Mining Sustainability Practices in Latin America
221
Fig. 5 Cross-tabulation of value chain steps and the type of corporate sustainability activities
of tailings dams have become the biggest natural environment problem in mines.
On the one hand, the solid waste contains a large number of useful components,
which is the potential resources; On the other hand, at present, abundant solid wastes
are stacked in tailings dam since the relatively low mineral recovery rate and large
tailings discharge.
That is why mining companies have focused on developing practices and tailings
management plans to meet this challenge, for example in Minera Centinela operates
a tailings tank thickened with seawater without desalting. This innovation has been
key to reaching new ways to deposit tailings, which allow recycling a greater amount
of water and significantly minimizing the impact of this waste (Fig. 6).
Understood the present situation of mining sustainable operations, it could be
discussed the best practices that are transforming mining operations.
5 Future Practices
Throughout the reading of sustainability reports, projects that organizations are developing to maintain and continue to build sustainable operations that are maintained
over time were identified.
Among the most outstanding projects, we have that Antofagasta PLC in 2019
will begin the construction of a new seawater desalination plant in the Province of
221
Fig. 5 Cross-tabulation of value chain steps and the type of corporate sustainability activities
of tailings dams have become the biggest natural environment problem in mines.
On the one hand, the solid waste contains a large number of useful components,
which is the potential resources; On the other hand, at present, abundant solid wastes
are stacked in tailings dam since the relatively low mineral recovery rate and large
tailings discharge.
That is why mining companies have focused on developing practices and tailings
management plans to meet this challenge, for example in Minera Centinela operates
a tailings tank thickened with seawater without desalting. This innovation has been
key to reaching new ways to deposit tailings, which allow recycling a greater amount
of water and significantly minimizing the impact of this waste (Fig. 6).
Understood the present situation of mining sustainable operations, it could be
discussed the best practices that are transforming mining operations.
5 Future Practices
Throughout the reading of sustainability reports, projects that organizations are developing to maintain and continue to build sustainable operations that are maintained
over time were identified.
Among the most outstanding projects, we have that Antofagasta PLC in 2019
will begin the construction of a new seawater desalination plant in the Province of