RANKED: World's top 10 biggest mines by ore throughput in 2022

The tonnage of ore extracted from the earth in a day is vast at the world's largest mines - owned and operated by the majors of the industry.

Using data compiled by Mining Intelligence, the latest top ten list ranks the world's biggest mines measured by millions of tonnes of ore mined, or where no data is reported, milled during the first to third quarters of 2022.

Notably, all the mines on Mining Intelligence's top ten by throughput list are open-pit, with the exception of Grasberg in Indonesia, where operations at the world's second largest copper mine moved underground in 2020.

#1 Escondida

Commodity exposure: Copper, gold, silver// Geology: Porphyry, Supergene copper

The world's largest copper mine, Escondida in Chile, ranks number one on the list with 97.4 million tonnes of ore by throughput. Escondida is operated by the world's biggest miner, BHP (NYSE: BHP; LSE: BHP; ASX: BHP), which is attempting to avert a strike at a time of tight global supplies and high prices.

#2 Cobre Panama

Commodity exposure: Copper, gold, Molybdenum, silver// Geology: Porphyry, Supergene copper

Second on the list is Cobre Panama, owned by First Quantum Minerals (TSX: FM), with 75.5 million tonnes of ore extracted. The Canadian miner could receive a renewed contract for its flagship copper mine in Panama this month, the country's trade and industry ministry said, after a brief hold-off over royalty payment amounts.

#3 Collahuasi

Commodity exposure: Copper, gold, molybdenum, silver // Geology: Porphyry

Coming in third is Anglo American (LSE: AAL) and Glencore's (LSE: GLEN) joint venture, Collahuasi in Chile, with 64.2 million tonnes of ore by throughput. View 21 years of operations at Collahuasi compressed into 21 seconds here.

#4 Buenavista

Commodity exposure: Copper, molybdenum, silver, zinc //Geology: Porphyry, Supergene copper

Southern Copper's (NYSE: SCCO) Buenavista mine in Mexico ranks number 4 with 55.7 million tonnes of ore throughput. Southern Copper spent some US$1 billion expanding its flagship copper-molybdenum-zinc-silver mine five years ago.

#5 Grasberg

Commodity exposure: Copper, gold, silver//Geology: porphyry, skarn

In fifth place is the Grasberg mine in Indonesia, a joint venture between Inalum and Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) with 52.1 million tonnes of ore. When operations moved underground two years ago, it nearly doubled copper and gold output in the process.

#6 Aktogay

Commodity exposure: Copper, gold, molybdenum, silver // Geology: Porphyry

Aktogay in Kazakhstan, owned by Kaz Minerals, ranks number six with 48.3 million tonnes of ore mined and milled.

#7 Fort Knox

Commodity exposure: Gold // Geology: Intrusion-related gold systems

The Fort Knox mine in Alaska is in seventh place with 43.9 million tonnes of ore. Kinross Gold (TSX: K; NYSE: KGC) poured first gold from a new heap leach pad at Fort Knox last year.

#8 Sentinel

Commodity exposure: Cobalt, copper, nickel//Geology: sediment hosted copper

The Sentinel mine in Zambia, owned by First Quantum Minerals, is ranked number eight with 41.5 million tonnes of mined and milled ore.

#9 Antamina

Commodity exposure: Copper, lead, molybdenum, silver, zinc // Geology: Skarn

Jointly owned by BHP and Glencore, Antamina, Peru's second largest copper mine is in ninth place 40.1 million tonnes. This year, the company announced an expansion project that includes investments of US$1.6 billion to extend the mine's life, currently set to expire in 2028 - to 2036.

#10 Los Bronces

Commodity exposure: Copper, molybdenum// Geology: Porphyry

Rounding out the list is Anglo American's Los Bronces mine in Chile with 33.6 million tonnes of throughput. This month, Anglo secured a supply agreement to meet almost half the water requirements of Los Bronces with desalinated water from 2025.

More information is at Mining Intelligence.