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…
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Chile’s state-owned Codelco has reached an agreement on a new contract with the union representing supervisors at its Chuquicamata copper mine, reported Reuters. “Codelco appreciates and values the dialogue and shared vision of the reality experienced by the company and, in particular, Chuquicamata,” said the miner, who did not specify the financial details of the contract. The agreement, noted Codelco,…
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Canadian copper-focused developer Capstone Copper has confirmed the start of commissioning activities at its Mantoverde development project (MDP) in Chile. First ore was introduced to the primary crusher on 29 November. Mantoverde said it will continue to systematically commission the concentrator plant and is on track to reach nameplate production levels of 32,000 tonnes per day by mid-2024. “We just…
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Copper miner Antofagasta has approved, after extensive review, a multi billion-dollar expansion of its Centinela operation in Chile, including a second concentrator that will add an estimated 170,000 copper equivalent tonnes annually. Initial construction and critical path works for the Centinela Second Concentrator project will begin immediately, with full construction expected to commence after definitive project finance documents have been…
Read MoreChilean president Gabriel Boric has reportedly appointed Aurora Williams as the new mining minister for the country. Williams, according to Reuters, was placed after a reshuffle of cabinet members as the government seeks to advance key reforms, and replaces Marcela Hernando. She last served in the same seat from 2014-2018 under previous president Michelle Bachelet. “I invite the ministers to…
Read MoreAmerigo Resources said its Minera Valle Central (MVC) operation near Rancagua, Chile, has resumed normal operations after severe flooding destroyed three high-voltage power towers in late June, disconnecting the site from Chile’s central power grid.
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Marimaca Copper said Mitsubishi has made a C$20 million equity investment into the company by way of non-brokered private placement. Proceeds will be used to advance and accelerate the development of Marimaca’s flagship project in the Antofagasta region of northern Chile. “We are pleased that Mitsubishi shares our view that the Marimaca Copper project is a unique, very high quality,…
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BHP and Microsoft have teamed up to improve the performance of the concentrator at the Escondida operation in Chile using advanced digital technology. The companies hope to boost copper recovery at the world’s largest copper mine. BHP Chief Technical Officer Laura Tyler said by augmenting digital technology capabilities with new ways of working, the team at Escondida is well-positioned to…
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Albemarle said it aims to expand its lithium operations in Chile’s Atacama salt flat as early as 2028 with direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology under a current government contract, reported Reuters. “Depending on environmental and other permits needed in Chile, as well as scaling technologies, we believe [DLE] should be implemented, if everything goes well, towards 2028 or 2029,” Chilean…
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Thiess, as it grows its footprint in Chile, has been retained by Minera Centinela for a A$155 million full-service mining contract at the Llano project in the Sierra Gorda District of Antofagasta. Under the letter of agreement (LOA), work will begin this month. The scope of work includes mining operations, maintenance and asset management services for the greenfield copper mine,…
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