As the world transitions to renewable energy, the demand for metals like silver is soaring. Silver is essential for technologies like solar panels and batteries, securing its place among critical minerals. High-sulfidation epithermal deposits are key sources of silver, gold, and copper, but understanding where and how silver-rich zones form remains a scientific challenge. At the newly discovered Filo Del Sol deposit in Argentina, researchers are using cutting-edge techniques to analyze the chemistry and age of minerals to uncover the origins of silver. This is the first time such methods are being applied together at this scale in these types of deposits aiming to characterize the precise conditions that drive silver enrichment. Insights from this work will help design appropriate mineral exploration strategies globally, including in the U.S. The project includes hands-on training for students in advanced geoscience methods, helping prepare the next generation of experts for careers in clean energy and mining.
Sponsored by: NSF Petrology and Geochemistry
ERL personnel: Hervé Rezeau (Lead)
Collaborators: Brian Jicha (University of Wisconsin-Madison), Michael Pribil (US Geological Survey), Camila Sojo (PhD student, University of Arizona), Vicuña Corp. (joint arrangement between Lundin Mining and BHP)