Name of the Mine
Radomiro Tomic (RT) mine.

Location  
The mine is 250 km north of Calama, region of Antofagasta, in Chile.

Mine Owner/s  
State-owned mining company Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile, or Codelco.

Brief Description  
RT is part of seven mining “divisions” that belong to the State, which grants Codelco the right to exploit and administer these facilities. 

RT is an openpit copper mine primarily producing copper cathodes through heap leaching of oxidised ore. 

Brief History  
In 1998, Codelco inaugurated the RT mine, the first mine designed and built by Chilean engineers.

Initially developed to exploit oxide ores, the operation has gradually shifted toward sulphide processing in recent years as oxide reserves have declined.

Primary Metals/Minerals  
Copper.

Secondary Metals/Minerals  
Molybdenum.

Geology/Mineralisation  
RT is part of the extensive porphyry copper system in the Calama district. Copper mineralisation is associated with a supergene enrichment blanket above a hypogene sulphide zone. Oxide minerals include chrysocolla, brochantite, and atacamite, while sulphide mineralisation includes chalcopyrite and bornite hosted in intrusive and volcanic units.

Reserves  
As at December 31, 2024, total mineral reserves were estimated at 2.1-billion tonnes at a cutoff grade of 0.49% copper.
 
Resources  
Total mineral resources at December 31, 2024, were estimated at 6.55-billion tonnes at a cutoff grade of 0.41% copper.

Type of Mine
Openpit.

Mining Method  
Conventional truck-and-shovel openpit mining. Ore is transported to heap-leach pads (for oxide ore) or to planned concentrator facilities (for sulphide ore).

Major Infrastructure/Equipment  
The mine includes heap-leach pads and solvent extraction–electrowinning facilities; crushing and conveying systems; transition-phase infrastructure for sulphide ore processing, including a new concentrator plant; integrated water recovery and reuse systems; as well as electrical supply lines from Codelco’s northern energy network.

Prospects  
As of 2025, RT is undergoing a strategic transition to sulphide ore exploitation, aligning with Codelco’s long-term production continuity plans.

The Sulfuros Radomiro Tomic II project involves the construction of a concentrator plant with a 100 000 t/d throughput and the implementation of chlorinated leaching for the hydrometallurgy line. The project will extend RT’s life by at least 30 years and increase processing capacity to 200 000 t/y of copper in concentrate.

Contact Details 
Codelco 
Tel +56 2 2690 3000
Email comunicacionexterna@codelco.cl
Website: www.codelco.com