POTRERILLOS

mining area, Atacama regin, northern Chile. The open-pit copper mine lies in the Andean Atacama Desert, 9,440 feet (2,877 m) above sea level and 75 miles (120 km) inland from the port of Chaaral, to which it is linked by rail. Although the deposits are smaller and the ores of poorer quality than at Chuquicamata, the mine and smelter at Potrerillos contribute a substantial portion of Chile's copper.