Name of the Mine
Quebrada Blanca Operations.

Location  
Tarapacá, in northern Chile, at an elevation of 4 400 m, an estimated 240 km south-east of Iquique and 1 500 km from Santiago. 

Mine Owner/s  
Teck holds an indirect 60% interest in the mine. Sumitomo Metal Mining Co and Sumitomo Corporation have a collective 30% indirect interest in the mine. ENAMI, a Chilean State agency, has a 10% nonfunding interest.

Brief Description  
Quebrada is a large, long-life deposit capable of supporting multiple expansions. 

Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 – the mine’s most recent expansion – produced its first bulk copper concentrate in March 2023 and is one of the biggest undeveloped copper resources in the world.

Brief History  
The initial Quebrada Blanca mine (Phase 1) started operations in 1994, initially focusing on the extraction of oxide ores through heap leaching and solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW) processing. The project was developed by Compañía Minera Quebrada Blanca, with Teck acquiring a majority interest in the mine in 2007. 

The initial openpit mine at Quebrada Blanca (Phase 1) operation started operation in 1994, exploiting supergene copper mineralisation. Processing used a combination of heap leach and dump leach and SX/EW. Supergene mining operations were completed in 2018, and processing was completed in 2023. 

Quebrada Blanca Phase 2, which started copper production in 2023, exploits the sulphide deposit through the addition of a large pit pushback, major concentrator expansion, a tailings facility and required supporting infrastructure. The Quebrada Blanca concentrator achieved first production in the first half of 2023. 

Primary Metals/Minerals  
Copper and molybdenum.

Secondary Metals/Minerals  
Secondary copper minerals such as chalcocite, bornite, and covellite.

Geology/Mineralisation  
The porphyry-style mineralisation at Quebrada Blanca is considered to be typical of an Andean porphyry copper/molybdenum deposit. The deposit is hosted in the middle Eocene to early Oligocene metallogenic belt of northern Chile. Quebrada Blanca is part of a set of porphyry systems that includes the Ujina, Rosario and Copaquire (La Profunda) porphyry deposits. The complexes are situated along a north-west-trending lineament that has developed in the Collahuasi Formation. 

Quebrada Blanca has an intricate magmatic and hydrothermal history that includes a polyphase intrusive complex, multiple cross-cutting breccia facies, and at least two separate hydrothermal stages. 

The primary structural control on lithology, grade and early-stage alteration corresponds to east–northeast-trending faults dipping either to the south (in the west) or to the north (in the east). The north-west-oriented faults controlled a late-stage alteration, pre-supergene enrichment and horizontal and vertical structural block displacements. 

Alteration zoning patterns are characteristic of those recorded for porphyry copper deposits. Three main structural trends, to the east–northeast, north–northeast, north–northwest, and north-west, control aspects of the mineralisation and intrusive emplacement. 

Mineralisation comprises supergene (chalcocite and, to a lesser degree, copper oxides such as atacamite, cuprite, and locally brochantite) and hypogene (chalcopyrite, bornite, molybdenite, and, to a lesser degree, silver and gold) mineralisation. 

Mineralisation in the hypogene porphyry environment comprises disseminated and veinlet chalcopyrite with molybdenite in an east–northeast-trending area of about 2 km × 5 km that is hosted within Eocene intrusions, hydrothermal breccias and porphyritic dikes. Drill holes have intersected mineralisation to an estimated 800 m vertical depth in the hypogene zone. The hypogene mineralisation remains open to the north-east, east, south-east, and at depth.

Reserves  
Total proven and probable reserves as at December 31, 2023, were estimated at 1.42-billion tonnes grading 0.52% copper, 0.021% molybdenum and 1.4 g/t silver.

Resources  
Measured and indicated resources as at December 31, 2023, were estimated at 4.37-billion tonnes grading 0.36% copper, 0.017% molybdenum and 1.1 g/t silver. Inferred resources were estimated at 4.26-billion tonnes grading 0.34% copper, 0.015% molybdenum and 1.1 g/t silver.

Type of Mine
Openpit.

Mining Method  
The mining operations use conventional openpit mining methods and conventional equipment, including an autonomous haulage fleet.

Major Infrastructure/Equipment  
The mine includes an accommodation camp, administration building, shop and warehouse, laboratory, change house and dining facility, and main gatehouse. The permanent camp has 1 300 beds.

Quebrada Blanca includes a concentrator plant and tailings facility, utilities and port facilities. Copper concentrate processed at the site is transported by pipeline about 165 km to the port facility for loading onto ships for transport to market. 

The mine is the first in Tarapacá to use 100% desalinated seawater for all its production processes – desalinated seawater is transported by pipeline from the port area and is used in the mining operation instead of freshwater. An agreement is in place to source 100% renewable power from AES Andes for the operation starting in 2025.  
 
The mine further incorporates a remote integrated operations centre, located in Santiago, combining resources and data to help achieve better operational performance, improve integration and flexibility, and support a more inclusive and safe work environment.

Prospects  
The deposit remains open at depth, and to the north, south and east. The potential for hypogene mineralisation is still being investigated in Las Arterias-Elena, West Mag Low, El Colorado Norte, and La Cruz.

Contact Details 
Teck
Tel +1 604 699 4257
Email investors@teck.com

Sources
Teck. Website: https://www.teck.com/