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Other current and non-current non-financial assets (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Disclosure of other non-financial assets [Abstract] |
Disclosure of detailed information about other current and non-current non-financial assets [Text Block] | As of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016, the detail of other current and non-current assets is as follows:
Other non-financial assets, current |  | 12/31/2017 |  | 12/31/2016 |
|  | ThUS$ |  | ThUS$ |
Domestic Value Added Tax |  |  | 7,488 |  |  | 13,999 |
Foreign Value Added Tax |  |  | 5,122 |  |  | 2,537 |
Prepaid mining licenses |  |  | 1,205 |  |  | 1,136 |
Prepaid insurance |  |  | 2,446 |  |  | 6,323 |
Other prepayments |  |  | 1,443 |  |  | 408 |
Refund of Value Added Tax to exporters |  |  | 4,937 |  |  | 855 |
Other taxes |  |  | 4,027 |  |  | 4,660 |
Other assets |  |  | 215 |  |  | 355 |
Total |  |  | 26,883 |  |  | 30,273 |
Other non-financial assets, non-current |  | 12/31/2017 |  | 12/31/2016 |
|  | ThUS$ |  | ThUS$ |
Stain development expenses and prospecting expenses (1) |  |  | 17,721 |  |  | 23,008 |
Guarantee deposits |  |  | 771 |  |  | 685 |
Other assets |  |  | 770 |  |  | 997 |
Total |  |  | 19,262 |  |  | 24,690 |
| 1) | Reconciliation of changes in assets for exploration and mineral resource evaluation, by type
Disclosure of reconciliation of changes in assets for exploration and mineral resource evaluation [Text Block] | Movements in assets for the exploration and evaluation of mineral resources as of December 31, 2017, and December 31, 2016:
Reconciliation |  | 12/31/2017 |  | 12/31/2016 |
|  | ThUS$ |  | ThUS$ |
Opening balance |  |  | 23,008 |  |  | 31,911 |
Changes |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Additions, other than business combinations |  |  | - |  |  | - |
Depreciation and amortization |  |  | (5,440) |  |  | (9,498) |
Increase (decrease) due to transfers and other charges |  |  | 153 |  |  | 595 |
Total changes |  |  | (5,287) |  |  | (8,903) |
Total |  |  | 17,721 |  |  | 23,008 |

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