The Collahuasi or Ujina mine is a large copper mine located at 4200 m altitude in the north of Chile in the Tarapaca Region. Collahuasi represents one of the largest copper reserves in Chile and in the world having estimated reserves of 3.93 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.66% copper.[1] It lies about 15 km east of the copper mine of Quebrada Blanca.
The mine produced 560,000 tonnes of copper in 2018, making it one of the world's largest copper mines.[2]
The ore concentrate produced in Collahuasi mine contain about 41% chalcopyrite, 18% chalcocite, 16% pyrite and 4% pyrrhotite.
In the 2020s the mine has faced difficulties relating to water scarcity and decreasing ore grades.[4]
An early period of mining in Collahuasi occurred from about 1905 until 1930.
Climate
References
- Copper mines angloamerican.com, 2011, retrieved 2013-07-06^
- Chile’s Collahuasi copper mine expects to match 2018 record output this year – CEO MINING.COM, 2021-05-12, retrieved 2022-07-22^
- Gerardo Alvear Flores. Processing of Complex Materials in the Copper Industry: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead JOM, 2020^
- Collahuasi pierde 74 % de utilidades por escasez hídrica y menor ley del cobre Chile País Minero, 2025-06-30, retrieved 2025-07-01^
- Ernst Hajek, Francesco Castri. Bioclimatografia de Chile 1975, retrieved 27 May 2024^