Coal mining in Chile

Zona Central Sur
Zona Sur
Zona Austral
Location of selected mines and deposits.

In Chile, coal mining is restricted to a few places located in its southern half. Energy originating from coal stands for 11,6% of Chile's electricity consumption. Currently the country is not considered a major producer of coal.

The three zones of mining are Zona Central Sur (36–38° S), Zona Sur (39–42° S) and Zona Austral (51–54° S) in southernmost Chile. Most of the coal resources of Chile lie in Zona Austral at southernmost Chile.

Coal districts of Chile
DistrictSub-districtCoal-bearing formationsCoal ageSedimentary basinCoal gradeLarge-scale mining at present
Zona Central SurSector NorteItata BasinSub-bituminousNo
Sector SurCuranilahue Formation, Trihueco FormationEoceneArauco BasinBituminousNo
Zona SurPupunahue Beds, Mulpún Beds, Cheuquemó Formation, Parga FormationEocene or Oligo–MiocenePupunahue-Mulpún Neogene Carboniferous Basin, Osorno–Llanquihue BasinSub-bituminousNo, mining ceased in the early 2000s
Zona AustralLoreto FormationEocene-OligoceneMagallanes BasinLignitic and Sub-bituminousNo, mining in Invierno ceased in 2020
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