Atacama expands Chilean iodine project

Atacama Minerals (AAM-V) intends to expand production at its Aguas Blancas iodine project in northern Chile.

In January, just short of a year after construction began, annual production reached 720 tonnes of iodine. This will be upped to 1,100 tonnes later this year and to 1,500 tonnes in the first half of 2003.

Also, the operation is expected to produce, annually, 100,000 tonnes nitrate and 300,000 tonnes sodium sulphate.

The expansion phase will entail replacing diesel-generated power with electricity from the Chilean national grid in order to slash long-term operating costs.

Minable reserves total 44.6 million tonnes grading 512 grams iodine per tonne, 2.87% nitrate and 22% sodium sulphate.

The project is in the Atacama Desert, 100 km from Antofagasta. Atacama Minerals has a half-interest in the project; ACF Minera, the operator, has the remaining half.