Ministro Hales, formerly known as Mansa Mina,[1] is an open-pit copper mine in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It lies at an altitude of 2,600 meters above sea level in an area of cold desert climate in the inland commune of Calama.[3] The mine is located halfway between the city of Calama and the mine of Chuquicamata.[3] Codelco owns and operates the mine.[4] Ground work in the mine begun in 2011 with a large-scale pre-stripping operation.[5] In 2024 Codelco planned to extend the mine life for several decades with the closure phase beginning in 2055 and ending in 2061.