Escondida

Escondida is a Spanish toponym meaning "hidden." The term is used for various geographic features and settlements in Spanish-speaking countries and often appears in the names of mines, towns, and districts. The most widely known reference is the Escondida copper mine in northern Chile, one of the largest copper-producing operations in the world.

The Escondida copper mine is located in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile, in the Atacama Desert, approximately 170 kilometers southeast of Antofagasta. It began production in 1990 and has since become a major driver of Chile's copper output. The mine is a joint venture primarily owned by BHP, Rio Tinto, and a Japanese consortium known as JECO, with ownership shares around 57.5%, 30%, and 12.5% respectively.

Operations at Escondida include multiple open-pit mines and large-scale processing facilities supporting grinding, concentration, and refining activities to produce copper concentrate and refined copper. The mine has a substantial impact on regional employment and infrastructure and is frequently cited among the largest copper mines by annual production.

Beyond the mine, the name Escondida is used for several towns and localities across Latin America, including places in Chile, Mexico, and Argentina, among others.