Illegal mining in Chile

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Illegal mining is a concern in Chile. As of 2025 it was considered to be on the rise but still far below the levels of neighbouring countries like Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. [1] In 2024 there were 20 formal complaints of illegal mining before the National Geology and Mining Service. [1] There is as of 2025 no large-scale illegal mining in Chile. [1] Illegal mining is greatly overrepresented relative to legal mining in deadly accidents in Chile. [2]

Some communes where illegal mining have been reported in the 2020s are: Hijuelas in Valparaíso Region, Illapel [3] in Coquimbo Region and Copiapó and Huasco in Atacama Region. [1] [4] [5]

Llanos de Challe National Park had an incident of illegal mining in 2021. [4]

List of lethal accidents in illegal mining in Chile since 2010
DateDeathsMine/mining districtCause of death Commune Reference
February 28, 20253Jesús María mineRockfall Copiapó [1]
December 18, 20242La Fe Carbon monoxide poisoning Hijuelas [5] [6]
September 4, 20201CavilolenRockfall Illapel [3]
January 10, 20112 El Indio mine/El Indio Gold Belt Rockfall Vicuña [7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Guzmán, José Tomás (2025-03-04). "Minería ilegal en Chile: Las cifras detrás del tipo de extracción que terminó en un derrumbe fatal en Copiapó". Emol (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-03-05.
  2. ↑ "Sernageomin hace enérgico llamado a no ejercer actividades mineras sin respectivos permisos". Sernageomin.cl (in Spanish). 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  3. 1 2 "Fatal accidente minero se registró en Illapel". Reporte Minero & Energético (in Spanish). 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  4. 1 2 González Encina, Verónica (2022-02-21). "CDE presenta querella por minería ilegal en el Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe". Reporte Minero & Energético (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  5. 1 2 Gómez S., Rodrigo (2024-12-18). "Qué se sabe del accidente químico en mina ilegal que dejó tres muertos en Hijuelas". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  6. ↑ Minera irregular en Hijuelas se denunció un mes antes de la muerte por intoxicación de dos trabajadores en faena La Fe
  7. ↑ "Dos muertos deja derrumbe en pique minero clausurado". Minería Chilena (in Spanish). 2011-01-11. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
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