Growing social tensions in Chile, as the process leading to a public vote on whether or not to create a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution, is also likely to have been a factor in the cancelation.

The event website referred to growing social unrest and the precautions the organisers were taking.

"This year, with the social unrest in Chile, The Sheraton is probably one of the best locations in the city as it is in a neighbourhood that has been unaffected by any of the demonstrations. It is very secure with excellent access.

"We are taking added precautions and have a larger security team this year and are working with the local police to ensure the integrity of the event," it said.

Mining Journal spoke with several expat residents in Chile and Chilean nationals during the PDAC conference in Toronto, Canada, and civil unrest was by far a greater concern than coronavirus.

"Santiago has become a battleground with protests getting more frequent and larger," said a professional services provider.

"For the first time in decades of living in Chile I am putting together a plan B which would be coming back to Canada," said an exploration geologist.

"The situation is complicated and volatile. Anything could happen," said a leading Chilean copper industry researcher.