Total production plus reserves was quoted (circa 2000) as 23.2 mt @ 6.6 g/t Au, 50 g/t Ag, 4% Cu.
[5][6] El Indio, which was purchased by Barrick Chile in 1994, is associated with a hydrothermal system within a volcanic caldera.
Chile's portion of the belt consisted of three major mines; El Indio, Pascua Lama, and Tambo (since 1995).
[6] Gold reserves in the belt located within Argentina may be as high as 35 million ounces.
The mine, with a design capacity of 200,000 ounces a year was depleted of gold by 1999–2001.