In August, the ripple effects showed up across Chile’s economy: the IMACEC activity index fell 0.7% from July (seasonally adjusted) and rose 0.5% year on year. The story behind it is about how a single shock at one mine can move a nation built on copper. El Teniente is a pillar of Codelco, Chile’s state miner and a symbol of the country’s modern economy. It also spotlights a deeper issue: many of Chile’s biggest deposits are old, deeper, and costlier to operate. How fast can El Teniente return to full, safer output?