Overview

World's largest underground copper mine. Giant breccia-hosted porphyry Cu-Mo deposit.

Geological Context

Host Rock: Dacite porphyry breccia (Miocene-Pliocene)

Tectonic Setting: Continental arc

Geological Province: Central Andes

Metallogenic Belt: Andean Porphyry Belt

Operator: Codelco

Mining Method: Block Caving

Production Start: 1905

Source: Codelco reports; Skewes et al. (2002)

Last Verified: 2026-01-15

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