Gold Fields begins construction of Chile project
The Salares Norte gold project is located in the Atacama region of northern Chile. (
South African miner Gold Fields (JSE, NYSE: GFI) has formally begun construction of the mining infrastructure for its Salares Norte project, in northern Chile.
The company expects to complete the $860-million project in late 2022, with first gold production in early 2023.
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About 15% of the construction has already completed, Gold Fields said. That includes a mining camp for 1,800 people, related infrastructure and access roads.
Not mentioned in the news release was a delicate operation to remove critically endangered chinchillas, which were living on site. The rodents, hunted for centuries for their thick, soft pelt, are now only found in the wild in parts of Chile and are protected by law.