Zaldivar mine asks for more time to answer questions amid Atacama water concerns

Chilean copper miner Antofagasta said on Tuesday it would ask regulators for more time to answer questions about an environmental impact study for its Zaldivar mine, which draws water from Chile’s lithium-rich Atacama salt flat.

Chilean regulators last year delayed their review of Zaldivar’s environmental study amid rising concerns over dwindling water supplies at Atacama. Regulators recently reopened the process.