Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting
Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting
Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting
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Pioneering mass caving at<br />
el Teniente<br />
<strong>Mining</strong> in primary<br />
rock<br />
One of the five mining divisions of<br />
the Corporación Nacional del Cobre<br />
de Chile, Codelco, El Teniente is an<br />
integrated copper operation comprising<br />
mine, concentrator <strong>and</strong><br />
smelter installations. Faced with<br />
the depletion of its reserves of<br />
high-grade secondary mineralization,<br />
the division has completed<br />
the change to mining in primary<br />
rock. The early years were traumatic,<br />
with major geotechnical problems<br />
including a series of fatal<br />
rockbursts <strong>and</strong> the collapse of<br />
significant areas of the production<br />
levels. However, El Teniente rose<br />
to the challenge <strong>and</strong>, following<br />
an extended period of study <strong>and</strong><br />
trial mining, is successfully using a<br />
variation of the Panel Caving method<br />
in the new Esmeralda Sector.<br />
This method is now being applied<br />
to future development plans for<br />
the New Mine Level project, which<br />
starts production in 2014.<br />
largest copper producer<br />
Owned by the Chilean state, Codelco<br />
is the world’s largest copper producer.<br />
It produces more than 1.5 million metric<br />
fine tonnes (mft) of copper/year,<br />
representing 16% of western world pro-<br />
duction. In addition, Codelco is the world’s<br />
second largest molybdenum producer,<br />
with an output of around 25,000 t/y. The<br />
corporation's other competitive strengths<br />
are its cost efficiency of around 40 US<br />
cents/pound <strong>and</strong> its reserves, which com-<br />
prise about 21% of the world's total, <strong>and</strong><br />
are sufficient for more than 70 years of<br />
mining at current production levels.<br />
Codelco operates five mining divisions<br />
at Chuquicamata, Radomiro Tomic,<br />
Salvador, Andina <strong>and</strong> El Teniente, <strong>and</strong><br />
a service division located at Talleres<br />
Rancagua. It also participates in other<br />
mines, including El Abra, <strong>and</strong> also<br />
has several joint ventures involved in<br />
Isometric representation of El Teniente mining sectors.<br />
geological exploration <strong>and</strong> different<br />
associations in new business.<br />
The company’s vision of the future<br />
aims to consolidate its leadership of the<br />
world copper industry in terms of competitiveness<br />
<strong>and</strong> operating excellence,<br />
thus reinforcing its position in the global<br />
economy. In line with this, Codelco set<br />
itself the goal of doubling its value to<br />
some US$18 billion by 2006, through<br />
higher productivity, market development<br />
<strong>and</strong> synergies. Achieving this depended,<br />
amongst other factors, on the<br />
successful <strong>and</strong> opportune implementation<br />
of the US$4.3 billion investment<br />
contemplated in the company six-year<br />
strategic plan.<br />
el Teniente<br />
El Teniente is the world’s largest underground<br />
mine, with over 2,400 km of<br />
development to date. The mine is loca-<br />
ted at 2,200 m asl, some 80 km south of<br />
the capital city of Santiago. The total<br />
el TenienTe, CHile<br />
geological resource at El Teniente above<br />
1,720 m asl is over 10 billion t at 0.65%<br />
copper, <strong>and</strong> the mining reserves above<br />
1,980 m asl <strong>and</strong> 0.6% copper cut-off<br />
grade are over 3 billion t at 1.0% copper.<br />
El Teniente produces anodes, refined<br />
copper, electro-won cathodes <strong>and</strong><br />
molybdenum concentrate, all of which<br />
is shipped out through the Port of San<br />
Antonio.<br />
Currently, El Teniente Division employs<br />
5,219 workers, a decrease of 22%<br />
from the 6,652 it employed in 1996.<br />
During the same period, the total accident<br />
rate was reduced over 50%, while<br />
the cost of production was reduced by<br />
more than 10 US cents/pound. In terms<br />
of productivity, each employee currently<br />
achieves 71 t/y of copper, an increase of<br />
25% since 1996.<br />
History<br />
According to legend, El Teniente was<br />
discovered by a fugitive Spanish official<br />
underground mining methods 83