| Location | |
|---|---|
  Lomas Bayas  Lomas Bayas | |
| Location | Sierra Gorda |
| Region | Antofagasta Region |
| Country | Chile |
| Coordinates | 23°25′49.83″S69°30′35.88″W / 23.4305083°S 69.5099667°W |
| Production | |
| Products | Copper |
| Production | 65,800 tonnes copper cathode |
| Financial year | 2023 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Glencore |
Lomas Bayas is an open pit copper mine located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. It lies in the inland commune of Sierra Gorda in Antofagasta Region. [1] It lies about 90 km east of the port city of Antofagasta. In 2023, it operated with 1,109 own workers and 3,129 contractors. [1] The mine began as a project of Westmin Resources, changing ownership multiple times – first to Boliden AB, then to Falconbridge Limited in 2001. [2] When Xstrata plc acquired Falconbridge Limited in 2006, the mine ownership passed this company; [2] then in 2013, Xstrata was bought by Glencore. [3]
The mine is operated by Compañía Minera Lomas Bayas S.A. which is fully owned by Glencore. [4]
Commercial operations in the mine started in mid-1998. [2] [5] The grade of the ores extracted and processed at Lomas Bayas is low (0.27% copper in the 2010s) when compared to the average grade of copper ores extracted in other Chilean mines. [5] [4]
In late September 2025, the mine suffered a major fire. By October 1, it was extinguished and no deaths were reported. [6]
