Dig This!

The World's Largest Mine

One of the largest open pit mines in the world can be found in the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile, South America.

Chuquicamata copper mine is currently 3 miles long, 2.36 miles wide, and 0.53 miles deep!

Annually Chuquicamata copper mine produces 650,000 metric tons of copper. The mine also produces 13,500t of molybdenum every year. Since industrialised exploitation started in 1915, approximately 1.6 billion metric tons of ore have been removed, and a similar figure is expected to be obtained within the next 25 to 30 years.

More than 1,000 people work in the Chuquicamata mining operation, with a fleet of one hundred and ten 3,300HP off-hightway trucks with a loading capacity of up to 360 metric tons and a maximum speed of 45 m.p.h.

Such large open pit mines require the latest technology to ensure its operation is undertaken in a safe, efficient manner, and many are using wireless technology and GPS satellite systems.

Imagine driving a house with just a few small windows to see around you, and you'll begin to get an idea of what it is like to drive one of the huge dump trucks used in large open pit mines. To prevent accidents, wireless communication and GPS satellite systems are used to tell the equipment operators the location of nearby equipment and obstacles, and warns them when they get too close.

The name Chuquicamata is a word from the Aymara language and refers to the chuco or chuqui Native American Indian group, who worked the copper deposits there in pre-Hispanic times to make their weapons and tools.