Agricultural Sciences Students Tour PSJ Project
PSJ Copper Mendoza hosted a group of 40 students, faculty members and alumni from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), who toured the project installations located in the Uspallata area as part of activities scheduled in the Professional Training Course titled "Mining Activity: Fundamentals, Deposits and Environmental Management". The visit was part of an initiative aimed at bringing to the academic community the technical, environmental and social aspects involved in the development of a mining project in the pre-construction stage.
A course with participation from multiple faculties
The academic proposal was organized by the Career Commission of Renewable Natural Resources Engineering at UNCuyo, with joint participation from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, the Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Sciences Applied to Industry and the Doctorate in Territorial Planning and Sustainable Development. The course content was coordinated by Biologist Bernardo Parizek and Geologist Daniel Boggetti, while overall academic coordination was handled by Engineer Eva Maure Russo and Engineer Verónica Hidalgo.
A group of UNCuyo students visited the PSJ copper project.
According to Maure Russo, the initiative responds to a concrete need in the curriculum.
"The course initiative arose to support the new scope of the degree program and the skills demanded by the labor market, integrating applied geology, deposits and mining content with environmental, social and regulatory aspects," explained Engineer Eva Maure Russo, academic coordinator of the course.
The coordinator added that the visit enabled students to "bring the course content to the field and directly understand how work is developed across technical, environmental and social dimensions," and highlighted the willingness of project professionals to address the group's questions.
Guided tour and institutional presentation
The delegation was received by Natalia Gurruchaga, Communications Director of PSJ Copper Mendoza, who accompanied the tour and provided a general introduction to the project's history, current status and main activities being conducted in this pre-construction stage. During the visit, attendees were able to interact with technical teams and ask questions about various aspects of mining development.
Students learned about the geological interpretation process at PSJ.
Gurruchaga explained the purpose of these open-door events.
"For us, opening the Project and welcoming students, faculty and professionals is part of a work approach based on open communication and access to clear information. We believe that firsthand knowledge of what is being done, the ability to ask questions and speak directly with technical teams is fundamental to building trust and bringing mining activity closer to the community and academic sector," stated Natalia Gurruchaga, Communications Director of PSJ Copper Mendoza.
Infill drilling, the technical focus of the visit
One of the central points of the tour was the infill drilling campaign currently underway at the project. PSJ geologists explained to students the characteristics of these operations, their objectives and the relevance of the information obtained to enhance knowledge of the deposit. This type of drilling, common in projects at pre-construction stages, aims to densify the existing drilling grid to reduce geological uncertainty and strengthen the technical foundation necessary before advancing to final project engineering design.
The explanation provided to students sought to precisely differentiate the various stages a copper project undergoes, from initial exploration through eventual construction and operation, including feasibility studies requiring increasingly detailed geological information. In this regard, the infill campaign was presented as a key tool to consolidate knowledge of the mineralized body before making larger-scale investment decisions.
Environmental management and local development programs
Beyond the geological component, visitors learned about aspects related to environmental and social management of the project, as well as development programs PSJ currently conducts in Uspallata. These initiatives are oriented toward strengthening local capacity, human resource development, supplier and entrepreneur development in the area, and coordination with community institutions.
This component of the visit aimed to demonstrate that, beyond the technical aspects of exploration and future mining operations, the project maintains a work agenda with the territory that includes training, indirect job generation and institutional relationships with local organizations.
PSJ's perspective on academic engagement
From the project's management, Valentina Cassino, Manager of Stakeholder Relations and Communications at PSJ Copper Mendoza, framed the visit within a longer-term strategy linked to human capital development for mining activity in the province.
"These experiences are part of a broader vision for Project development. For PSJ, engagement with universities and educational institutions is key to strengthening capacity, generating knowledge and supporting the formation of the profiles Mendoza will need in coming years. Mining requires long-term planning, and that also means working from today on education, technical training and coordination with the territory," stated Valentina Cassino, Manager of Stakeholder Relations and Communications at PSJ Copper Mendoza.
The company noted that this type of activity will continue to be replicated with other universities and educational institutions, with the stated objective of providing technical information on mining activity development, creating learning spaces and contributing to the training of future professionals linked to productive and environmental development in Mendoza. The initiative adds to other engagement efforts various mining projects in the region have been developing with the university system, in a context where discussion about mining activity in Mendoza continues to draw public and academic attention.