Is it legal to collect at Calama: Chuquicamata open-pit copper mine?

Restricted. Codelco-controlled: visits only on the free guided tour booked ahead by email through Codelco's Calama visitor office, ID required, strictly eyes-only, no sampling anywhere on the property

What can you find at Calama: Chuquicamata open-pit copper mine?

eyes-only: the 1 km deep pit, giant haul trucks, abandoned Chuquicamata company town; buy atacamite and copper specimens from Calama and San Pedro mineral dealers

Explore / South America / Andes

Andes, Antofagasta

Calama

Chuquicamata open-pit copper mine

Mineral locality Documented siteRestricted

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What you could find

Reported finds from this ground.

Nails and fittings

Crystals and minerals

Also reported: eyes-only: the 1 km deep pit, giant haul trucks.

Photos via Wikimedia Commons: North Lincolnshire Museum, Martin Foreman, (CC BY 2.0), Stephanie Clifford from Arlington, VA, USA (CC BY 2.0).

Why this spot

Rockhounding locality: the world's largest open-pit copper excavation, type locality for several copper minerals and a Codelco company-town time capsule

Wikipedia verifies location, Codelco ownership and the mineralogy (chalcocite, covellite, molybdenite, brochantite); tours are run by Codelco from Calama