CASE STUDY - Chuquicamata Copper Mine

Question 1

Where is Chuqui?

Answer 1

The town of Chucuicamata, Atacama Desert, Chile

Question 2

What is Chuquicamata?

Answer 2

A local scale resource frontier

Question 3

Give 3 key facts about Chuqui

Answer 3

• Owned and run by the state-owned TNC CODELCO
• Home to over 150,000 people
• 4.5 km x 2.3km surface area + 3000 m above sea level

Question 4

What percentage of copper exports from Chilee did China account for in 2017?

Answer 4

37.5%

Question 5

How much money does the Chuquicamata mine generatea day?

Answer 5

25 million dollars every day

Question 6

How much water does the mine use compared toSantiago (capital of Chile)​

Answer 6

Uses as much water in one day as the city of Santiago (6 million residents) uses in 2 weeks (water conflicts!)

Question 7

How long has the mine been in operation for, and howlong is it expected to run for the in the future?​

Answer 7

100 years operation and expected to be in operation for atleast another 100 years

Question 8

How is the mine powered?​

Answer 8

Thermal electric power plant - hydroelectric

Question 9

How many times is the water used before it isdisregarded?​

Answer 9

8 times recycled before ending up in acidic ponds

Question 10

How many days of the year does themine operate?​

Answer 10

365 days

Question 11

State two environmental issues caused by the mine.

Answer 11

1. Over abstraction of water in an arid climate
2. The water table has dropped so farmers are unable to irrigate crops - it is no longer green in the village Chui.

Question 12

Give some 2 examples of air pollution issues caused by the Chuquicamata mine.

Question 13

Give some 2 examples of land pollution issues caused by the Chuquicamata mine.

Question 14

Give some 2 examples of water pollution issues caused by the Chuquicamata mine.

Question 15

Give some 2 examples of wider pollution issues caused by the Chuquicamata mine.