Copper Mine in Chile Expands Extraction Capacity Thanks to Concrete Durability from Penetron

EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., Oct. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This expansion and upgrade of the Spence mine in Antofagasta, Chile was completed in July 2021. Codelco, the mine owner, can now begin extraction of copper before the end of the year. PENETRON ADMIX was specified for the key concentrator tank to ensure a durable, long-lasting concrete structure, even under the aggressive conditions of copper ore processing.

Codelco (Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile or, the National Copper Corporation of Chile) is a Chilean state-owned copper mining company and currently the largest copper producing company in the world. Codelco produced 1.73 million tons of copper in 2020, approximately 10% of the world total. Chile owns the world's largest known copper reserves, followed by Peru and China.

Codelco's $52 million infrastructure project to expand the Spence open-cut copper mine in northern Chile, also known as the Spence Growth Option (SGO), will extend the service life of the mine by approximately 50 years. The SGO project upgraded the mine pit, the mine's waste dump, the concentrator plant and the powder magazine. In particular, the project included the design, engineering, and construction of a conventional, large-scale sulfide concentrator for both copper and molybdenum ore. The concentrator's concrete tank is exposed to a variety of chemicals, including but not limited to copper sulfide, iron, and a series of salts of other metals.

Challenging Copper Extraction Processes
Because of the aggressive physical and electro-chemical processes used to extract copper from its ores, the technical specifications for permeability of the concentrator's concrete tank were rigorous," explains Domingo Lema, Managing Director of Penetron Chile. "The originally specified waterproofing solution, a pore sealer product, did not meet the project's required permeability standards, which led to a search for a more robust alternative."

The ready-mix supplier, Petreos Society, recommended PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete as the only waterproofing solution capable of meeting the project's permeability specifications. Salfa Corporation, the project's general contractor, specified PENETRON ADMIX to treat 13,000 m3 of concrete for the concentrator tank.

Once added to the concrete mix, the active ingredients in PENETRON ADMIX react to moisture to generate a non-soluble crystalline formation throughout the concrete matrix. This crystalline network permanently seals microcracks, pores and capillaries against the penetration of water- or water-soluble corrosive chemicals from any direction, protecting the concrete and embedded reinforcing steel from deterioration, even under the harsh processing conditions of the Spence copper mine.

Providing a Comprehensive Guarantee of Impermeability
"Penetron got the job thanks to favorable costs and a more comprehensive guarantee of permeability reduction and self-healing of cracks throughout the service life of the concrete of the concentrator tank at the Spence mine," says Domingo Lema.

Finally, thanks to the excellent performance of the PENETRON ADMIX-treated concrete, the general contractor has decided to expand the use of PENETRON ADMIX to other structures planned for the SGO upgrade project.

The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs, and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives, and distribution channels.

For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700.

Media Contact

Corporate Relations, The Penetron Gruop, 6319419700, [email protected]

SOURCE The Penetron Group

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