The Centinela mine is a large open pit copper and gold mine located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. More precisely it lies in the commune of Sierra Gorda in the Antofagasta Region.[1] The mine to its current form and name in 2014 when Antofagasta Minerals merged the operations of the adjoining mines of Esperanza and El Tesoro.[2][3]
As of 2023 Centinela mine employed on average 9,115 workers, including contractors.[1] It relies exclusively on desalinized water for its operation and mineral processing.[1] In 2023, with a gold production of 5,103 kg it ranked second on gold production in Chile after Escondida.[4]