Mines are often sited at high altitudes, in some of the harshest environments possible. Mining operations typically generate a lot of dust and other pollutants. This presents a challenge for safely covering stockpiles to protect the environment, particularly on uneven surfaces.
The Caserones copper mine in the Chilean Andes at 13,000 feet has one of the largest copper stockpiles in the world. The Japanese-owned mine uses Freedomes from Geometrica. The economical domes mitigate environmental challenges by reducing pollution, dust, and noise, and make efficient use of space with the absence of internal barriers. The structures are extremely strong, and can withstand hurricane-force winds and large snow accumulations.
The domes were coated in Valspar's Coroflex coating in bright green, protecting them from the harsh Andean elements. This vibrant color was selected to allow the domes to stand out, even with significant snow cover.
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