Geologists find massive copper-gold-silver deposit

May 19, 2025

In the Andes Mountains along the Argentina-Chile border, a massive deposit of copper, gold, and silver – described as one of the world’s largest – has been uncovered.

This incredibly large find is located in the Vicuña Mineral Resource, which is situated in the San Juan Province of Argentina and the Atacama Region of Chile.

Estimates suggest the deposit contains 13 million tons of copper, 32 million ounces of gold, and 659 million ounces of silver. Interestingly, this is the biggest gold, copper, and silver deposit discovered in the past three decades.

Companies Lundin Mining and BHP control the Vicuña Mineral Resource. 

“The initial Mineral Resource has highlighted the potential for one of the highest grade undeveloped open pit copper projects in the world and one of the largest gold and silver resources globally,” said Jack Lundin, President and CEO of Lundin Mining. 

Precious metals importance

Apart from use in jewelry, gold is a vital metal for our modern world.
It plays an important role in the development of computers, and even the spacecraft that reach for the stars.

Copper is mostly used for its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity in wiring, electronics, machinery, and clean energy tech. On the other hand, silver is prized for its luster in jewelry and silverware, and for its superior electrical conductivity in electronics and solar technology.

The formation of these precious metals is the result of colossal geological forces at play over a large timescale.

The collision of tectonic plates caused molten rock to rise, carrying mineral-rich fluids through the Earth’s crust. The cooling process of these fluids within the cracks and faults resulted in the formation of metal veins.

Erosion and water movement over time can further shift these deposits, creating placer deposits in areas like seabeds and floodplains. 

It now seems this South American region possesses even more resources than initially estimated.

Largest copper deposits

Vicuña Mineral Resource encompasses two main deposits, Filo del Sol and Josemaria.

As per IFL Science, the Vicuña district is among the world’s ten largest known copper deposits — thanks to the combined resources of the Filo del Sol and Josemaría projects.

The press release highlights that Filo del Sol contains over 600 million tons at 1.14% Copper Equivalent (CuEq), and Josemaria holds almost 200 million tons at 0.73% CuEq. 

“We see the potential for Vicuña to be not only a significant copper producer but also one of the world’s largest gold and silver mines as well,” noted Lundin.

“Filo del Sol and the Vicuña district are poised to develop into a world-class deposit that will support a globally ranked mining complex,” Lundin added.

Earth.com noted that the financial analysts anticipate Argentina will significantly benefit from this major discovery, expecting it to boost job creation, trade, and infrastructure development. 

Moreover, the local communities hope the government will manage the generated wealth responsibly and allocate funds towards improving essential services like medical centers, schools, and roads in underdeveloped regions.

Reportedly, the companies now aim to complete a comprehensive technical report by the first quarter of 2026. This report will outline the exploration strategy, project timeline, and economic forecasts for the medium and long term.