Figure 1: Layout Chuquicamata Underground Mine KEYWORDS Planning, Mining Preparation, Macroblock, Developments. 1. CONTEXT AND PROBLEM STATEMENT Currently, Chuquicamata Underground faces the challenge of area delivery of the following macroblocks: S4, N42, and Panel Central, whose construction completion and delivery of prepared area represent important milestones to meet the division's production commitments. Each project has different characteristics: 1.1. Panel Central: As a result of various instability events recorded in the central macroblock N1S1, the need arises to evaluate alternatives that allow maximizing the recovery of available resources. In this context, the initiative is proposed to develop a recovery panel located approximately 20 meters below the current production level of the central macroblock. This proposal responds to design and operational criteria, as well as to the optimization of the benefit of the reservoir, considering the geotechnical conditions observed in the sector. The main objective of this new panel is to recover reserves that, under the current conditions, are not being fully utilized. This translates into approximately 20,000 m² of additional productive area, which would significantly increase the extraction capacity of the sector. Likewise, it is estimated that this initiative would contribute to the recovery of approximately 100,000 tons of refined copper, representing a significant contribution to the operation's production indicators. The analysis carried out have made it possible to identify an estimated resource potential of around 11 million tons with a total copper grade of 1.0%. Of this volume, about 88% corresponds to material coming from collapsed areas, which implies a significant technical challenge. In this regard, the implementation of this panel not only represents an opportunity to increase reserve recovery, but also requires a comprehensive approach that considers geomechanical, operational, and safety aspects, thus ensuring efficient and sustainable exploitation over time, mainly due to the construction of a recovery panel just below a macroblock that is currently in operation. It should also be noted that the direction of area incorporation is from west to east, which provides guidelines for the priority of panel construction, starting with the preparation of the first south streets, and then towards the east.
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