Massive New Copper Reserve Unearthed in South America’s Mining Landscape

A groundbreaking find in South America has propelled the Filo del Sol initiative to global prominence. The Vicuña alliance, a partnership between Lundin Mining and BHP, recently revealed what is considered the largest greenfield copper discovery in 30 years. This landmark find elevates the project, ranking it among the top ten copper deposits worldwide.

South America’s Emerging Copper Titan

Sources like Mining Technology report that the combined Filo del Sol and Josemaria deposits now contain an estimated 13 million tonnes of copper within measured and indicated (M&I) resources, plus an additional 25 million tonnes classified as inferred.

This immense deposit ranks as one of the most substantial recent mining finds, underscoring South America’s growing influence in the global mining industry. Aside from copper, these sites also hold significant quantities of gold and silver, totaling 32 million ounces of gold and 659 million ounces of silver, all counted within M&I resources.

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The richest section of the Filo del Sol deposit is a high-grade zone boasting 4.5 million tonnes of copper, 9.6 million ounces of gold, and 259 million ounces of silver, highlighting the extraordinary economic potential within this site.

Unrivaled Growth Prospects at Filo del Sol

Exploration drilling has yet to fully explore the extent of mineralization, suggesting room for further discovery. Spanning a vast 10-square-kilometer area, the deposit stretches 6.5 kilometers in length and 1.5 kilometers in width. As drilling continues, the boundary of mineralization has already begun to extend beyond the current resource limits.

This discovery translates to a significant boost for Lundin Mining, marking a 29% increase in measured and indicated copper resources and an extraordinary 650% growth in inferred resources. These figures reinforce the Filo del Sol deposits as one of the mining sector’s most promising copper reserves.

Future Vision for Filo del Sol

Lundin Mining president and CEO, Jack Lundin, expresses optimism about the project, branding Filo del Sol as one of the most remarkable greenfield finds in three decades. The initial mineral resource assessment is a key achievement, with an integrated technical report on the combined deposits slated for release in early 2026.

This forthcoming report will detail strategies for the site’s development and continuing exploration, positioning Filo del Sol as a future heavyweight in both copper and precious metals mining.

Additionally, in March 2025, Lundin Mining signed an exclusivity agreement with Talon Metals to explore an earn-in deal. This agreement could enable Lundin to earn up to 70% ownership of the Boulderdash and Roland nickel-copper exploration sites, further expanding Lundin’s growing mining footprint across South America.