- Original Caption Released with Image:
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![Click here for version of PIA11090](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090831043752im_/http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/figures/PIA11090_fig1_thumb.jpg) Figure 1 Click on image for larger version
This ASTER image covers 30 by 37 km in the Atacama Desert, Chile and was
acquired on April 23, 2000. The Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an
elevation of 3050 m, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is
127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of
copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver. Primary
concentration of the ore is done on-site; the concentrate is then sent to
the coast for further processing through a 170 km long, 9 pipe. Escondida
is related geologically to three porphyry bodies intruded along the
Chilean West Fissure Fault System. A high grade supergene cap overlies
primary sulfide ore. This image is a conventional 3-2-1 RGB composite.
Figure 1 displays SWIR bands 4-6-8 in RGB, and highlights lithologic and
alteration differences of surface units. The image is located at 24.3
degrees south latitude and 69.1 degrees west longitude.
The U.S. science team is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, Calif. The Terra mission is part of NASA's Science Mission
Directorate.
- Image Credit:
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NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
Image Addition Date:
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2001-10-22
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