Why is Chile rich in copper?
New milling technology, economic reforms, and increasing investment attractiveness were catalysts that turned Chile into a copper powerhouse.
How does deforestation affect the Andes?
In the Andes the projected life-span and capacity of Ecuador’s largest dam and hydroelectric generator (Paute) has been reduced by half due to sedimentation caused by deforestation in its watershed. During dry years electricity shortages in Ecuador’s major cities are a result.
How does mining affect biodiversity?
Mining affects biodiversity at multiple spatial scales (site, landscape, regional and global) through direct (i.e. mineral extraction) and indirect processes (via industries supporting mining operations, and external stakeholders who gain access to biodiversity-rich areas as the result of mining).
What is Colombia’s main export?
Crude Petroleum
Crude Petroleum and Coal Briquettes This is by far the largest export commodity in Colombia. It constitutes about 57% of the total export value.
What causes biodiversity loss?
Biodiversity loss is caused by five primary drivers: habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation (extreme hunting and fishing pressure), pollution, climate change associated with global warming. In each case, human beings and their activities play direct roles.
What is the Pascua Lama project?
Pascua Lama. Pascua-Lama is an open pit mining project of gold, silver, copper and other minerals. Pascua Lama is located in the Andes mountains, in the southern reaches of Atacama Desert, straddling the border between Chile and Argentina at an altitude of over 4,500 metres.
How much did it cost to build the Pascua Lama mine?
“As of November 1, 2012, Barrick had spent $3.7 billion on Pascua Lama. In all, it plans to invest between $8 and $8.5 billion to bring the project into production. But if the past is any guide, those costs could rise: the company’s budget was just $3 billion in 2009”.
What happened to the Pascua-Lama project?
Pascua-Lama contains estimated deposits of 17 million ounces of gold and 635 million ounces of silver, with 75 percent of the deposits in Chile and 25 percent in Argentina. As of late 2017, the Barrick project remains on hold. The company reported a U$5.1-billion impairment charge on the asset before suspending development in late 2013.
How much did Barrick spend on Pascua-Lama?
Barrick had spent around US$5 billion of Pascua-Lama’s reported US$8.5 billion capital expenditure at that time. Barrick said it is taking a “fresh look” at Pascua-Lama with the intention of developing a “scalable starter operation” that could be built underground in Argentina.