Description

Cerro Verde is an open-pit copper and molybdenum mining complex.

Location

Approximately 20 miles southwest of Arequipa, Peru.

Did you know?

Construction activities associated with a large-scale expansion at Cerro Verde were completed in September 2015. The project expanded the concentrator facilities from 120,000 metric tons-per-day (mtd) to 360,000 mtd and provides incremental annual production of approximately 600 million pounds of copper and 15 million pounds of molybdenum. Cerro Verde’s operations benefit from its large-scale, long-lived reserves and cost efficiencies. During 2018, Cerro Verde received a modified environmental permit allowing it to operate its existing concentrator facilities at rates up to 409,500 metric tons of ore per day.

Ores

The Cerro Verde mine is a porphyry copper deposit that has oxide and secondary sulfide mineralization, and primary sulfide mineralization. The predominant oxide copper minerals are brochanite, chrysocolla, malachite and copper “pitch.” Chalcocite and covellite are the most important secondary copper sulfide minerals. Chalcopyrite and molybdenite are the dominant primary sulfides.

Processes and facilities

Cerro Verde’s operation includes 2 concentrating facilities with an annual average permitted milling capacity of 409,500 metric tons of ore per day. Cerro Verde also operates SX/EW leaching facilities, which have a production capacity of approximately 200 million pounds of copper per year. In 2023, Cerro Verde began to dismantle its crushed leach facility (which had a capacity of 39,000 metric tons of ore per day) as a result of pit expansion but continues to utilize its 100,000-metric-ton-per-day ROM leach system.

Description

El Abra is an open-pit copper mining complex.

Did you know?

We continue to evaluate a large-scale expansion at El Abra to process additional sulfide material and to achieve higher recoveries. El Abra’s large sulfide resource could potentially support a major mill project similar to facilities constructed at Cerro Verde. Technical and economic studies are being advanced to determine the optimal scope and timing for the project.

Location

47 miles north of Calama, in Chile’s El Loa province, Region II.

Ores

El Abra is a porphyry copper deposit that has sulfide and oxide mineralization. The predominant primary sulfide copper minerals are bornite and chalcopyrite. There is a minor amount of secondary sulfide mineralization as chalcocite. The oxide copper minerals are chrysocolla and pseudomalachite. There are lesser amounts of copper-bearing clays and tenorite.