PAVING THE WAY FOR SUSTAINABLE MINING

By Frauhofer Chile

During November, the Fraunhofer Chile team carried out a technical visit to Minera Hasparren, marking another important milestone for the OPTIMINER project. The visit included an in-depth review of the company’s technical facilities and a detailed inspection of the production workflow to identify the specific areas where preliminary sampling will be performed.

The team also gained valuable insights into the interaction dynamics between Hasparren and the various producers who process their minerals at the plant. This included understanding the range of metals that can currently be recovered and the operational characteristics that shape their extraction processes.

A key focus of the visit was the examination of mineral samples collected at different stages of extraction. These samples will serve as the foundation for upcoming elemental analyses and mineralogical studies, enabling the identification of the structural composition of the elements present.

This work is essential for defining the most suitable extraction pathways - directly influencing recovery yields and the overall economic viability of the project.

As a next step, the collected samples will be sent to laboratories for comprehensive elemental and mineralogical analyses. This marks a significant advance for the OPTIMINER project and an important step toward more efficient and sustainable mining practices.