Chile: Return To The Mine

In August 2010, the world held its breath after a mine collapse buried 33 men half a mile underground in Chile. Correspondent Bob Simon, writer Jonathan Franklin and miner Victor Zamora returned to the mouth of the mine in January 2011.

The turn that takes you to the San Jose Mine off the main stretch of road. The San Jose Mine is located near the town of Copiapo, in the Atacama Desert.

The Atacama is the driest desert on Earth. The "60 Minutes" team traveled to Chile in early 2011. Copiapo, one of the nearest towns to the San Jose Mine, is about two hours north by plane from the country's capital, Santiago de Chile.

Setting up for Bob Simon's interview with miner Victor Zamora near the entrance of the San Jose Mine. Zamora suggested the visit but the experience of his time trapped underground still haunts him. "Before I went in, I was a happy guy," he says. He now suffers nightmares of "being trapped, watching my friends around me die, rocks falling," he says. "The other me is still in there."

Writer Jonathan Franklin and Producer Michael Gavshon in the Bellavista Mine, a nearby mine that was once operated by the same owners of the San Jose Mine.

Michael Gavshon, a driver and other production members in the Bellavista Mine. "Now, we all knew that the miners spent 69 days underground. We knew it. But, being down here is knowing it. Knowing it really - I mean the idea of 69 days here is terrifying," Bob Simon remarked, while touring the pitch-black mine.

Men working above ground at the Bellavista Mine.

On this gorgeous ranch on the outskirts of Santiago de Chile, producer Michael Gavshon directs miner Mario Sepulveda and writer Jonathan Franklin.

Cameraman Jonathan Partridge filming horses being herded by miner Mario Sepulveda. This was shot on a ranch on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile.

Cameraman Jonathan Partridge filming miner Mario Sepulveda riding on horseback. Mario Sepulveda says he likes to come to this ranch and ride his horse to get his mind off of everything and to be close to nature.

Miner Mario Sepulveda with his horse. Sepulveda was raised as a "huaso," Chilean cowboy, so riding his horse is one of his favorite pastimes.

Correspondent Bob Simon interviewing writer Jonathan Franklin in Copiapo. Franklin has written a book about the disaster and subsequent rescue, titled "33 Men."

Chile's President Sebastian Pinera, Bob Simon and Associate Producer Vanessa Fica with the infamous note that the miners sent after being discovered. It says, "We are fine in the refuge, the 33 of us." The San Jose Mine collapsed on Aug. 5, 2010. On Aug. 22, a drilling probe reached the miners, who banged on it, marked it with red paint, and attached the note. Sixty nine days after the collapse, they were rescued from the mine.