Tia Maria mine, Copper mine in Cocachacra, Peru
Tia Maria mine is a copper mining project located in the La Joya desert near the Tambo River in Arequipa. The operation involves two separate deposits, La Tapada and Tia Maria, positioned within this arid landscape.
Exploration activities began in the 1990s and were followed by environmental impact studies in the early 2010s. These assessments helped evaluate the feasibility of developing the deposits and understanding their potential effects.
The project generated social tensions in the Islay province, leading to protests from local communities concerned about agricultural impacts in 2011 and 2015.
The project uses desalted seawater instead of river water, reducing dependency on local water sources. Visitors should check the company website for current information about the project status and any available access options.
The mining operation will process 425.34 million tons of material from La Tapada and 225.38 million tons from Tia Maria deposits.
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