In 1860, Italian explorer Antonio Raimondi reached the upper Ancash region on one of his journeys to Peru. He was told there was a mining camp and a small smelter in the Juprog region that used lead from Yanacancha and copper from Antamina.

The Antamina Mine is located in the Antamina canyon in the district of San Marcos, province of Huari, in the Ancash region. It lies between 4,200 and 4,700 meters above sea level at latitude 9º32,S – longitude 77º03,W.

It is a polymetallic reserve, with a copper grade equivalent to 1.7 percent and an estimated 559 million tons of reserves.

It is accessed through a paved road, six hours from Lima and three and half hours from Huaraz.

The area is characterized by high ridges and plains marked by occasional valleys and canyons. Peru’s Northern Andes include the so-called western and eastern ridges, separated by the Marañon River. Antamina is located east of the Western Ridge. The Western Ridge has two main mountain chains, the White Ridge and the Black Ridge, separated by the Santa River. The mine lies east of the White Ridge, in the Conchucos Valley.