Chile Explore Congress is organised by Chile Explore Report, which says the conference at the Intercontinental Santiago “is the only one conference in Latin America dedicated to the exploration business to unite the exploration sector with private equity. It will feature the latest developments and trends in the exploration sector from technology and exploration techniques to new discoveries, legal changes, financing and CSR.”

Chile, with its pro–mining culture and history, coupled with a stable government and fewer community issues compared to most of the rest of the region, provides a well-known and safe jurisdiction to invest in exploration. As a result the country is receiving an unprecedented amount of international interest in exploration.

Chile Explore Congress – Continuing Exploration Success is a two-day exploration conference that will cover vital exploration topics such as the current work of the majors and juniors in the country, new exploration trends , innovative technologies, the consequences of the ILO 169 convention to the industry, and changing sources of exploration finance.

The program is as follows, starting with a welcome address from Iain Cassidy, General Manager, Chile Explore.

Continuing Exploration Success – Four companies, each of different sizes and corporate strategies, share their success stories showing that despite the downturn in the industry discoveries are still possible in a ‘mature’ explored country.

Panelists: Claudio Burgoa, Project Manager, Minera Hochschild. The Valeriano Porphyry. Deep exploration below a lithocap

Christian Easterday, MD, Hot Chili. Path to Production, Productora Copper Project

Anthony Amberg, Chief Geologist, Los Andes Copper. Vizcachitas, a Copper Molybdenum Porphyry

Jorge Camacho, Exploration Manager, Codelco-Chile, La Huifa, a Codelco Discovery – El Teniente District

The Discover Profile – One of the ultimate career ambitions of any geologist is the discovery of a mineral deposit. In this session, chaired by Dr Richard Sillitoe the distinguished panel will share their personal experiences of discovery with a view to de­ning the ingredients for success, and if there is indeed a “discoverer” pro­file.

Panelists: Eduardo Zamanillo, Mining Development Manager, Mitsui & Co.; Francisco Camus, Economic Geology Consultant; Dr Kevin B. Heather, Chief Geological Officer, Regulus; César Aguirre, Senior Exploration Geologist and Mining Consultant.

Geophysics as an eff­ective Exploration Tool – Advances in Geophysical techniques and software has led to the increasing importance of geophysics as an exploration tool in the identification of blind and/or deep deposits, but how well are the methods understood and applied? The panel will not only present advances in their respective techniques but also discuss common misconceptions that exist.

Panelists: Jeremy Barrett, GM, Southern Rock Geophysics. Ground Geophysics for De-risking Deep Cu-porphry Exploration

Gonzalo Yañez, Geophysical Consultant. Natural seismicity as an Exploration Tool in new metalotectos: Examples of giant deposits

Carlos Cifuentes, Chief Geophysicist Codelco. Application of Airborne Geophysics in Mineral Exploration

Matthew Hope, Senior Geophysicist, First Quantum Minerals. The Atlantida Porphyry – A geophysical case history, leveraging from discovery

Geochemistry as an Exploration Tool – Geochemistry has proved an important element in exploration of buried deposits but results have not always been consistent or convincing. Is geochemistry in areas of cover an effective tool or is it still in its infancy?

Panelists: Dr. Brian K. Townley. Geochemical Consultant Mining Exploration in the Andes: New Challenges for Geochemistry

John Gravel, VP Technical President Acme Labs.

Juan Pablo Lacassie. Chief Geochemist, Sernageomin. Geochemical Program of Sernageomin: First results in northern Chile

Simon Mortimer, Principal Leapfrog. TBC

Implementation of ILO 169 Convention. The Road to Success – What are the implications of the ILO 169 Convention to the Exploration Industry? What is the correct balance to ensure success for all parties?

Day 2

Reforms to the Concession Law – President Bachelet has indicated that the new government is studying making improvements to the current law that would facilitate the entrance of new companies into the sector.

Panelists: Ignacio Moreno, Deputy Mine Minister. Update on the new concession law

Marcelo Olivares, Partner in Quinzio & Cía Abogados. Mineral Exploration in Chile: Normative Perspective. Objectives of Mining Legislation in prospecting. Practical aspects and proposed revision

Dual Listing of TSX-BCS – What is the true signi­ficance of the agreement? What is the current status of the agreement?

Panelists: Rony Zimerman, Lawyer at Bo­ll, Mir and Alvarez Jana. Canadian Venture Capital Markets and New Rules for Chilean Issuers

Nicolás Almazán, Planning and Development Manager, Santiago Stock Exchange. Santiago Stock Exchange, Venture Capital – New market of risk capital

Pablo Wagner, Director en Génesis Consulting & Capital, Strategies to create a capital mining market in Chile

The Status of the Fenix Funds – Two years after the inauguration of the concept what is the status of the funds? What challenges have they faced? Does the model need to be tweaked to go forward?

Panelists: Ed Zamanillo, Mitsui & Co.; Pelayo Gumucio, IM Trust; Rafael Donoso, Asset Chile; Rodrigo Musalem, Zeus Capital and Jose Antonio Merino, EPG Partners.

Exploration Investment and Financing – Non-traditional ­nancing is on the rise on the backdrop of weaker public ­nancial markets. What opportunities exist in the sector? Is there a successful model for fi­nancing juniors? What exit strategies do the Private Equity funds have?

Panelists: Ignacio del Río, CEO Minera Activa.

Carlos Gomez, Associate Director, Buena Vista Capital. Investment Opportunities in Junior Mining

Stephen Nano, CEO, Mirasol Resources. Project generator JV business model – Risk management for exploration success

Junior Activity

Panelists: José Perelló, International Exploration Mananger of Antofagasta Minerals.

Stephen Nano, CEO Mirasol Resources. Gorbea Gold belt and Rubi Copper projects – new targets in a mature Terrain

Jason Beckton, MD, RedHill Chile. Franceses – a new bulk style copper discovery in Magallanes

Ronald Luethe, Country Manager, Chile. How Mandalay Resources Creates Shareholder Value

Andrew Triggs, Regional Manager, Capital Drilling Deep Hole Directional Drilling