the copper project The Blues, located at Saint Jean, had news yesterday that came from Canada, where the company McEwen Mines released optimistic exploratory results to move into the production phase, noting “Copper-Rich Values ​​Through Infill Drilling”with 1.7 kilos of copper for 100 kilos of earth, which is double the other projects.

In the province, they expected positive data, but they stressed the importance of the report, as these are results certified by geologists approved by the Exchange. In other words, it makes the development attractive to investors. “The project is consolidating, it is becoming more and more feasible and profitable”, they analyze in the provinces.

Los Azules planned an estimated investment of US$2.4 billion for the construction of the project in 2017. Now the company aims to extract “green copper”, with processes that will seek to reduce the carbon footprint. On this point, Rio Tinto, the second largest mining company in the world, has invested 25 million US dollars in Los Azules to apply and test more efficient processes.

In November, the subsidiary carrying the project, McEwen Copper, had announced the presentation of environmental impact reports for the first half of this year, a fact that had been highlighted by the provincial government of Sergio Uñac, due to the potential investment and the possibility of advancing in the developments of the copper.

Los Azules is a classified copper mine by the publication Mining intelligence as one of the 10 largest exploration projects in the world.

In the results published in Canada, they noted that in one well exploration obtained 1.7 kilos of copper per 100 kilos of soil. “In mining terms, that’s a lot. Double what other projects in the province have on average,” they told Ámbito offices in San Juan, although they relativized: “It may be a well. Maybe 100 meters in another direction decreases the concentration”. For example, the McEwen report, after highlighting the “considerable growth potential”, reveals that the “ultimate depth and lateral extensions” are yet to be determined.

“We provide a first-class technical assessment of a copper deposit that will put Argentina at the forefront of critical metal production, supporting global electrification and a greener future for generations to come,” said Michael Meding, vice president and general manager McEwen Copper, as well as general manager of the Los Azules project and its president in Argentina. Later, in a dialogue with Ámbito, the manager added: “We are happy: we have more than 440 employees, including our own and subcontractors, we are one of the largest advanced exploration companies in Argentina and we have good results to show”.

Los Azules is a predominantly porphyry copper deposit and to a lesser extent contains gold, silver and molybdenum. McEwen Copper targets value-added processes with the ore, such as the industrialization of copper plates.