Chapter 1835 There Is No Way to Make Money Mining Copper

The most fortunate thing for the Chuquicamata mining area is that there is a large amount of copper ore that cannot be mined. The most unfortunate thing is that the ore also contains a large amount of sulfate, and trucks often travel back and forth to the mining area. , the dust raised contains these toxic substances. In addition, the blasting used to separate the ore from the wall will also produce sulfates.

This means that miners are breathing in these sulfate particles all day long, and although they are not allowed to work in the mines for more than three years, they still risk death from cancer every day.

Other residents of the area are not immune to this type of pollution, so the towns near Chuquicamata have a high proportion of people suffering from respiratory diseases, despite no amount of prevention.

For his own survival, before the helicopter landed, Yang Cheng put on an N95 mask, a medical-grade mask. Although he would not neglect it all day and night, it would still be good to breathe less dust.

Although there is no need to go through the ordinary tourist passage, the process is similar. Also at the reception center, Sanchez's friend, who is also the person in charge of one of the mines in the mining area, is waiting here in person. He takes Yang Cheng and the others to fill out a bunch of forms before boarding a car. The sightseeing bus circled around the huge mine before entering the open-pit mine.

At the mine reception, Yang Cheng and the others saw many tourists taking photos in front of the giant porphyry copper ore, which is also the only way to the Chuquicamata mining area.

Naturally, Yang Cheng did not act like a tourist, but he asked one of the bodyguards to take a different photo with a SLR camera. After the photos are developed, they will be used for archival purposes.

Upon entering the mining area, Yang Cheng's overall impression was that the overall planning of the mining area is very scientific, the roads are smooth and clearly marked, the office area and living area are reasonably laid out, the mining, processing and smelting production areas are clearly divided into various links, and the surrounding environment is clean and orderly.

Before officially entering the mining area, it is natural to learn about the mining history of the Chuquicamata Mining Area, and the showroom is the best place to learn about it. Listen to the mine instructor’s detailed explanation of the history of the mine’s development.

The mine was initially mined sporadically in 1900. The officially planned and designed large-scale open-pit mine was invested and constructed by the United States. It was officially put into production in 1915. The mine has a high degree of mechanization and relatively advanced technology.

At the beginning of the 20th century, copper mining and export gradually fell under the control of foreign monopoly capital, especially American capital. Only the three major copper mines owned by the United States controlled 13% of Chilean copper production.

A simple calculation shows that in the 40 years before the 1970s, American companies gained US$3.7 billion in wealth from Chilean copper mines. The US$3.7 billion at that time can be regarded as US$10 billion today, and that's not all.

Later, the Chilean Congress passed the "Chileanization of Copper Mines" law. According to this law, the Chilean government successively purchased the copper mine equity of U.S.-funded companies. By purchasing shares, the Chilean government obtained partial management rights and ownership of the U.S.-funded copper mining companies. .

Finally, all copper mines were gradually nationalized.

When Yang Cheng saw the precious ore specimens and the photos that recorded the scene at that time, he couldn't help but sigh at the greatness of this mining area. It can be said that it directly feeds a country.

After the Chilean government took over the operation, a systematic industrial cluster integrating large-scale open-pit mining, mineral processing, and smelting gradually formed. Eight years ago, the Chuquicamata mine produced 389,000 tons of refined copper, accounting for the total output of the Chilean National Copper Company. of 50 and above.

Later, Yang Cheng and others took a bus to visit the open-pit stope. Along the way, they saw large-scale mineral processing and smelting workshops, giant transportation vehicles, road maintenance sprinkler vehicles, rock excavation blasting and excavation equipment, ore crushing and transmission equipment, special copper plate transportation railways, etc. The sights are overwhelming.

Yang Cheng is very interested in mine carts, and has a sense of déjà vu in the Red Alert game. It feels like the mining carts in that game are designed based on the mining carts in the Chuquicamata mining area. The largest mine cart is 8 meters long. With a height of 7 meters and a load capacity of 350 tons, it is absolutely huge and looks as big as two elephants.

On the way, I saw the Chuquicamata Copper Mine gathering abandoned machinery in an open space outside the mining area.

It has become an open-pit mining machinery museum. Dozens of tires from small to large are arranged next to the tall winches and loading trucks, symbolizing the development history of industrial mining.

You must know that in the earliest days, Chilean workers did not have so many machines at their disposal, so they all used shovels and pickaxes to mine.

When he arrived at the open-pit mining viewing platform, Yang Cheng couldn't wait to run to the sightseeing platform as soon as he got off the car. He witnessed the majestic and spectacular open-pit mining landscape, the largest in the history of human mining. In the mining site, various construction machinery roared. , ore transport vehicles shuttle back and forth. Looking down from the platform, there are countless mining platforms scattered all over the place, which is dazzling to see, let alone being in them and distinguishing which one is which. Qiqi novel first released online

However, according to the person in charge, the Chuquicamata copper mine entered the final stage of open-pit mining as early as 2015. Next, the Chilean National Copper Mining Company will enter underground mining. Undoubtedly, the mining cost will increase again. When copper prices are at a low level and continue to be depressed, profits will be further compressed. No wonder the Chilean government made the decision to exchange shares for arms. This is to make full use of the value of copper mines!

The person in charge said, "If you had come two months later, you wouldn't have seen these scenes. The finishing work is basically completed, and most of the miners and machines have been moved underground."

Yang Cheng was more concerned about the income issue, "Have the underground reserves been proven?"

The person in charge nodded, "But it's just a preliminary assessment. After all, the range is too large and there's really no way to calculate an accurate number."

Yang Cheng nodded to express his understanding. The person in charge glanced at Sanchez and said directly, "According to preliminary assessment, the Chuquicamata underground mine reserves are approximately 1.675 billion tons, with an average grade of 0.71. Construction started as early as 5 years ago. By the end of this year, Trial mining will be carried out and the formal mining phase will be entered in 2018. The mining period is estimated to be 42 years and the mining peak will be 2026."

When it enters the underground development stage, the above-ground open-pit mine that has been mined for more than 100 years will lose its busy mining scene in the past and will become a mining geological park for tourists to visit, leaving behind its future tourism resources.

It is worth mentioning that the raw materials for medals in the Beijing Olympics are provided by the Chilean Copper Mining Company.

The medals for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games are 70 millimeters in diameter and 6 millimeters thick. The front of the medals features the Greek goddess of victory standing with wings and the Greek Panathinaiko Arena in a pattern uniformly stipulated by the International Olympic Committee.

The back of the medal is inlaid with a jade in the shape of an ancient jade jade with a dragon pattern in China. The metal graphic in the middle of the back is engraved with the Beijing Olympics emblem. The medal hook is evolved from the traditional jade jade with double dragons and Pu pattern in China.

After visiting the mining area, Yang Cheng asked the person in charge for some data materials to take away for research. Then everyone tasted the intellectually unique mining area life meal in the living area, and then took a helicopter back to the capital Santiago.

It is summer in the southern hemisphere, and the climate in Chile is relatively dry, but it occasionally rains, making people feel the sweltering heat of summer.

It was good luck to say that the rain kept falling for most of the day they left San Diego, but when they came back, the rain stopped, leaving them with fresh air and cool temperatures.

After getting off the plane, Yang Cheng took a deep breath. He had been wearing a mask in the mining area just now. He felt suffocated, but he didn't dare to pick it off for fear of inhaling the toxic air and killing himself.

After getting in the car, Sanchez asked, "How was it? What do you think after the visit?"

Yang Cheng bluntly said, "The idea is that this deal is not suitable."

"Oh?" Sanchez said in surprise. He really didn't expect Yang Cheng to have such an idea. Logically speaking, after visiting the spectacular mining area, he should have more confidence in his future.

"Why?" Sanchez asked confused.

Yang Cheng sighed, "The cost of moving from above ground to underground is too high, and profits will be infinitely compressed. It is impossible for Chilean copper mines to use a large amount of profits for dividends every year. I don't know when I can put my investment back." Take it back, the cycle is too long, I can’t afford to wait.”

Sanchez frowned and said, "But there are definitely risks in investing."

"This is different from risk. I think the future is bleak!"

Sanchez smiled bitterly. No one knows the importance of copper mines to the country of Chile better than him. If even an international investment tycoon like Yang Cheng is not optimistic about Chile's Tong Mining Industry, then does this country still have a future?

Yang Cheng hesitated and said, "Chile, which is highly dependent on copper mines, once economic problems arise due to copper mines, the hot-tempered Chileans will inevitably seek extreme ways to solve the problems, and frequent riots will inevitably affect social stability and development.

If good order cannot be guaranteed, I really can't see the possibility of making money from this share in the future. "

To be honest, today's tour was very fulfilling. He witnessed the greatness and rise and fall of world-class copper mines with his own eyes, but it also made his originally hesitant investment intentions firmer. He would not use share swaps to provide Chile with arms.

We can only take the most traditional route, pay with one hand and deliver the goods with the other hand.

As a former ambassador to the United States, Sanchez has no problem with his vision. Yang Cheng’s prediction seems to him to be very likely to happen, but he has no good solution unless Chile can now find a development path that does not rely on copper mines. road.

It's very difficult at the moment, at least they don't even have a leader who can lead them out of the bright road.

In fact, Chileans may also be afraid of the leader's mischief. Allende was elected president of Chile by a narrow margin and was overthrown in a coup launched by the military within less than three years.

Allende made a speech before his death: "I will fight with all means, even at the cost of my life... I believe that my sacrifice will not be in vain..." In the end, he committed suicide with an automatic rifle. The fastest updated Qiqi novel

But most Chileans dismissed these words. Anyone who dares to speak for this person is an enemy!

This is probably because the "Popular United Front" led by Allende is the most radical left-wing political party in Latin America. However moderate its approach to power is, its policies are violent.