Argentina is developing into the new copper Chile, says the geologist

Argentina is seen as the last major country for copper discoveries as international investors resume exploration on a global scale

12/12/2025 – 09:54

While the Mining exploration reaches a mature level in Australia and Canada, international companies are turning their attention to the Southern Cone Argentina as a protagonist.

The South American country is today “The best place on the planet to make a huge discovery.”“, as defined James CooperAustralian geologist and investment director of Diggers and Drillers.

In The northern miner, Cooper warns that the scarcity of new discoveries in consolidated mining areas does not reflect pessimism, but rather a logical shift in exploration. ““If you want to take advantage of the opportunity for a large-scale discovery, look no further than Argentina,” he saysemphasized.

Geology and opportunity: a parallel to Chile

The attraction to Argentina has solid foundations: the Porphyry copper belt that put Chile at the top of the world in copper continues on Argentine territory, where much of its wealth remains unexplored. Although the geology is comparable, historical exploitation was very limited.

Cooper emphasizes that the key is not geological but political: For decades, Argentina did not provide the stability required for large-scale mining projects, with investments in the millions of dollars and production plans spanning more than 40 years, leaving an extensive, valuable and virtually untouched area for today’s exploration.

Argentina like Chile 50 years ago

For geology experts, Argentina resembles the Chile of half a century ago: huge unexplored areas, large porphyry formations and favorable legal framework for investmentsthereby creating a unique setting for important discoveries.

The value of this mining potential has become visible worldwide in the last two years following reforms implemented by the President Javier Milei from 2023. Cooper emphasizes that the combination of economic stability, falling inflation and lower country risk has renewed investor interest, which has been stagnating for years.

The re-entry of the giants

The interest of large international corporations underlines Argentina’s mining attractiveness. BHP signed a multi-million dollar contract with Filo Mining; Glencore is investigating two copper projects worth more than $13.5 billion; while companies like Barrick, Lundin Mining and Rio Tinto They are expanding their operational presence in multiple provinces, reinforcing the country’s strategic importance in the global mining scene.

Recent activity by multinational companies, Cooper said, reflects that Argentina is seen as the world’s last available major copper frontier. Argentina offers a unique combination: world-class geological formations, attractive operating costs and a policy framework that allows the development of long-term mining projects.

Modern exploration and promising findings

The Australian geologist emphasizes that the use of modern exploration methods in almost untouched areas significantly increases the chances of making significant discoveries. “This is exactly what is starting to happen in Argentina.“, hill.

Argentina faces a double challenge: cTransforming the enormous geological potential into tangible production, creating jobs and developing infrastructure, At a time when copper and other strategic minerals are critical to the global energy transition.