Main Argentine Mining Projects
From Salta, San Juan, and Catamarca to Santa Cruz, a series of emblematic projects are drawing the attention of companies, governments, and international markets.
Mines in sustained production coexist with projects at advanced stages of engineering, feasibility, or environmental review, shaping a scenario in which Argentina seeks to position itself as a relevant supplier of critical minerals in the coming years.
Josemaría. San Juan (copper, gold, silver)
- Mineral: primarily copper, also gold and silver.
- Status: in “advanced engineering,” with an estimated investment of USD 4.1 billion.
- Outlook: if access to energy is secured, construction could begin in 2025. Projected mine life: 19 years.
MARA Integrado (Agua Rica / Alumbrera) — Catamarca (copper, gold)
- Mineral: copper (with gold as a by-product).
- Status: in the “environmental assessment / feasibility” stage as part of the MARA project.
- Significance: aims to use existing infrastructure at Alumbrera to process ore from Agua Rica, reactivating a historic deposit.
Los Azules. San Juan (copper, with by-product potential)
- Mineral: copper; considered one of the largest copper deposits in Argentina.
- Status: in an advanced exploration / development stage, with a future production project.
- Potential: very large estimated resources, making it a key project for reviving copper mining in the country.
El Pachón — San Juan (copper)
- Mineral: copper.
- Status: in the feasibility study / development stage.
- Outlook: regarded as one of the largest undeveloped deposits in Argentina.
Veladero. San Juan (gold)
- Mineral: gold (with silver as a by-product).
- Status: operating, with active production.
- Relevance: remains one of the country’s most productive gold mines.
Cerro Vanguardia — Santa Cruz (gold, silver)
- Minerals: gold and silver.
- Status: in operation, with decades of operating history.
- Significance: represents a historic pillar of gold mining in southern Argentina.
Cerro Moro. Santa Cruz (gold, silver)
- Minerals: primarily gold, with silver as a by-product.
- Status: active operation.
- Production: a relevant contributor to the gold segment, accounting for a significant share of national output.
Lindero — Salta (gold)
- Mineral: gold.
- Status: under construction / ramp-up phase; a relatively recent project.
- Relevance: represents the expansion of gold mining into new provinces, diversifying the sector’s geography.
