Caserones
Caserones Caserones | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Atacama Region | |
| Country | Chile |
| Coordinates | 28°10′8.56″S 69°32′1.06″W / 28.1690444°S 69.5336278°W |
| Production | |
| Products | Copper |
| Production | 120,600 tons of copper fines 18,900 tons of copper cathodes 4,600 tons of molybdenum in concentrates |
| Financial year | 2023 |
| History | |
| Opened | 2014 |
| Owner | |
| Company | SCM Minera Lumina Copper Chile
|
Caserones is a low-grade copper and molybdenum mine in Tierra Amarilla in Atacama Region, Chile. The mine is operated by SCM Minera Lumina Copper Chile, a joint venture where Lundin Mining have 70% of the shares and JX Nippon Mining & Metals owns the remaining. The mine lies about 4,000 m a.s.l. in the Andes and just about six kilometers west of the Argentina–Chile border.
Construction of the mine started in 2010 and it begun operations in 2014.[1] Mining is expected to last until 2042 according to the mining plan.[2] An environmental impact assessment to modify the previously approved mining project was submitted in 2020 and approved by authorities in July 2025.[3] In January 2026 SCM Minera Lumina Copper submitted a plan to the Environmental Assessment Service to extend the mine lifetime to 2039.[4]
Originally, JX Nippon Mining & Metals owned 51.5% of the mine and Mitsui Mining and Smelting owned 25.87% and Mitsui & Co. 22.63%.[1] Later JX Nippon Mining & Metals acquired a 100% ownership of the mine before selling 51% of the shares to Lundin Mining in March 2023.[1][5] The sale to Lundin Mining included an option for a further purchasing of 19% in the next five years, an option which Lundin Mining took on July 2024.[6]
In February 2017 an agreement was signed for Caserones mine start export its products from Compañía Minera del Pacífico's Punta Totoralillo.[7][8] Previously Caserones shipped its ores from Antofagasta 700 km to the north and Coquimbo 400 km to the south.[8]
See also
- Fundición Paipote, a nearby copper smelter
- Pirquinero, artisanal miners present in Tierra Amarilla and much of northern Chile
References
- ^ a b c "JX Nippon Mining & Metals adquiere 100% de la propiedad de Mina de cobre Caserones". Guía Minera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ "Caserones". Consejo Minero (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-09.
- ^ "Después de 5 años Caserones obtuvo la aprobación del EIA para avanzar en su expansión". Revista Minera Crisol (in Spanish). 2025-07-13. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ "Lundin solicita permiso ambiental para invertir US$150 millones y extender Caserones hasta 2039". Minería y Futuro (in Spanish). 2026-01-12. Retrieved 2026-01-12.
- ^ Ghosh, Kanjyik; Obayashi, Yuka (March 28, 2023). "Lundin Mining buys 51% stake in Chile's Caserones mine for $950 mln". Reuters.
- ^ "Lundin Mining Completes the Transaction to Increase Ownership in Caserones to 70%". lundinmining.com. 2024-07-02. Retrieved 2025-07-15.
- ^ "Puerto Punta Totoralillo: Se firma contrato con Caserones". Minería Chilena (in Spanish). 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2025-10-22.
- ^ a b "Modificación del Puerto Totoralillo: Negociaciones de Minera Caserones y CAP rindieron fruto". Revista Nueva Minería y Energía (in Spanish). 2017-02-17. Retrieved 2025-10-22.