Newmont confirmed that two members of its technical services team died at the Cerro Negro mine in the Santa Cruz region of Argentina on April 9.
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Category: Latin America
Ionic Rare Earths, Viridis form REE joint venture
Ionic Rare Earths has entered into a binding agreement with Viridis Mining and Minerals to form a 50:50 joint venture with the aim of establishing a significant leading role in the future global supply chain for rare earth elements. Both companies will co-fund the joint venture and a proposed Brazilian refinery and magnet recycling facility utilizing IonicRE’s separation technology. A…
Read MoreFirst gold at Salares Norte in Chile
Gold Fields has started production at its Salares Norte mine in Chile’s Atacama province with the pouring of its first gold-silver doré on 28 March. “Salares Norte’s construction is credit to the innovation, experience, commitment, and persistence of the teams that worked on the project. To build a remote mine at 4,500m above sea level with winter temperatures as low…
Read MoreAmerican Lithium brings power to remote Peruvians, strengthens team
American Lithium said it has commenced a major technical/social initiative on the Macusani Plateau with the Peruvian Armed Forces. The solar electrification program involves the installation of solar panels at remote homes that lack electricity. To date, the miner has installed over 240 of the planned 1,000 installations for this year in the five Andean communities surrounding its Falchani lithium…
Read MoreDesalination plant brings much-needed water to Los Pelambres
Chilean miner Antofagasta Minerals unveiled a new desalination plant that will help mitigate the effects of a 15-year drought on the production of copper at its flagship mine, according to Reuters. Chilean President Gabriel Boric praised the $2 billion-plus project, saying the situation in the Coquimbo region, where the Los Pelambres mine is located, is concerning. “Especially with the climate…
Read MoreYumpag silver mine gets final operating permit
Peruvian miner Buenaventura confirmed it has received its final operating permit from the country’s Ministry of Energy and Mines for the start of production at its Yumpag silver mine. The operation, wholly owned by the company, is near the Uchucchacua Unit, Yanahuanca District, Daniel Alcides Carrión Province, Pasco Region. It will be Buenaventura’s flagship asset, said CEO Leandro Garcia. He…
Read MoreKomatsu puts 700th AHS into operation in Chile
Komatsu has now surpassed 700 commercial deployments of its FrontRunner autonomous haulage system (AHS) as of February. The achievement was met last month and includes over 100 units of the 980E-AT, one of the world’s largest ultra-class dump trucks capable of carrying 400 tons. The 700th AHS truck was deployed at Glencore’s Lomas Bayas copper mine in Chile, which first…
Read MoreEcuador’s Indigenous organizations reject Warintza project
The National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) and the Shuar Arutam Peoples have reiterated their rejection of Solaris Resources’ Warintza copper project and President Daniel Noboa’s plans to expand mining operations in the country. The groups noted that 12 of the country’s most important mining projects currently face legal challenges, opposition, or are paralyzed – many due to…
Read MoreWorker dies in accident at Codelco operation
A truck driver has been killed at Codelco’s Radomiro Tomic copper mine in northern Chile, officials have confirmed. The heavy equipment operator, 30-year-old Ana Camila Rojas Farias, was operating in the pit area at the time of the 8 March accident; Codelco did not provide any additional details. Activities at the mine were immediately suspended. An investigation into the causes…
Read MoreBHP exceeds female representation goal in Chile
Global miner BHP has confirmed that its Chilean mines – including the Escondida, Spence and Cerro Colorado copper operations – have surpassed 40% female representation, which is more than double the industry average. In line with the global commitment to achieve gender balance, BHP reached a 40.4% female presence in Chile. Another achievement: BHP has reached 40.8% women in leadership…
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