Cuajone mine
Cuajone mine is a large copper mine located in the south of Peru in Moquegua Region. Cuajone represents one of the largest copper reserves in Peru and in the world having estimated reserves of 1.6 billion tonnes of ore grading 0.57% copper.
The Cuajone Mine was officially opened in November 1976. It was owned by Southern Peru Copper Corporation, which was a 51% subsidiary of Asarco.
Geology
The porphyry copper deposit and hypogene mineralization occurred in the Early Eocene. Supergene sulfide enrichment began in the Late Oligocene and continued until the Early Miocene. Chalcocite is the more common copper ore mineral as massive assemblages.Environmental conflict
The Cuajone mine has faced significant environmental conflict, primarily due to claims by local communities that the mine pollutes the environment while not providing sufficient economic benefits. These long-standing grievances have led to direct action, including blockades of rail lines used to transport the mine's products and the disruption of the mine's water supply.Specifically, in February 2022, community members blockaded the railway and cut off the water supply, demanding $5 billion in compensation and 5% of the mine's profits. The disruption of the water supply was described by Southern Copper as "an attack on the life and health" of approximately 5,000 people in the Cuajone area. The mine's complex begins with a water supply at Lake Suche and ends with a smelter on the South Pacific coast.