Mina Candelaria

Useful Information

Location:	Tierra Amarilla, Atacama. (-27.514640, -70.287541)
Open:	no restrictions. [2024]
Fee:	free. [2024]
Classification:	Kupfer Eisen Gold Silber
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	A=650 m asl.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:	Robert Marschik, Lluís Fontboté (2001): The Candelaria-Punta del Cobre iron oxide Cu-Au(-Zn-Ag) deposits, Chile Economic Geology, Volume 96, Number 8, December 2001, pp. 1799-1826. DOI pdf
Address:	Mina Candelaria, Tel: +56-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1987	deposit discovered.
1992	begin of mining operations.
1995	first ore produced.
2007	taken over by Freeport-McMoRan.
2013	reverse osmosis plant at the port of Caldera commissioned.
2014	bought by Lundin Mining Corporation.

Geology

The mineralization is generally referred to as iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) mineralization. Such polymetallic sulphide mineralization can occur as veins, hydrothermal breccias, replacement mantos, and calcic skarns within andesite and tuff units. The mineralization at Candelaria is called an Andean-type IOCG deposit. Its existence is based on the plutonic complexes and fault systems of largely the same age. Within the contact metamorphic aureole of a granodioritic batholith, the metal amounts are increased.

The mine has proven and probable reserves of 676 million tonnes of ore. With 0.53% copper, 0.13 g/t gold, and 1.79 g/t silver, this equals 3.58 million tonnes of copper, 3.0 million oz of gold and 39 million oz of silver.

Description

The Candelaria Mining Complex consists of two adjacent open casts where copper is mined and an underground mine. This site is actually not open to the public. We have listed it because it is the most important copper mine of the world and has a spectacular open cast. It will produce approximately 75,000 t of ore per day for the next 20 years. The ore is processed on site. The estimated production in 2024 will be 160,000–170,000 t of copper and 100,000–110,000 oz of gold. There is a public road right through the mining area, but unfortunately the view is mostly blocked by piles of slag.

The metal content is pretty low, with less than 1 %. Historic mining used ores with 30 to 60 % metal content. Modern mining is based on enormous amounts of low grade ores which can be mined in efficient was with huge machinery. With the mining of almost a quarter million tonnes of rock per day, 66,000 tons of low grade ore are sent to the concentrator.

This listing is not a tourist site, but it is the reason for two tourist sites nearby. The first is the Museo Minero de Tierra Amarilla, which is located in the mining town east of the huge mine. The second is Mina Tránsito, an actualy show mine in a historic mine from the 18th century west of Candelaria. It's actually a shame that they do not have a small car park and outlook into the huge open cast. It would be a minimal effort, would be safe with a small fence, and could be open all day and night, freely accessible. If you have been there and know about such a place, even if it is not official, drop us a line.