Xstrata Copper / South America
Lomas Bayas Mine
Xstrata Copper: World > South America
| Detail label | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Chile, South America |
| Products | Copper cathodes |
| Employees | Approximately 1,000 people |
| Annual production capacity | 65,000 tonnes of copper cathode |
Description of Operation
Lomas Bayas is in the Atacama Desert, 120 kilometres east of the port of Antofagasta in northern Chile.
The oxide copper ores of Lomas Bayas are low grade, fast leaching and require low acid consumption. Higher grade ore is crushed and leached in heaps. The lowest grade ore is sent directly from the mine to dump leach. Copper is recovered from solution by solvent extraction and electro-plated like high quality cathodes. Cathodes are transported by truck to Antofagasta and shipped to final customers.
In June 2007, an expansion to 75,000 tonnes per annum of copper cathode was approved for a capital cost of $70 million which is due for completion in the second half of 2008. The nearby Lomas II deposit, also known as Fortuna de Cobre, was also integrated into the Lomas Bayas operation, extending the mine life by seven years to 2020.
Brief History of the Operation
In August 2006, Lomas Bayas was acquired by Xstrata as part of the Falconbridge assets.