The Mining Of Industrial Minerals In Chile - An Overview

A brief overview of industrial mineral exploration and exploitation in Chile is given. World class deposits of salt, lithium, nitrate, and iodine are present in northern Chile. The potential for further exploration and exploitation of these deposits, as well as the substantial reserves of other mineral commodities such as gypsum, anhydrite, volcanic rocks, and borates are discussed. In conclusion, industrial minerals mining in Chile has considerable potential, particularly as joint ventures between foreign and domestic companies. This has been demonstrated in the extraction of nitrates, lithium, iodine, and diatomites. However, as outlined in this paper, a number of factors need to be overcome before the true potential of the Chilean industrial minerals industry can be realized.