Edgardo Leiva is a notable figure in the mining industry, currently serving as the Preconditioning and Development Unit Supervisor at Division El Teniente. With degrees in Mining Engineering and Civil Engineering from the University of Atacama, Edgardo began his career at ENAP and has now been with Codelco’s El Teniente Mine for 27 years. His current project focuses on preconditioning with hydraulic fracture, aiming to prepare rock mass for safer and more efficient mineral extraction. On a personal note, Edgardo is married to María Ximena and has two university student children, Ximena and Felipe. He enjoys spending time with his family and is passionate about documenting mining knowledge for future generations.
The preconditioning process involves dynamic detonation of explosives and hydro-fracture. This technique includes sealing a section of a hole and injecting high-pressure water to create fractures, using equipment such as a sealing pump, fracturing pump, standard mining drilling machine, and high-pressure resistant hoses. The results of this process have been significant, reducing seismic risks and making mining safer, although it increases the cost per ton by approximately 3%. Looking ahead, this method is expected to expand as more mines transition to underground operations.
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