El Abra
Mine with plantCobreCalama, El Loa, AntofagastaActive
Site ID 128000 · 34 installations in the register
Installations
What the register lists at this site, grouped by function.
2Extraction13Process plants11Dumps and depositsExtraction2
| Name | Type | Status | Elevation | Coordinates | SERNAGEOMIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mina | Open-pit mine | Activa | 3,970 m a.s.l. | -21.9188, -68.8398 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Mina Turquesa | Open-pit mine | Inactiva | 3,846 m a.s.l. | -21.9242, -68.8492 | SERNAGEOMIN |
Process plants13
| Name | Type | Status | Elevation | Coordinates | SERNAGEOMIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estación de Bombeo Ils Sulfo-LIX | Leaching | Activa | 3,163 m a.s.l. | -22.0083, -68.6594 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Estación de Bombeo PLS Sulfo- | Leaching | Activa | 3,149 m a.s.l. | -22.0105, -68.6569 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Piscina PLS Planta | Leaching | Activa | 3,302 m a.s.l. | -22.0100, -68.6928 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Piscina Refino | Leaching | Activa | 3,269 m a.s.l. | -21.9897, -68.6850 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Planta Bío Augmentación | Leaching | Activa | 3,307 m a.s.l. | -21.9905, -68.6944 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Terminal de Ácido Sulfúrico (Tas) | Leaching | Activa | 3,354 m a.s.l. | -21.9771, -68.7025 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Chancado Primario | Crushing plant | Activa | 3,350 m a.s.l. | -21.9820, -68.7026 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Planta Beneficio Secundario-Terciario | Crushing plant | Activa | 3,336 m a.s.l. | -21.9797, -68.7015 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Nave Electro-Obtencion(ew) | Solvent extraction plant (SX) | Activa | 3,285 m a.s.l. | -21.9848, -68.6899 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Patio Cátodos | Solvent extraction plant (SX) | Activa | 3,285 m a.s.l. | -21.9848, -68.6907 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Patio Estanque (Tank-Farm) | Solvent extraction plant (SX) | Activa | 3,289 m a.s.l. | -21.9866, -68.6906 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Planta Extraccionpor Solventes (SX) | Solvent extraction plant (SX) | Activa | 3,290 m a.s.l. | -21.9869, -68.6898 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Planta Procesos - Área Humeda | Solvent extraction plant (SX) | Eliminado | 3,900 m a.s.l. | -21.9816, -68.6985 | SERNAGEOMIN |
Dumps and deposits11
| Name | Type | Status | Elevation | Coordinates | SERNAGEOMIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botadero de Lastre Turqueza | Waste rock dump | Activa | 3,900 m a.s.l. | -21.9233, -68.8479 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Botadero Lastre 2 | Waste rock dump | Activa | 3,980 m a.s.l. | -21.9091, -68.8498 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Botadero Lastre 4 | Waste rock dump | Activa | 4,050 m a.s.l. | -21.9126, -68.8150 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Pila Estatica | Low-grade stockpile | Activa | 3,271 m a.s.l. | -22.0124, -68.6790 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Rom I | Low-grade stockpile | Activa | 3,900 m a.s.l. | -21.9195, -68.8025 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Rom II | Low-grade stockpile | Activa | 4,160 m a.s.l. | -21.9054, -68.8112 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Stock de Mineral | Low-grade stockpile | Activa | 3,926 m a.s.l. | -21.9272, -68.8278 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Aglomerado | Spent leach ore dump | Activa | 3,331 m a.s.l. | -21.9816, -68.6982 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Depósitos-Estériles | Waste rock dump | Eliminado | 3,900 m a.s.l. | -21.9977, -68.7208 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Depósitos Sulfuros | Low-grade stockpile | Eliminado | 3,883 m a.s.l. | -21.9282, -68.8401 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Depósitos-Ripios | Spent leach ore dump | Eliminado | 3,900 m a.s.l. | -22.0074, -68.6744 | SERNAGEOMIN |
Support8
| Name | Type | Status | Elevation | Coordinates | SERNAGEOMIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administración-Oficina | Administration and offices | Activa | 3,261 m a.s.l. | -21.9902, -68.6827 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Patio de Residuos | Warehouse | Activa | 3,433 m a.s.l. | -22.0127, -68.7178 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Patio de Contratistas | Camp | Activa | 3,314 m a.s.l. | -21.9839, -68.6919 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Polvorin | Explosives magazine | Activa | 3,924 m a.s.l. | -21.9154, -68.8499 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Taller 2000 | Workshops | Activa | 3,285 m a.s.l. | -21.9830, -68.6896 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Patio de Cátodos | Camp | Eliminado | 3,285 m a.s.l. | -21.9848, -68.6907 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Pila Estatica | Camp | Eliminado | 3,271 m a.s.l. | -22.0124, -68.6790 | SERNAGEOMIN |
| Taller Mantención Mina | Workshops | Paralización por medida provisional | 3,900 m a.s.l. | -21.9861, -68.6761 | SERNAGEOMIN |
Air emissions
What the establishment tied to this site declares to the Ministry of the Environment's RETC: tonnes a year by pollutant.
Sociedad Contractual Minera El Abra · SCM El Abra
Tied to this site because its holder operates it and it lies 25.2 km away. Sources: Caldera Agua Caliente, Caldera calefaccion, Grupo electrógeno, Grupo Electrógeno, Grupo Electrógeno IVSP
| Year | CO₂ | SO₂ | NOx | PM10 | Hg | As | Pb | RETC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3,149 t | 5 t* | 77.9 t | 5.49 t | — | 6 g | 13 g | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2024 | 3,114 t | 5.15 t* | 80.1 t | 5.64 t | — | 3 g | 6 g | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2023 | 3,206 t | 5.34 t* | 83 t | 5.85 t | — | 2 g | 5 g | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2022 | 2,751 t | 4 kg | 22.9 t | 198 kg | 0 t | 46 g | 103 g | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2021 | 3,245 t | 5 kg | 12.7 t | 289 kg | 0 t | 67 g | 150 g | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2020 | 14,671 t | 25 kg | 36.5 t | 1.39 t | 0 t | 321 g | 722 g | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
Sociedad Contractual Minera El Abra · SCM El Abra
Tied to this site because its holder operates it and it lies 25.2 km away. Sources: Caldera calefaccion, Grupo electrógeno
| Year | CO₂ | SO₂ | NOx | PM10 | Hg | As | Pb | RETC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 42,386 t | 57.1 t | 130 t | 5.07 t | 692 g | 0 t | 0 t | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2011 | 43,767 t | 59 t | 130 t | 5.1 t | 710 g | 0 t | 0 t | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2010 | 84,480 t | 114 t | 143 t | 6.11 t | 57 g | 0 t | 0 t | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2009 | 16,213 t | 5.45 t | 141 t | 3.77 t | 59 g | 0 t | 0 t | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
| 2008 | 57,223 t | 7.53 t | 149 t | 9.3 t | 66 g | 0 t | 0 t | Ministerio del Medio Ambie… |
* Includes the Ministry's own estimates, not only what the establishment declared.
Source: RETC, Ministry of the Environment (Creative Commons Attribution). Emissions declared by the establishment under D.S. 138, added up over all its sources. All sites and the country's ranking are in Emissions.
Status changes
2 installations changed status between April 2025 and today, according to the dated copies of the register.
- Mina turquesa· Mina rajo abiertoActiva → InactivaSERNAGEOMIN
- Mina· Mina rajo abiertoEn revision de proyecto → ActivaSERNAGEOMIN
Source: SERNAGEOMIN, copies of the register of installations of 8 April, 8 September and 26 November 2025, compared with today's register. Referential: a change in the register does not always match the date of the event.
Deposits nearby
Deposits and prospects of SERNAGEOMIN's national database within 15 km of this operation, nearest first.
El Abra· Cu· 0.6 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Large · Mined · Pórfido de Cu
- Resource: Inferido: 88492000 t · 0,97 % Cu, óxido ; 0,98 % Cu, sulfuro
- Resource: Medido: 43226000 t · 0,81 % Cu, óxido ; 0,90 % Cu, sulfuro
- Reserve: Probadas: 154512000 t óxidos ; 183974000 t sulfuros (Para ley de corte de 0,4 % Cu) · 0,69 % Cu óxidos ; 0,63 % Cu sulfuros · 1979
- Reserve: Probables: 35378000 t óxidos ; 494286000 t sulfuros (Para ley de corte de 0,4 % Cu) · 0,51 % Cu óxidos ; 0,54 % Cu sulfuros · 1979
Prospecto Exótico· Cu· 2.3 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
In exploration
Veta Maria· Cu, Au· 2.4 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Medium · Mined
- Resource: Inferido: 630480 t: 300000 t óxidos ; 330480 t sulfuros · 4 - 5 % Cu. Ley de corte para sulfuros · 1975
- Reserve: Probables: 171500 t Óxidos - 581580 t Sulfuros) · 5 % Cu total sulfuro ; 4,5 % Cu total óxidos · 1975
- Reserve: Probadas: 116750 t Óxidos -258120 t Sulfuros) · 5 % Cu total sulfuro ; 4,5 % Cu total óxidos · 1975
General Baquedano· Cu· 6.8 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Small · Mined
- Resource: Medido: 5,96 % Cu ; 0,22 g/t Au · 1983
Huantajayita· Cu, Ag· 7.3 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Small · Mined
- Resource: Medido: 3,4 % - 6,7 % Cu ; 3,0 % - 40,5 % g/t Ag · 1973
Sin nombre· Cu· 7.4 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Small · Mined
Sajasa· Au· 7.8 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Small · Mined
Prospecto Arturo Prat· Cu· 8.8 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
In exploration
Conchi Viejo· Cu, Mo· 11.8 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Large · In exploration · Pórfido de Cu-Mo
- Resource: Inferido: 1296000 t · 1,7 % Cu · 1978
- Resource: Medido: 40000 t · 4,0 % Cu · 1928
- Reserve: Probadas: 2400 t · 2,5 % Cu zona de óxidos · 1965
- Reserve: Probables: 39300 t · 2,5 % Cu zona de óxidos · 1965
Topacio· Baritina· 13.6 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Small · Mined
- Reserve: Probadas: 8000 t · 1998
Corindon· Baritina· 13.7 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Small · In exploration
- Reserve: Probadas: 3000 t · 1999
Colpa· Ag, Au· 13.7 km awaySERNAGEOMIN
Small · Mined
- Resource: Medido: 0,15 % Cu ; 500 g/t Ag ; 1,6 g/t Au
Source: SERNAGEOMIN, national deposit database (SIA Yacimientos). Referential: the distance is between points and does not say who owns each deposit. Every deposit in the country is on Deposits.