Article Author:
Reuters
SANTIAGO — Chile's SMA environmental regulator said Tuesday it had taken a series of actions after a sinkhole opened near one of its copper mines owned by Canada's Lundin Mining Corp.
SMA continues to investigate what caused the 36.5-meter (129-foot) diameter sinkhole in Tierra Amarilla, approximately 665 km (413 miles) north of Santiago, while six "urgent and temporary ordered ``significant'' measures.
"After several tours of the area, it was determined that the company had over-extracted the material, which may have increased exposed water areas that were not properly controlled." There is,” says Environment Director Emmanuel. Ibarra said.
Mining Minister Marcela Hernando said last week that the government would impose severe sanctions on sinkhole managers, citing overexploitation of nearby deposits. said.
Actions announced on Tuesday included soil stability studies, monitoring of puddle levels, hydrogeochemical analysis of groundwater major compounds and trace elements, and a study to assess current drainage systems. included.
Regulators also requested an investigation to verify whether the amount of water extracted by the Ojos del Salado mine is adversely affecting nearby aquifers.
A Canadian company owns 80% of the assets, with the remaining 20% owned by Japan's Sumitomo Metal Mining and Sumitomo Corporation.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Fabian Andrés Canbero; Authoring by Carolina Pulis and Stephen Coates)
