Mining News - Page 41

The Consumer Electronics Show 2025, held from January 7 to 10 in Las Vegas, reaffirmed its position as the global epicenter of technological innovation.

Construction and services company Milicic has begun a new chapter in its collaboration with the Veladero mine, located in the Iglesia department of San Juan province. This project, part of Phase 8A of the Leach Valley expansion, will involve 800 workers and will last for four months, from January to April.

The intergovernmental mining company YMAD has launched Public Tender No. 001/25 for the execution of ventilation shafts using the raise boring method at the Farallón Negro Mining and Industrial Complex, located in the Belén department of Catamarca province. The tender is aimed at companies specializing in underground mining technology as part of a key on-site infrastructure project.

Vancouver-based exploration company NGEx Minerals Ltd. has announced exceptional results from Phase 3 of its drilling program at the Lunahuasi project, located in the province of San Juan, Argentina. This high-grade copper, gold, and silver project is 100% owned by the company. The results have prompted an expansion of the drilling program to 25,000 meters, with two additional drill rigs to be added in February, bringing the total to eight rigs in operation.

Pampa Metals Corp. announced that PIU-05 2025DDH (PIU-05) has been completed to a depth of 1,104.5 m. PIU-05 was the 2nd diamond drillhole of the 2024/25 program at the Piuquenes copper-gold porphyry project in San Juan province. A 3rd drillhole has now commenced at Piuquenes East.

Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, marking the beginning of his non-consecutive second term. His return to power has sparked expectations and debates around key policies such as international trade and mining, both of which hold strategic importance for the years ahead. Argentine President Javier Milei’s attendance at the inauguration underscores potential ties between the new administration and Argentina, a pivotal player in supplying essential resources for the energy transition.

The mining company Glencore Pachón, in collaboration with the construction firm Peri, conducted a training course on scaffolding assembly and use for residents of Calingasta, located in the province of San Juan. The initiative, which involved 22 participants, aims to strengthen technical and safety skills required for construction work, particularly in the context of large-scale mining projects.

The provinces of Northwestern Argentina (NOA), comprising Catamarca, Jujuy, and Salta, continue to solidify their position as a strategic hub for national mining, with mining exports in November 2024 reaching US$146 million. This performance marked a year-on-year growth of 31.4%, driven primarily by an increase in lithium export volumes, one of the region's most prominent resources.

In a move that reinforces their position in the global mining industry, BHP and Lundin Mining have completed the acquisition of Filo Corp., a company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the owner of the Filo del Sol (FDS) copper project, located in the Vicuña district between Argentina and Chile. This step marks a key milestone in the expansion of both giants in the copper market, a critical mineral for the energy transition and global technological growth.

Cerrado Gold announced the gold production results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024 for the Don Nicolás mine, located in the Santa Cruz province.

Companies to invest between US$250 and US$400 million in strategic electric infrastructure.

Australian company Challenger Gold (ASX: CEL) announced the completion of a strategic placement for US$6.6 million with an entity controlled by Eduardo Elsztain, who becomes the company's largest shareholder with a 12.7% stake. Additionally, the initial payment of US$2 million was made under the Toll Processing Agreement with Casposo Argentina Mining Limited, securing the processing of 150,000 tons of Hualilán material annually for three years, with a total guaranteed capacity of 450,000 tons.

Australian junior Galan Lithium Limited (ASX:GLN) has received approval from the Ministry of Mining of Catamarca for the Phase 2 exploitation permit for its Hombre Muerto Oeste (HMW) lithium brine project. This permit enables the company to expand its production capacity to 21,000 tons per year of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), subject to project financing and the implementation of Phase 1, which targets an output of 5,400 tons per year of LCE.

Arcadium Lithium, a leading global producer of lithium chemicals, has obtained approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for its acquisition by Rio Tinto. This clearance removes one of the final regulatory hurdles for the deal initially announced in October 2024.

In an effort to strengthen its relationship with mining suppliers in San Juan, Glencore Pachón organized a key meeting with representatives from various sector chambers, marking the beginning of a more collaborative working model with a sustained dialogue channel.

Lithium Argentina reported that its lithium brine operation in Caucharí-Olaroz, located in Jujuy, achieved a record production of approximately 25,400 tons of lithium carbonate during 2024, meeting its annual targets. For 2025, the company projects an increase in production, estimating between 30,000 and 35,000 tons.

The intergovernmental company YMAD has launched Public Tender No. 002/24 to acquire a rock breaker equipment for the Farallón Negro underground mine, located in the Belén department, Catamarca. The tender is aimed at companies interested in supplying key technology for mining operations.

The Government of San Juan announced today (8th January 2025) the joint approval of the 5th and 6th Updates of the Environmental Impact Report for the exploitation stage of the Casposo Mine, located in the Calingasta department, with the granting of the corresponding Environmental Impact Declaration (EID).

The year 2024 ends with challenges for mining employment in Argentina, marked by a sustained decline in job creation throughout the year. According to the year-end monthly report published by the Secretariat of Mining in December, 39,280 formal direct mining jobs were recorded in August 2024. This data, part of a retrospective analysis of the year, shows a 2.1% decrease compared to August 2023, equating to a loss of 824 jobs over the year and a total of 1,787 fewer jobs in the first eight months of 2024.

Buenos Aires, Argentina – January 6, 2025 – Cerro Vanguardia, with over 26 years of experience in gold and silver mining, has signed an agreement with Minera Don Nicolás to acquire the mining rights for the Michelle project, a 14,328-hectare property located to the northwest of its operation.