First modification:
In Chile, investigations continue to determine the origin of the gigantic sinkhole in the north of the country. Last weekend, the surface of a piece of land belonging to a mining company sank, leaving a hole 32 meters in diameter.
The phenomenon did not cause victims or material damage, but it is striking due to its magnitude. Near a copper mine in the Atacama desert in northern Chile, the ground sank last weekend in the municipality of Tierra Amarilla. Aerial images show a perfectly circular sinkhole 32 meters in diameter and 64 meters deep, something unprecedented in this area, according to local authorities.
The mayor of Tierra Amarilla, Cristian Zúñiga, demands that the causes of the collapse be clarified and especially if it is related to the intense mining activity in the area. The huge hole occurred 600 meters from the nearest town.
The mayor explained to local media that the population has always feared incidents due to mining operations in the area.
“This huge sinkhole is something that had not been seen in our community. We request that it be possible to clarify why this event occurred, if the collapse is the product of mining activity or if it is of another nature,” he said.
The authorities are just beginning their investigations. But for the Chilean geologist Daniel Carrizo, from the Geoekun consulting firm, everything indicates that the phenomenon is due to mining activity.
“This is one of the oldest mining regions in Chile, where mining development is extensive. You have to imagine that this sector is like a Gruyère cheese with a lot of underground work”, he explains.
“The causes of this collapse are obviously linked to mining development under the sinkhole. Considering that the design of underground mining infrastructure has international safety standards, this phenomenon is due to some factor probably not considered in this analysis. An example of them can be the circulation of fluids, of water”, emphasizes Carrizo.
For this geologist, the phenomenon may be linked to global warming. “There are elements to consider with climate change. Last month there were precipitations that are not normal and that may also have contributed to the regime of water that is entering the underground system. This has not been considered in its dimension by the design. Another cause that should not be ruled out is human negligence,” he adds.
A security perimeter of 100 meters was established around the sinking. For its part, the Alcaparrosa de Candelaria underground mine, operated by a Canadian company, announced the suspension of its activities in the area.
Add Comment