via Reuters
Everything about Escondida is a superlative. It’s the world’s largest copper mine in the world’s largest copper producing country and it is easily visible from outer space.

“I think Escondida is a world-class ore body and probably one of the biggest ever discovered,” said Diego Hernandez, the president for base metals for majority-owner BHP Billiton, the world’s largest diversified miner.

Not satisfied to simply be producing nearly a quarter of Chile’s copper, nearly 1.5 million tonnes last year, Escondida is looking for more, and expects a three-year-old exploration program to extend the existing 40-year mine life with new discoveries soon.

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