Name: Radomiro Tomic mine.
Location: Calama, Antofagasta region, in Chile.
Mine Owner/s: Chilean state copper-mining company Codelco.
Brief Description: Radomiro Tomic was the first mine to have been entirely developed by Codelco.
Brief History: Even though it was discovered in the 1950s, the Radomiro mine’s development was approved only in 1995, after Codelco had updated the feasibility studies and had acquired the necessary technology for it to be economically feasible. It began operations in April 1998. Its plant capacity is designed to produce 300 000 t/y of cathode copper.
Primary Metals/Minerals: Electrorefined and electrolytic copper cathodes and copper concentrate.
Secondary Metals/Minerals: None stated.
Geology/Mineralisation: Radomiro Tomic is an oxide copper porphyry deposit.
Reserves: Total proven and probable reserves as at 2019 were estimated at 1.94-billion tonnes grading 0.49% copper.
Resources: Total mineral resources as at 2019 were estimated at 4.28-billion tonnes grading 0.44% copper.
Mining Method: Openpit.
Major Infrastructure and Equipment: The mine comprises a primary crushing and conveyor system that allows for the transfer of sulphide ore from the Radomiro Tomic deposit to the existing concentrators at Chuquicamata.
The mine includes a semimobile primary crushing plant, built on the surface, close to the Radomiro Tomic openpit, which has a gyratory crusher. The processed ore is transported 8.2 km by overland conveyor – one of the world’s longest conveyors. The copper sulphide traverses three bridges, crossing roads and two tunnels before it reaches the stockpile building that has a capacity of 60 000 t, from which six feeders discharge material onto the conveyor belts going to the Chuquicamata plants.
The mine features a standalone 200 000 t/d concentrator – one of the world’s biggest semiautogenous grinding concentrator operations.
The mine also features a seawater desalination treatment plant and impulsion facilities.
Prospects: Codelco plans to extend the life of the oxides deposit by ten years, until 2030. In parallel, it is continuing to develop the feasibility study of the Radomiro Tomic Sulfuros Phase II project.
Contact Details:
Codelco
Tel +562 26903000
Website https://www.codelco.com/