Mining_Methods_UnderGround_Mining - Mining and Blasting

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