Chuquicamata
SEDIMENTARY BLUES No.5
Ethan Chan · Writing, Production, Mixing
Manisha Saigal · Vocals
Evan Chan · Co-Writing (Drums)
Matt Foster · Mastering
There is a hole in Chile where men crush rocks and rocks crush men, and its name is Chuquicamata.
The sight of giant Komatsu haul trucks circling like ants on pyramid steps might give the impression that Chuquicamata is a modern project. But in fact, its copper has been mined for over a thousand years—first in tunnels (since at least the 6th century), then in the open pit (since 1882), and now in tunnels again (since 2019). We know Chuquicamata is ancient because it has left behind a common feature of mines: dead miners. Around the year 550, a young indigenous miner was trapped in a mine collapse and never escaped. As if to warn future visitors, the mine impregnated his body with copper salts, preserving “Copper Man” until his discovery in 1899.
Chuquicamata, what have they found?
They come from the surface and open the ground
If it hurts, why aren't you making a sound?
They tread inside you, with bombs to deploy
Take your secrets to make alloys
If it hurts, why aren't you making a noise?
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Sister of Scylla, around and around
They carve your lips into Junjian mounds
If it hurts, why aren't you making a sound?
They send an army into your arteries
Coughing boys to search and destroy
If it hurts, why aren't you making a noise?
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Maybe they'll fill you up one day or
Maybe they'll just go away but now you're
Two miles wide and look how deep
They won't stop until their feet
Are pounding on your heart, Chuquicamata
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Maybe they'll fill you up one day or
Maybe they'll just go away but now you're
Two miles wide and look how deep
They won't stop until their feet
Are pounding on your heart
Are pounding on your heart
Are pounding on your heart
Chuquicamata
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Maybe they'll fill you up one day or
Maybe they'll just go away but now you're
Two miles wide and look how deep
They won't stop until their feet
Are pounding on your heart, Chuquicamata
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Chuquicamata, Chuquicamata, camata
Maybe they'll fill you up one day or
Maybe they'll just go away but now you're
Two miles wide and look how deep
They won't stop until their feet
Are pounding on your heart
Are pounding on your heart
Are pounding on your heart
Chuquicamata
BACKGROUND PHOTOGRAPH BY DIEGO DELSO