The activity of several screening sites will put the country into that place in less than two years. The search and exploitation of gold is becoming more widespread in the country and under the active sites and exploration projects could achieve the status regional second-largest producer in less than two years. Jujuy, Catamarca, La Rioja, Salta, San Juan, Chubut and Santa Cruz are the provinces that today focus the business of extracting the precious mineral.

Mendoza will join them, already approved the exploration in areas of Malargue and Las Heras. There are also projects involving Black River. In combination with copper and silver, gold production in Argentina moves more than $ 35.600 billion, according to the Ministry of Economy, and the metal promotes the growth of an industry already represents 3.4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at national level.

The businesses claim that the projects that began operating this year that the local market will evolve in the short term, to the point of moving from being the fourth largest producer Latin America, as at present, to move into second place, surpassed by Peru.
“The Argentine resources calmly allow you to reach such a position”.

Today, all provinces have traditionally mining potential for gold exploration. The same is true for copper, “said the specialized site iprofesional.com, Julio Ríos Gómez, head of Group Exploration Mining Companies Argentina (Gemera). The positive outlook of the sector also was endorsed by Manuel Benitez, President of the Cámara Argentina de Empresarios Mineros (CMEA), who said that while “domestic production is still behind Chile, Peru and Brazil, the country’s geological wealth and investment ensures job stability.” Today, mining generates 220,000 direct jobs, with consequent benefits involved have projects and expenditures that, at least, will remain firm for over 15 years, “he said.

Gold production reached a boost this year with the launch of the controversial project Pascua Lama Binational driven by Canada’s Barrick, which in Argentina and Chile will demand investments of U.S. $ 3,000 million. Criticized by environmentalists and politicians, it is estimated that Easter Lama is one of the gold mines of the world’s lowest cost, generating nearly 800 thousand ounces of gold and 35 million ounces of silver every 12 months in the first five years at a cash cost of about U.S. $ 250 an ounce . The proposal includes the construction of a processing plant for gold and silver in San Juan. As reported the signing of project investments will be allocated 70% to 30% in Chile and Argentina. In parallel, Barrick increased its production capacity in the reservoir Veladero, 350 kilometers from the city of San Juan, for which paid nearly $ 70 million.

The work seeks to triple the average mine production to reach 85,000 tons of material daily. Beyond investment, Barrick continues to explore in the vicinity of the site. Another sign that gold is strong bet Minas Argentinas, a subsidiary of Yamana, which this year addressed the delayed Gualcamayo mine in San Juan, after investing U.S. $ 200 million. For its part, the Canadian Pan American Silver and produces gold at full speed in Manantial Espejo, site launched earlier this year in Santa Cruz.