San Juan is positioning itself as one of the leading provinces in metal mining in Argentina, with exploration as a central pillar of its present and future development. Exploratory activity plays a key role in the identification of resources, the evaluation of their economic viability, and the reduction of risks prior to productive investment.
By Panorama Minero
In the province, mining begins with exploration. This process makes it possible to locate and characterize deposits, define their potential, and lay the groundwork for new mines or the expansion of existing ones. The productive continuity of the sector depends directly on this stage, which also incorporates geophysical and geochemical tools and advanced drilling techniques to improve efficiency and precision in the search for minerals.
Currently, the province of San Juan has 36 metal mining projects at the advanced initial exploration stage. In parallel, two mines are in production—Veladero and Gualcamayo—while Casposo is advancing in the reactivation of its plant and the updating of reserves. Hualilán, for its part, has begun its pre-production phase, marking the start of its operational stage.
The provincial government clarified that these 36 projects do not represent the total number of initiatives underway. San Juan has a significant number of additional projects in the prospecting and early exploration stages, which broadens the mining horizon and reinforces its position as one of the main centers of activity at the national level.
The impact of exploration goes beyond the geological aspect. The activity generates specialized employment, attracts investment, strengthens the local value chain, and contributes to the energy transition through the search for strategic minerals, particularly copper.
Exploration thus remains the main factor sustaining and driving the growth of metal mining in San Juan, with a direct impact on medium- and long-term productive planning.
