Chilean media showed aerial images of the sinkhole, which is located on land owned by the Canadian Lundin Mining copper mine, approximately 665 kilometres (413 miles) north of Santiago.
The National Service of Geology and Mining (Sernageomin) became aware of the sinkhole on Saturday and dispatched specialist personnel to the area, according to the agency’s director, David Montenegro.
“There is a significant distance to the bottom, approximately 200 metres (656 feet),” Montenegro said. “We haven’t found any material down there, but we have found a lot of water.”
Sernageomin reported the closure of areas near the sinkhole’s entrance to the Alcaparrosa mine’s work site.
Lundin Mining said in a statement released Monday afternoon that the sinkhole had no effect on workers or community members.
“The nearest home is more than 600 metres (1,969 feet) away, and any populated area or public service is nearly a kilometre away from the affected zone,” according to the statement.
Lundin Mining owns 80% of the property, with the remainder held by Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation.
The site’s operator, Canadian company Lundin Mining, said the sinkhole had “remained stable since detection,” but work in one area of the mine had been “temporarily suspended.”
“When the area was discovered, it was immediately isolated and the appropriate authorities were notified. Personnel, equipment, or infrastructure have been unaffected “read a statement on the company’s website
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