Chuquicamata

or "Chuqui," as it is commonly called, is currently the largest open pit copper mine in the world. It was named after a small city in the north-west of Chile. It began copper production on May 18, 1915. This article in its current state refers to the mine located near the former location of the city of Chuquicamata. Chuquicamata is located 15 km north of the city of Calama in the region of Antofagasta. The mine is elliptical in form, with a surface of almost 8,000,000 m2, and it is 900 m deep.