Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Pioneer hires former Barrick team to guide exploration in Argentina
Pioneer Minerals has hired Andes Exploration to lead exploration work at the San Francisco project in Argentina.
The project is being considered for acquisition under staged option agreements, which still require shareholder approval.
Andes is led by former Barrick executives with experience at the Veladero mine in San Juan Province.
The team is reviewing historical surface data and building a 3D model of a known breccia pipe, a geological formation that can host mineral deposits.
The project has records from 47 historical drill holes, and many mapped breccias and veins have not yet been tested by drilling.
The review aims to identify promising areas and decide where further drilling could provide useful information.
Pioneer says it will share updates as the work progresses and it plans the next phase of field exploration.
Pioneer Minerals has hired Andes Exploration, a team led by former Barrick executives, to guide work at its San Francisco gold-copper-silver project in Argentina.
The team is reviewing historical surface geochemistry and building a 3D geological model of the San Francisco breccia pipe.
The work is intended to help prioritise exploration targets and plan possible future drilling.
The proposed acquisition of San Francisco and adjoining properties remains subject to shareholder approval.
- Who
- Pioneer Minerals hired Andes Exploration, a team led by former Barrick executives.
- What
- Andes will manage in-country exploration and project activities at San Francisco.
- When
- Technical work is already underway. The article was published on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The San Francisco project in Argentina.
- Why
- To prioritise targets, assess the known mineralised system and guide possible future drilling.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
San Francisco had 47 historical holes totalling about 13.3km, which will provide drilling information for the breccia-pipe model.
Pioneer entered staged option agreements covering San Francisco and adjoining properties.
Andes began reviewing historical surface geochemistry and building a 3D geological model of the San Francisco breccia pipe.
- Project
- San Francisco gold-copper-silver project, Argentina
- Exploration manager
- Andes Exploration
- Historical drilling
- 47 holes totalling about 13.3km
- Mapped features
- More than 70 breccias and 130 veins
- Drill-tested features
- Nine breccias and one vein system
- Proposed acquisition
- Subject to shareholder approval
What people are saying
The appointment of Andes Exploration is an important step in rapidly advancing the San Francisco Project
We are committed to advancing San Francisco aggressively and systematically, leveraging Andes’ technical capabilities and local presence to accelerate exploration and deliver a strong pipeline of exploration activities and results for our shareholders.
Sources
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