Illegal mining is a concern inChile. As of 2025 it was considered to be on the rise but still far below the levels of neighbouring countries like Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador andPeru.[1][2][3] In 2024 there were 20 formal complaints of illegal mining before theNational Geology and Mining Service.[1] There is as of 2025 no large-scale illegal mining in Chile and most illegal mining is deemed equivalent to small-scale theft from prospects or closed mines.[1][2] Illegal mining in Chile lacks so far the typical structures oforganized crime.[2]
The fact that most small-scale mining in Chilefocus on copper, which means handling large volumes difficult to smuggle or hide has been thought to be a contributing factor to the low levels of illegal mining.[4] Thus, rise of gold prices has been linked to rises in both legal and illegal gold mining in Chile.[3][5] State-owned companyEmpresa Nacional de Minería has also a role in disincentivise illegal mining among small-scale miners by providing them with; free legal advice, technical and financial assistance in addition to purchasing their ore.[2]
The termchucullero is sometimes used pejoratively for artisan miners known aspirquineros who carry out illegal mining, but this is not always the case aschucullero also refers more generally to anypirquinero specialized inprecious metals, mostly gold.[6][7]
Somecommunes where illegal mining have been reported in the 2020s are:Hijuelas inValparaíso Region,Illapel[8] andOvalle[9] inCoquimbo Region andCopiapó andHuasco inAtacama Region.[1][10][11] Theplacer deposits of some areas of difficult access inPatagonia are also subject to sporadic small-scale illegal gold mining.[4]
Llanos de Challe National Park had an incident of small-scale illegal mining in 2021.[10]
Illegal mining is greatly overrepresented relative to legal mining in deadly accidents in Chile.[12]
| Date | Deaths | Mine/mining district | Cause of death | Commune | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 28, 2025 | 3 | Jesús María mine | Rockfall | Copiapó | [1] |
| December 18, 2024 | 2 | La Fe | Carbon monoxide poisoning | Hijuelas | [11][13] |
| September 4, 2020 | 1 | Cavilolen | Rockfall | Illapel | [8] |
| January 10, 2011 | 2 | El Indio mine/El Indio Gold Belt | Rockfall | Vicuña | [7] |
Término utilizado para designar, por lo general, a pirquineros especialmente dedicados a la tarea de extraer pequeños volúmenes de oro. El término también se usa de forma negativa para identificar a los extractores ilegales de metales preciosos.