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Profile

The Minera Escondida copper mine in northern Chile is one of the world's largest porphyritic copper orebodies, annually producing over 1,000,000 tonnes of fine copper concentrate and refined copper. Ore is processed by heap leaching, solvent extraction and electro-winning. Tailings are stored in impoundments and process water is recycled. Copper concentrate is transported from the minesite to the Punta Coloso dewatering facility via a slurry pipeline and then discharged into the ocean through a diffuser located 1,320 m offshore and 60 m underwater.

Overview

Escondida is located 3,100 m above sea level, 160 km southeast of Antofagasta in northern Chile. The orebody is situated in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth. Groundwater is scarce and must be transported to site from the 200 m deep aquifer in the Punta Negra basin, located 30 km from the minesite. The project's water management is a key element of the environmental program.

Experience

Rescan engineers and scientists were involved in various aspects of this project. The Rescan engineers designed and supervised the installation of a pipeline for the submarine disposal of waste water and the use of seawater to cool the exothermic ammonia leaching process. Rescan also studied the submarine dilution performance. Rescan continues to be actively involved in this project.