Mantoverde is a heap leach-SX-EW plant that was commissioned in December 1995 at a production rate of 42,130 tons of copper per year and 5.4 million tons of ore per year.The copper production has steadily increased,reaching 57,290 tons in 2002.The forecast copper production for 2003 is 60,000 tons for an ore treatment rate of 8.5 million tons.Several improvements in the heap leach process have been implemented.The main process improvements are related to the optimization of heap height,particle size,irrigation rate and leach cycle,in addition to a better heap drainage design and a solution management system.A first dump leach operation was started in 1999 at a production rate of 1,922 tons of copper.A second dump leach operation was started in early 2002 at a production rate of 2,805 tons of copper.Dump leach production will be increased over time to as much as 24,000 tons of copper.The main heap leach process improvements,as compared to the original plant design,as well as the main dump leach operating parameters are discussed in this paper.