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Insights from our General Manager in Chile: Production and Paleontological Preservation
October 30, 2024
Our General Manager in Chile, Daniel Eizmendi, explains the current focus of activities at our Chilean site, highlighting both production and our commitment to paleontological preservation.
What activities are being developed in Chile?
Currently, we continue producing phosphate rock for the fertilizer industry. However, we’re also with the focus on expanding into producing raw materials for LFP (Lithium Ferrum Phosphate) battery production.
What are our next objectives?
We aim to establish Chile as a key supplier of phosphate inputs to meet global demand for fertilizers and LFP batteries.
Mining projects are known to be time-intensive, requiring significant investment in exploration campaigns, metallurgical testing, technical-economic studies, engineering, and infrastructure development before reaching industrial operation.
Every day, we work to identify the best areas rich in phosphorus resources, conducting prospecting and resource estimation following international standards and best mining practices.
How is Bifox-20 produced?
Bifox-20 is a natural, organic phosphate mineral produced from sedimentary phosphate rock, currently extracted from our Selaqueos mine. The operation is divided into two stages:
1. Mining of Raw Material.
2. Processing and Production of the Final Product.
The sedimentary rock is found in horizontal slabs at a depth of 2.5 to 4.0 meters, with a thickness between 10 and 40 cm. Rock extraction occurs sector by sector following a mine plan, where trenches 5 meters wide and 100 meters long are excavated.
The production process involves:
– Excavating the overburden (mainly sand and shells) to reach the phosphate rock slab.
– Conducting paleontological inspections of the upper surface of the slab.
– Flipping the phosphate rock slab for further paleontological inspection of the underside.
– Reducing the slab into pieces up to 25 cm and screening the material to separate rock from sand.
– Transporting the screened mineral to the processing plant.
Once extraction of the slab is complete, we remediate the land by covering the trenches with the overburden previously removed.
The final product is made entirely in a dry phase, without water usage, and no added chemicals or reagents, which is why Bifox-20 is suitable for organic agriculture. The process includes two crushing stages, with intermediate screening to remove excess sand. Final milling occurs in a ball mill and a parallel vertical mill. The product’s final particle size is achieved in a cyclone system that recirculates coarser material for further grinding and sends compliant material to the final product silo. The end product has over 90% of particles passing through Mesh 100 (<0.149 mm).
What is the paleontological management plan, and why is it necessary?
Our paleontological management plan is the framework that allows us to develop phosphate rock mining operations while preserving the scientifically valuable paleontological resources found in the region.
The sedimentary layers housing phosphate rock also contain marine fossil remains up to 8 million years old, including bones from sea lions, whales, dolphins, seabirds, and megalodon teeth, among others.
Thus, alongside economic production activities, we recover paleontological specimens for scientific research, preparation, and museum display. To date, we have salvaged over 5,000 scientifically valuable paleontological items, now prepared for transfer to the Caldera Paleontological Museum.
To implement this program, we have an on-site team of paleontologists at the mine. They inspect the phosphate rock slabs before extraction, identifying potential paleontological items. These items are then separated in the field and sent to our laboratory near the production plant.
In the lab, specimens are conditioned, classified, and prepared for later transfer to the museum. This program exemplifies the collaboration between the private and public sectors to preserve paleontological resources for the community.