc, manganese and iron ore.
    [Show full text]
  • Petrology and Mineralogy of the "Old Workings Area," El Salvador, Chile
    Scholars' Mine Masters Theses Student Theses and Dissertations 1965 Petrology and mineralogy of the "Old Workings Area," El Salvador, Chile Bertis James Vander Schaaff Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses Part of the Geology Commons Department: Recommended Citation Vander Schaaff, Bertis James, "Petrology and mineralogy of the "Old Workings Area," El Salvador, Chile" (1965). Masters Theses. 5240. https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/masters_theses/5240 This thesis is brought to you by Scholars' Mine, a service of the Missouri S&T Library and Learning Resources. This work is protected by U. S. Copyright Law. Unauthorized use including reproduction for redistribution requires the permission of the copyright holder. For more information, please contact [email protected]. > I - ! ! PETROlOGY AND MINERAlOGY OF THE "OLD WJRKINGS AREA," EL SALVADOR, CHILE I o BY BERTIS J~ANDER SCHAAFF 'i~I A THESIS submitted to the faculty of THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT ROLLA in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of .MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOlOGY Rolla, Missouri 1965 Approved by Q - 71.._. }j ,.;4-dJ_ /J. 7~ _(advisor) ~/Y51A~v ... TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT •••••••••••• . i LIST OF FIGURES •••• . ii LIST OF PLATES •••••••• . .. iii I. INTRODUCTION •••••••••••••••••• . 1 A. Purpose of Investigation •• . 1 B. location and Size of Area. 1 c. Topography •••••••••••••• . 3 D. Climate and Vegetation •• . 4 E. Culture .•••••.•..••.•••.••.•..• . 5 F. Field and Laboratory Procedure. 7 G. Acknowledgements ••••••••• . 9 II. GENERAL GEOLOGIC SETTING •••• . .. .. 10 A. Previous Investigations ••••• . 10 B. Petrology and Age Relations. 11 c. Structure ••••••••••••••••• . .. 12 III. PORPHYRY-TYPE ORE DEPOSITS •••••••••••••••••••• 15 A. Mineralogy •••••• . 15 B.
    [Show full text]
  • Pollutionbulletin Marine Environmental Impact Due
    Reprinted from POLL UTION B ULLETIN Vol. 9,No. 3,pp. 67-70 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DUE TO MINING ACTIVITIES OF EL SALVADOR COPPER MINE, CHILE J. C. Castilla and E. Nealler Laboratorio de Zoología, Departamento de Biología Ambiental y de Poblaciones, Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago, Chile PERGAMON PRESS OXFORD * NEW YORK * FRANKFURT * PARIS 19 7 8 Volume 9/Number 3/March 1978 standing of the regulatory processes in natural com­ tion and interpretation. For the sake of simplicity a path­ munities. But in any case understanding and prediction way involving progressive physical changes (e.g. are the ultimate, and indeed the only satisfactory, deposition of silt, organics) and their ecological conse­ obj ectives of ecology so we are bound to progress towards quences has been omitted, as have the parallel paths them, however slowly. So to those whose remit lies in and/or imputs involving climatology, oceanography and pollution or conservation—the two become indistinguish­ laboratory experimentation implicit from Step 5 able—may I suggest that progress involving whole onwards. The assumption is made that communities communities will come from again recognizing and which are not biologically structured are either not worth capitalizing upon the opportunities afforded by those bothering about or cannot be monitored. I hope this which are strongly biologically structured. assumption will provoke a response from those whose Accordingly I conclude with a dichotomous flow experience suggests otherwise as a further step in assess­ diagram depicting what I consider to be the logical ing the validity and practical value of this hypothesis.
    [Show full text]
  • Santo Domingo Project Region III, Chile NI 43-101 Technical Report on Feasibility Study Update
    Santo Domingo Project Region III, Chile NI 43-101 Technical Report on Feasibility Study Update Prepared by: Ms Joyce Maycock, P. Eng., Wood Prepared for: Mr. Antonio Luraschi, CMC, Wood Capstone Mining Corp. Mr. Marcial Mendoza, CMC, Wood Dr. Mario Bianchin, P. Geo., Wood Effective Date: Mr. David Rennie, P. Eng., RPA 26 November, 2018 Mr. Carlos Guzman, CMC, NCL Mr. Roger Amelunxen, P. Eng., Aminpro Project Number: Mr. Michael Gingles, QP MMSA, Sunrise Americas M40387 Mr. Tom Kerr, P. Eng., Knight Piésold Mr. Roy Betinol, P. Eng., BRASS. CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFIED PERSON Av. Apoquindo 3846, Piso 15 Las Condes, Santiago 7550123, Chile I, Joyce Maycock, P.Eng., am employed as a Project Manager with Amec Foster Wheeler Ingeniería y Construcción Ltda (doing business as Wood), located at Av. Apoquindo 3846, Piso 15, Las Condes, Santiago, 7550123, Chile. This certificate applies to the technical report titled “Santo Domingo Project, Region III, Chile, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Feasibility Study Update” that has an effective date of 26 November, 2018 (the “technical report”). I am a Professional Engineer in British Columbia (13331). I graduated from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, University of London, with a Bachelor of Science (Engineering) degree in Metallurgy in 1969. Since 1969 I have continually been involved in mineral processing operations and projects for precious and base metals in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Peru, and Zambia. From 2009 to date I have worked as report co-ordinator for many prefeasibility and feasibility reports including a feasibility study for Santo Domingo; for feasibility studies for Mina Justa, Minsur and Zafranal, CMZ in Peru; for a feasibility study for El Espino, Pucobre; for a prefeasibility study for Lobo Marte, Kinross; a feasibility study for Maricunga, Kinross; a feasibility study for Angostura, Greystar; a prefeasibility and feasibility study for Cerro Casale, Barrick/Kinross; a scoping study for Zaldivar Sulphides, Barrick; and a feasibility study for Guanaco for Compañía Minera Guanaco.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 the History of Indio Muerto a Copper Mine in Chile
    1 The History of Indio Muerto A Copper Mine in Chile By Frank Trask, III Frank Trask, Jr., (1913-1997) Chief Geologist of the Andes Copper Mining Co. and one of the principal developers of the El Salvador Mine. Photo 1959, Courtesy of MariLu Fines. This small publication is intended as a Memorial to my Father, Frank Trask, Jr., and to the many other people that participated in the discovery and development of the Indio Muerto (El Salvador) Mine. William Swayne was the Man of Vision who discovered the mineralization and deserves the greatest credit. Frank Trask, Jr. was the Man of Knowledge that measured and understood the ore body like no man had ever before understood one. His careful work provided the factual basis that was needed to make the most of the resource. Finally, Harold Robbins was the Man of Action that transformed this information into the huge and successful enterprise that it became. Each man in the chain was dependent on the other. Mr. Brinkerhoff and Mr. Koepel sat above them and guided the whole enterprise to a successful place in the world of mining. All of these men had a huge respect and friendship for one another, and these friendships were amongst my Fathers last thoughts. A portion of his ashes are scattered at Indio Muerto. 2 History of Indio Muerto By Frank Trask, III Sometime in the last 5-700 years the first men arrived where the Indio Muerto Mine is today. There were, when I first saw the place on September 18, 1955, a whole series of rudimentary graves, dry masonry stone wall shelters, and “dog holes” scattered around the sole outcropping of copper mineralization over what later became the main ore body.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of Environmental Regulations on Productivity, Market Struc- Ture, and Economic Growth;
    Mining and the Environment Case Studies from the Americas edited by Alyson Warhurst INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE Ottawa • Cairo • Dakar • Johannesburg • Montevideo • Nairobi • New Delhi • Singapore Published by the International Development Research Centre PO Box 8500, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1G 3H9 © International Development Research Centre 1999 Legal deposit: 1st quarter 1999 National Library of Canada ISBN 0-88936-828-7 The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily repre- sent those of the International Development Research Centre. Mention of a proprietary name does not constitute endorsement of the product and is given only for information. A microfiche edition is available. The catalogue of IDRC Books may be consulted online at http://www.idrc.ca/index_e.html This book may be consulted online at http://www.idrc.ca/books/focus.html CONTENTS Foreword v Acknowledgments ix Introduction MERN: Toward an Analysis of the Public Policy - Corporate Strategy Interface — Alyson Warhurst 1 Chapter 1 Environmental Regulation, Innovation, and Sustainable Development — Alyson Warhurst 15 Chapter 2 US Environmental Regulations and the Mining Industry: Lessons for Chile — Juanita Gana 49 Chapter 3 Environmental Policies and Practices in Chilean Mining — Gustavo Lagos and Patricia Velasco 101 Chapter 4 Environmental Management in a Heterogeneous Mining Industry: The Case of Peru — Alfredo Núñez-Barriga, assisted by Isabel Castañeda-Hurtado 137 Chapter 5 Formal and Garimpo Mining and the Environment in Brazil — Maria Hanai 181 iii Chapter 6 Environmental Issues in Brazilian Tin Production — Teresinha Andrade 199 Chapter 7 Environmental Management in the Bauxite, Alumina, and Aluminum Industry in Brazil — Liliana Acero 223 Chapter 8 Competitiveness, Environmental Performance, and Technical Change: A Case Study of the Bolivian Mining Industry — Ismael Fernando Loayza 267 Appendix 1 Contributors 313 Appendix 2 Acronyms and Abbreviations 315 Bibliography 319 iv FOREWORD Mining and environment — the two do not seem to go together.
    [Show full text]
  • Children of the Hill Situating Children in Butte’S History
    Beginning in the 1880s, jobs in the copper mines began attracting immigrants to Butte, Montana. The new arrivals came in search of a better life for themselves and their children and settled in ethnic neighborhoods, where they could speak their native languages and maintain cultural ties to their homelands. The Irish neighborhood of Dublin Gulch is shown here in about 1910. by Janet L. Finn Children of the Hill Situating Children in Butte’s History JANET L. FINN | WINTER 2012 23 N. A. Forsyth, photographer, MHS Photograph Archives, Helena, ST 001.100 The story of Butte, Montana, has been twenty-five. The Butte mines were soon producing told many times. It is by and large a story of the grit and one-third of the nation’s copper; its mining workforce danger of hard-rock mining, the power plays of the was twelve thousand strong and earned “the world’s Copper Kings, and the intrigues of organized labor, largest” payroll of $1.5 million a month. By 1905, with women cast in cameo roles. But if the voices and Butte had forty-two churches, more than two dozen views of women have been muted in this history, the public and parochial schools, as well as over forty fra- stories of Butte’s children have been largely erased. ternal and benevolent organizations and another forty Little is known about children’s experiences of mining trade and labor unions.1 life or of the ways in which class politics, labor strife, Fueling this engine of industry was an immigrant and gender and ethnic relations insinuated them- population that grew each year.
    [Show full text]
  • Submarine Tailings Disposal (STD)—A Review
    Minerals 2014, 4, 642-666; doi:10.3390/min4030642 OPEN ACCESS minerals ISSN 2075-163X www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals Review Submarine Tailings Disposal (STD)—A Review Bernhard Dold SUMIRCO (Sustainable Mining Research & Consult EIRL), Casilla 28, San Pedro de la Paz 4130000, Chile; E-Mail: [email protected]; Tel.: +56-9-7762-6394 Received: 26 February 2014; in revised form: 24 May 2014 / Accepted: 9 June 2014 / Published: 8 July 2014 Abstract: The mining industry is a fundamental industry involved in the development of modern society, but is also the world’s largest waste producer. This role will be enhanced in the future, because ore grades are generally decreasing, thus leading to increases in the waste/metal production ratio. Mine wastes deposited on-land in so-called tailings dams, impoundments or waste-dumps have several associated environmental issues that need to be addressed (e.g., acid mine drainage formation due to sulphide oxidation, geotechnical stability, among others), and social concerns due to land use during mining. The mining industry recognizes these concerns and is searching for waste management alternatives for the future. One option used in the past was the marine shore or shallow submarine deposition of this waste material in some parts of the world. After the occurrence of some severe environmental pollution, today the deposition in the deep sea (under constant reducing conditions) is seen as a new, more secure option, due to the general thought that sulphide minerals are geochemically stable under the reduced conditions prevailing in the deep marine environment. This review highlights the mineralogical and geochemical issues (e.g., solubility of sulphides in seawater; reductive dissolution of oxide minerals under reducing conditions), which have to be considered when evaluating whether submarine tailings disposal is a suitable alternative for mine waste.
    [Show full text]
  • Mass Mining Methods II: Case Histories 386 Santiago Chile, 22-25 August 2004 Massmin 2004 Thirty Years Evolution of Block Caving in Chile
    Chapter 10 Mass Mining Methods II: Case Histories 386 Santiago Chile, 22-25 August 2004 Massmin 2004 Thirty years evolution of block caving in Chile Jaime Chacón, Departmento Ingeniería de Minas, Universidad de Chile Hans Göpfert, Departmento Ingeniería de Minas, Universidad de Chile Cade-Idepe Consultores en Ingeniería Alfonso Ovalle, Departmento Ingeniería de Minas, Universidad de Chile, Metálica Consultores S.A. Abstract An analytical account is made of the evolution of Mass Caving of the Chilean mines in the last thirty years. For this, the cases of El Teniente, Salvador and Andina (Río Blanco) mines are reviewed. Because the driving force of the mentioned evolution was the change of the geo-mechanical properties of the ore bodies while their exploitation advanced and became deeper, reference is made to the characterization of the rock masses on which the mining designs were based on. The evolution is analyzed describing the effects on designs and equipment of the different mining levels and unit operations characteristic of mining by Mass Caving: undercut, extraction, secondary breakage, ore transfer and intermediate haulage. Based on the analysis of the evolution of these three decades, a projection of the possible developments of Mass Caving is made for the future and a balance of some pending problems with this type of mining is presented. 1 INTRODUCTION The case of El Teniente mine illustrates what was going At present, three of the five Codelco-Chile producing to happen in the short to medium range term in the three mines are underground and use the mining method known mines: as reserves in the upper or secondary enrichment as Block Caving: El Teniente, Río Blanco (Andina) and El zones deplete (which fragments very well producing fine Salvador.
    [Show full text]
  • Chile Mining 2020
    GLOBAL BUSINESS REPORTS & EXPOMIN BUSINESS REPORTS GLOBAL GLOBAL BUSINESS REPORTS CHILE MINING 2020 EXPOMIN OFFICIAL INVESTMENT GUIDE CHILE MINING 2020 EXPOMIN OFFICIALGUIDE INVESTMENT Metso Performance Center Helping you take control of your site Mining continues to be more remote and complex than ever. Dear Reader, However that is no excuse for a lack of responsiveness. When things go wrong, ramifications can add up quickly. This compounds the need for timely and accurate service - or more so, to get ahead of problems before they start. Chile, long considered a stalwart of stability in the Latin American region, experi- enced an unusually tumultuous 2019. An eruption of civil unrest and mass protests over the country’s high rate of inequality and the rising cost of living raised questions That is the benefit at the heart of our new, state-of-the-art, regarding the stability of the country and its most important industry. Metso Performance Center. Coupled with intuitive services, Despite the headlines, Chile’s miners continued to invest in large brownfield expan- you’ll see more and stay ahead, in better control of now and sions and, to a lesser extent, greenfield projects, in hopes of tapping the country’s ready for what comes next. vast geological potential for decades to come. According to Consejo Minero, the country anticipates investments amounting to approximately US$72 billion, coming from projects to be developed in the 2019-2029 time period. With a team of equipment, process, and technology experts, At the beginning of 2020, things looked promising, as the copper price had began Metso can provide real-time support to: its recovery on the back of improved trade relations between the US and China.
    [Show full text]