Who Will Manage Exploration at Pioneer Minerals' (ASX:PMM) San Francisco Project in Argentina?

Sonal Goyal

14 October 2026 06:27 PM AEDT

Who Will Manage Exploration at Pioneer Minerals' (ASX:PMM) San Francisco Project in Argentina?

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Key highlights

Pioneer engaged Andes Exploration as its in-country exploration and project management team for San Francisco.
Andes is headed by a former Barrick Gold Vice President of Exploration and includes former Veladero mine executives.
A review of historical geochemistry and 3D modelling of the breccia pipe have begun.

Pioneer Minerals Limited (ASX:PMM) announced on 13 October 2026 the appointment of Andes Exploration as its in-country exploration and project management team for the San Francisco Gold-Copper-Silver Project in San Juan Province, Argentina.

The Andes team

Andes is led by Leandro Sastre Salim, who the announcement says previously served as Vice President of Exploration for Latin America and Asia-Pacific at Barrick Gold and has 25 years of international exploration and Mining experience. Its senior technical team includes former Barrick executives with geological, resource evaluation and operational experience at the Veladero gold mine in San Juan Province.

Work already started

Andes has begun a review of historical surface geochemistry to prioritise gold, copper and silver anomalies, identify underexplored areas and generate follow-up targets. It is also building a detailed three-dimensional geological model of the San Francisco breccia pipe, incorporating historical drilling information to assess the mineralised system and guide the planning of future drilling programs.

Company purpose

Pioneer says the appointment gives it established in-country technical and operational capability to advance exploration and take priority targets toward drill testing. The announcement describes it as a step in the company's strategy to advance exploration at San Francisco rapidly.

Scope of the engagement

Andes will coordinate and carry out Pioneer's exploration programs at San Francisco as a locally based team. The announcement describes the early technical work as designed to identify priority exploration targets, assess the existing mineralised system and provide a technical foundation for the next phase of field exploration and drilling.

Risks shareholders may weigh

The announcement reports an appointment and the start of desktop work, not new drilling or assay results. Targets will depend on the outcome of the data review and modelling, and exploration may not identify economic mineralisation. Reliance on an outsourced team, Argentine regulatory and currency conditions, and funding for drilling are further considerations.

Metal prices and project timelines are also relevant, and the announcement does not provide drilling dates.

What's next

Andes will continue its geochemical review and 3D modelling, which are designed to provide a technical foundation for the next phase of field exploration and drilling. Pioneer plans to progress priority targets toward drill testing as the work is completed.

FAQs

Q: What did Pioneer Minerals (ASX:PMM) announce on 13 October 2026?

A:The appointment of Andes Exploration as its in-country exploration and project management team for the San Francisco Project in Argentina.

Q: What work has Andes started?

A:A review of historical surface geochemistry and detailed 3D geological modelling of the San Francisco breccia pipe.

Q: Has drilling been scheduled?

A:The announcement does not give drilling dates. It says the work provides a foundation for the next phase of field exploration and drilling.

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