Assessing the Relationship Between Production and Land Transformation for Chilean Copper Mines Using Satellite and Operational Data

Junbin Xiao (), Tim T. Werner, Takeshi Komai and Kazuyo Matsubae
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Junbin Xiao: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-Ward, Sendai 980-8572, Miyagi, Japan
Tim T. Werner: School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Level 2, Room 203A, 221 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Melbourne, VIC 3053, Australia
Takeshi Komai: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-Ward, Sendai 980-8572, Miyagi, Japan
Kazuyo Matsubae: Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, 468-1, Aramaki-Aoba, Aoba-Ward, Sendai 980-8572, Miyagi, Japan

Resources, 2025, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-49

Abstract: Mining may cause devastating environmental impacts through large-scale land transformations. However, mining-induced land transformations are poorly understood relative to a mine’s productivity or life cycle. We integrated satellite imagery, geographic information systems (GISs), and mine site production data (ore, concentration, and waste) to conduct a detailed spatiotemporal analysis of 15 open-pit copper mines in Chile, distinguishing six types of features. Although the occupied area (9.90 to 149.61 km 2 in 2020) and composition vary across mines, facilities for waste storage occupy the largest proportion (>50%) of the transformed land area, emphasizing the need for proper waste management. The analysis of land transformation factors (the transformed land area per unit production) showed high variation (0.006178 to 0.372798 m 2 /kg-Cu) between mines over time. This reveals a significant problem in the historical practice of using averages from life cycle assessment (LCA) databases. This research reveals the significance of geospatial analyses in assessing mining-induced land transformation, and it provides geospatial data for land-related LCA. Mining companies are encouraged to disclose GIS information regarding land transformation to foster transparency and social responsibility, as well as to promote responsible and sustainable mining.

Keywords: mining; land transformation; remote sensing; GIS; copper; Chile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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