Chuquicamata, Copper mine in Calama, Chile
Chuquicamata is a copper and gold mine in Calama, Chile, that formerly operated as an open pit and now works underground. The site contains a series of tunnels and production levels running deep beneath the desert surface, continuing to extract ore from the rock.
Extraction began officially after engineers developed methods to process copper-bearing rock that had previously been considered too low grade. Decades later, Chile decided to take control of the deposit to keep resource revenue within the country.
The name comes from the Kunza language, whose descendants mined copper ore in the area for centuries before industrial operations began. Many facilities around the region still carry indigenous names that recall the original inhabitants of the Atacama Desert.
Visitors should check current conditions in advance, as operational procedures and access rules can change. Guided tours offer insight into the work on site, but the high altitude and dry air mean plenty of water should be brought along.
A huge conveyor belt was installed to speed up the transport of rock while reducing the number of heavy trucks on the ramps. This technology allows large volumes of material to be moved continuously from underground without increasing vehicle traffic on the surface.
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