Julio Argentino Roca's role in the discovery of gold, silver, and copper in San Juan

The recent discovery of the Filo del Sol deposit, in the heart of the Andes mountain range, shook the global mining map and represented excellent news for the Government of Javier Milei in Argentina.

Located in the province of San Juan, just one kilometer from the border with Chile, this find is emerging as one of the largest in the world in copper, gold, and silver, with an economic potential of historic scale for Argentina.

Developed by the company Filo Mining, part of the Lundin group, the project covers a mineralized area of more than 10 square kilometers and contains estimated resources that are striking in their magnitude: 12.8 million tons of measured copper and 25.1 million tons inferred, in addition to 32.2 million ounces of measured gold and 48.7 million ounces inferred, and 659 million ounces of measured silver along with 808 million ounces inferred.

The exploitation of the deposit is estimated to generate thousands of jobs, encourage the development of local suppliers, and significantly increase the inflow of foreign currency into the country. The impact, both for the regional and national economy, could be comparable to that of other large South American mines, placing San Juan as a new epicenter of world-class mining.

The role of Julio Argentino Roca

However, beyond the current figures, the value of this discovery also rests on decisions made more than a century ago. In 1881, during the presidency of Julio Argentino Roca, the Boundary Treaty was signed with Chile, which established the borders in the Andean area.

Thanks to that diplomatic agreement, the area where the Filo del Sol deposit is located remained within Argentine territory, something that was not a foregone conclusion at that time. The region, now a source of extraordinary mineral wealth, could have belonged to Chile if that treaty hadn't been achieved.

Roca's legacy, often limited in public debate to his role in the consolidation of the national state, is manifested in this case concretely: the preservation of Argentine territorial domain in strategic areas, which more than a century later translate into great economic opportunities.

In times when Argentina seeks new sources of growth and macroeconomic stability, the exploitation of Filo del Sol represents not only a mining project but also the vindication of a long-term geopolitical vision, driven by leaders like Roca.