Dulcinea mine
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  Dulcinea  Dulcinea | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Atacama Region | |
| Country | Chile |
| Coordinates | 27°09′10″S 69°57′52″W / 27.152868°S 69.964341°W |
| Production | |
| Products | Copper, gold |
| History | |
| Opened | 1854 |
Dulcinea is a copper and gold[1] mine in northern Chile about 40–50 km north-east of the city of Copiapó and about 40 km south of the town of Inca de Oro. It is classified as a medium-size deposit by the National Geology and Mining Service.[1] In 1966 it was the deepest mine in Chile with its deepest parts reaching then 1 km below surface.[2] Dulcinea lies in an area of cold desert climate.[3]
The ore of the mine is mainly composed of a vein of chalcopyrite, crysocolla, malachite, molybdenite and pyrite.[1] The main vein is chiefly composed of chalcopyrite and has a thickness of 1.5 m and 8% of its mass made of copper.[2] There are also lesser ammounts of chalcocite and secondary djurleite.[4][5] Gangue minerals found in the mine are; calcite, quartz, hematite and tourmaline.[5] The mine also host small amounts of zinc in sphalerite and as native alloys.[5] In parts the main vein is split into two separated by a sliver of altered diorite.[4][6]
The mine was likely exploited already in Pre-Hispanic times but the modern mine dates to 1854.[7] The mine was owned by The Copper Mines of Copiapo owned by British capital.[7] In late 1970, during the Presidency of Salvador Allende, the mine was organized as worker's cooperative, being the first one of a series of cooperative mines that formed in the early 1970s.[8]