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A Heritage Asset At the beginning of the 20th century, with the input of American capital, an industrial infrastructure and technological advancement gave rise to the operation of low-grade copper deposits that were abandoned and undervalued as non-profitable, and which began large-scale production with international outcomes. This was made possible thanks to a visionary but not very well-known man: William Braden. Braden had graduated as a Mining Engineer from Boston University (Massachussetts) and was a prestigious professional. In 1900, commissioned by American Smelting and Refining, he started searching for mining prospects in Latin America, encouraging investment by American companies that subsequently set up mining operations in Chile's large copper deposits: Braden Copper Company, in El Teniente (1905), Chile Exploration Company, in Chuquicamata (1913) and Andes Copper Mining Company, in Potrerillos (1920). Thus, he became the "father" of large-scale copper mining.
Interested in personally assessing other mineral veins, Braden explored part of our country, always assisted by collaborators from the El Teniente organization. In fact, the experience acquired and the equipment tested in copper, were useful to set and start up operations in Chuquicamata and Potrerillos, closely linked by their investors.
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Braden
is also responsible for the paternalistic model that characterized
such companies, since he saw miners as poor and helpless individuals
who had to be assisted and protected.