Check out the details of the Argentina Rocks 2026 program
14:00 – 15:30
McLean Trott Ph.D., Principal Geoscientist, VRIFY . “Discovery 4.0: AI in Exploration.”
Miguel Carrera , Geological Client Manager, Fleet Space Technologies. “Risk reduction in drilling decisions in Argentina’s current exploration cycle.”
Daniel Boyce , Principal Geoscientist, Mineral Forecast. "12 years doing AI targeting: from lessons learned to implementation."
Leduar Ramayo , Senior Geoscientist – Business Development, Quantec. “The role of magnetotellurics (MT) in porphyry systems: from the surface to the lithospheric scale.”
Jimena Vargas , Head of Business Development South America , Expert Geophysics Surveys Inc. “MobileMT vs. ZTEM in El Teniente: geological resolution in environments with and without cultural noise.”
15:30 – 16:40
Marcos Garrido , Vice President of Business Development, Hy-Tech Drilling. “From the Golden Triangle to the Andes.”
Lia Martínez , Geophysical Engineer, Mount Sorpris. “Current interpretation methods and common televiewer errors.”
Javier Barreto , Customer Service Specialist, Krux Analytics Inc. “Smooth Drilling: More Meters Through Better Data.”
Ali Alizadeh , President & COO , CDN Resource Laboratories. “QAQC-101”.
16:40 – 17:00 COFFEE BREAK
17:00 – 18:40
Mauricio Belmar Urbina , Geology Manager, SGS. “U-Pb geochronology in zircons, a new SGS capability to enhance decisions in geological exploration.”
Julio Pérez , Senior Geologist – LATAM, ALS. “How data analytics is redefining the mining value chain: practical cases.”
Alfredo Blanco , Product and Application Specialist , Epiroc. “Corephoto, innovation in the digital backup of geological cores.”
Joaquín Morales , Technical Sales Specialist, Geologist , Seequent. “Optimization and Integration of the Workflow in Mineral Exploration: From Drilling Data to a More Agile Resource Estimation.”
Jorge Correa , Geologist and technical lead , GeologicAI. “From Evidence to Decision: Geology at the Speed of Data.”
18:40 – 20:30 CLOSING COCKTAIL SPONSORED BY GEOLOGICAI
07:30 | Delegation Registry
09:00 – 09:15 | Welcome Remarks and The Vision of Mining in Mendoza – Jimena Latorre , Minister of Energy and Mining of Mendoza.
09:15 – 09:55 | Dr. Federico Cernuschi , Consultant , Independent. “Hydrothermal alteration, veins and the formation of copper and molybdenum in porphyry deposits: Reconciling manual observations with microanalysis.”
09:55 – 10:15 | Santiago Gigola , Consultant , Independent. “Metallogeny and Exploration Maturity of Porphyry Copper Deposits in Argentina.”
10:15 – 10:35 | José Perelló, Consultant , Independent. “Geology and metallogeny of the Vicuña belt, Argentina-Chile”.
10:35 – 11:00 | Dr. Jeffrey Hedenquist , Consultant , Independent. “Multiple Clay Mineral Formation Environments: Implications for Exploration.”
11:00 – 11:10 | Question and Answer Session
11.10 – 11.50 COFFEE BREAK
11:50 – 12:10 | Julio César Ortiz , Partner , Ortiz | Macaluzzo Abogados. “Management of mining property and environmental regulations on glaciers for exploration in Argentina.”
12:10 – 12:30 | Dr. Carmina Jorquera, Principal Geochemist , and Mario Valdez , Senior Geochemist , Teck Resources. “The use of pXRF in Exploration for rapid decision-making.”
12:30 – 12:50 | Pablo García, Director of the Political Analysis Team , Fundación Directivo Legislación. “Change or continuity of the Milei government? 2027 elections: scenarios and implications for the mining sector.”
12:50 – 13:10 | Camilo Trouw , Regional Discovery Manager , BHP. “BHP Xplor: Funding Junior Explorers.”
13:10 – 13:20 | Question and Answer Session
13.20 – 14.50 LUNCH
An analysis of the diverse geology and metallogeny of the province, with special attention to the progress in the most important projects and the new players in the region.
14:50 – 15:10 | Dr. Gonzalo de la Hoz , Professor , University of Salta. “Geology and metallogeny of Salta”.
15:10 – 15:30 | Luis Quispe, Senior Geologist , First Quantum Minerals. “Geology and development of Taca Taca”.
15:30 – 15:50 | Guillermo Peralta , Exploration Director , Argenta Silver. “El Quevar Project, Exploration Program Update.”
15:50 – 16:10 | Gonzalo Montebelli , Geology Project Manager , Abrasilver. “Diablillos, Estimation of new resources and RIGI”.
16:10 – 16:30 | Sam Leung , CEO and Director , Centauri Minerals. “New exploration company in northern Argentina.”
16:30 – 16:50 | Leandro Sastre , General Manager , Andes Exploration. “The economic potential of the sedimentary copper deposits of the Salta Group.”
16:50 – 17:00 | Question and Answer Session
17.00 – 17.20 COFFEE BREAK
17:20 – 17:40 | Mario Juarez , Mining Engineer , PSJ Cobre Mendocino. "PSJ Cobre Mendocino: Resources, reserves and the road to construction."
17:40 – 18:00 | Julián Facundo Cecenarro , Specialist Geologist , SEGEMAR. “Mineral resources of Malargüe and its geology.”
18:00 – 18:20 | Juan Francisco Denaro , Senior Exploration Geologist , Kobrea Exploration Corp. “Findings in initial exploration activities in copper projects in Malargüe Oeste.”
18:20 – 18:40| Dr. Owen Miller , Senior Geologist , Jaguar Uranium, “Huemul, Uranium-Copper-Vanadium Deposit, Malargüe Department, Mendoza Province, Argentina.”
18:40 – 18:50 | Question and Answer Session
CLOSING
07:30 – 09:00 Registration
09:00 – 09:30 | Dr. Constantino Mpodozis , Consultant , Independent. “From Maricunga to El Teniente: One or many metallogenic belts?”
A comprehensive review of the exploration and development of major deposits in the province, supported by evidence of tectonic environments, structural controls of fluid migrations and petrogenesis of Miocene igneous rocks.
09:30 – 10:00 | Dr. Víctor Ramos , Consultant , Independent. “New tectonic evidence of variations in plate subduction: Its metallogenic importance.”
10:00 – 10:20 | Luis Arteaga , VP of Exploration , Sable Resources. “Geology of the Pyros project (Cu-Au-Mo porphyry) and the Zorro project (Cu-Au-Ag Intrusion Related)”.
10:20 – 10:40 | Raúl Álvarez , Exploration Director and Technical Services Manager , Orvana Metals Corp. “Taguas Project, an exploration update.”
10:40 – 11:00 | Federico Wendler, Exploration Manager, NGEX Minerals Limited. “Lunahuasi – The Latest Addition to the Vicuña District.”
11:00 – 11:20 | Question and Answer Session.
11.20 – 11.50 COFFEE BREAK
11:50 – 12:10 | Sebastián Jovic , Principal Exploration Geologist, Vicuña Corp. “New advances in the geology and exploration of the Vicuña project.”
12:10 – 12:30 | Dr. Laura Maydagán , Adjunct Professor , UNS; Adjunct Researcher , CONICET. “Petrogenesis of Miocene igneous rocks in the southwest of the Province of San Juan, Main Cordillera, Argentina: Implications for the formation of porphyry-type deposits.”
12:30 – 12:50 | Dr. Laura Giambiagi, Researcher , CONICET. “Cenozoic deformation and exhumation of the Frontal Cordillera: Structural controls on fluid migration in the crust.”
12:50 – 13:10 | Gustavo Zulliger , Principal Geologist , Andina Copper. “Piuquenes: High-grade copper and gold along the San Juan Miocene porphyry belt.”
13:10 – 13:30 | Mariano Poodts , Project Manager , Alderbaran Resources. “Project Altar. The path to prefectivity. Technical advances, key results and upcoming milestones.”
13:30 – 13:50 | Hernán Rafael Aciar , Senior Exploration Geologist, Glencore Pachón . “El Pachón: From the historic discovery to a deep understanding of the deposit.”
13:50 – 14:00 | Question and Answer Session.
14:00 – 15:30 LUNCH
15:30 – 15:50 | Dr. Josefina Pons , Adjunct Researcher , CONICET; Adjunct Professor , UNRN. “Architecture of the Neuquén Basin and its importance in the genesis of Cu (V,U) deposits hosted in sedimentary rocks.”
15:50 – 16:10 | Hugo Caranza , Lead Geologist , Grosso Group. “Somuncurá Massif: Geology and Mineralization.”
Understanding the structural and tectonic conditions of the gold and silver deposits in the region, along with the progress of major exploration and mining projects in the area.
16:10 – 16:30 | Dr. Keiko Hattori, Professor , University of Ottawa. “Tectonic configuration and common geological features for epithermal gold bonanza deposits: Relevance for Argentina.”
16:30 – 16:50 | Dr. Leandro Echavarría, Consultant , Independent. “Epithermal Au-Ag Deposits in the El Deseado Region: Tectonic and Structural Configuration.”
17:20 – 17:40 | Mauricio Nerach , Exploration Manager , Mirasol Resources. “Mirasol Resources: Exploration trajectory and value generation in the Deseado Massif, Santa Cruz, Argentina.”
17:40 – 18:00 | Dr. Diego Guido , Exploration Director , Astra Exploration. “The Manchuria high-grade LSE deposit in Santa Cruz, Argentina.”
18:00 – 18:20 | Patricio Brividoro , VP of Exploration , Unico Silver Ltd. “Consolidation of a multi-million dollar Silver-Gold group in Santa Cruz, Argentina.”
18:20 – 18:40 | Walter Munizaga , Exploration Manager , Cerro Vanguardia. “Cerro Vanguardia – 27 years.”
18:40 – 18:50 | Question and Answer Session.
