Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Chile's El Teniente division -- the world's largest underground copper mine and operated by the state-owned National Copper Corp. -- has partially resumed operations after a collapse that killed six miners and forced a halt to production.

The mine accounts for about 25% of Codelco's production, has more than 2,800 miles of underground tunnels and produced 392,000 tons of refined copper in 2024.

On July 31, a magnitude-4.2 earthquake triggered a collapse that damaged 2.3 miles of interior tunnels, prompting the National Geology and Mining Service, Sernageomin, to order a suspension of operations for safety reasons. It was the worst incident 35 years.

"Each day of closure costs between 800 and 900 metric tons [880 to 992 U.S. tons] of refined copper, which, at current ma

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