Highlights

• Multinational geoscientists create the most comprehensive South American mineral deposit dataset, documenting 1,594 deposits across precious metals, base metals, and critical raw materials.
• The South American Mineral Deposit Database (SAmMD) provides a strategic tool for regional resource diplomacy and global investment transparency.
• The database spans eight national geological surveys, covering key regions like the Brazilian Shield and Central Andes, with potential to reshape global critical mineral supply chains.

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In a milestone for global resource intelligence and regional mining coordination, a multinational team of geoscientists led by Guilherme Ferreira da Silva (Serviço Geológico do Brasil and Ural Federal University) and Martín Ricardo Gozalvez (Segemar, Argentina/Alpen-Adria Universität) has released the most comprehensive mineral deposit dataset in South American history. Published in the Journal of South American Earth Sciences (Vol. 153, February 2025), the South American Mineral Deposit Database (opens in a new tab) (SAmMD) documents 1,594 known deposits across precious metals, base metals, and critical raw materials, including lithium, nickel, and rare earth elements (REEs).

The team hypothesized that a unified, standardized, geospatially indexed database of South American mineral deposits—spanning eight national geological surveys and five additional nations’ published literature—could empower smarter exploration, improve economic planning, and drive regional collaboration. The timing is critical: with demand surging for energy transition metals, South America’s ability to map and leverage its mineral endowment collectively is a strategic imperative.

So what did the team report?

First, the SAmMD captures 1,594 deposits. Brazil leads with 394 entries, followed by Argentina with 381, Chile with 216, and Peru with 168, representing nearly 70% of the total entries. Coverage is robust—the database spans Archean cratons to active Andean orogeny, including high-potential zones such as the Brazilian Shield, Amazonian Craton, and Central Andes.  Third, the publication covers critical raw materials. That is, structured fields include resource estimates and deposit types for REEs, battery minerals (Li, Co, Ni, graphite), and traditional metals (Cu, Zn, Au).

Finally, standardized geospatial formatting enables regional and continental-scale geological and metallogenic analysis.

Implications

The SAmMD is more than a scientific tool—it’s a geopolitical asset. For countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, it provides a blueprint for transitioning from fragmented national strategies to coordinated resource diplomacy. For global investors and off-take partners, including those from the United States and the European Union, the database presents a new level of transparency and due diligence capability. It’s also a strategic asset in light of growing concerns over Chinese rare earth dominance: South America may hold the keys to mid-21st-century REE diversification.

Limitations

While comprehensive, the dataset remains static—based largely on published and institutional records up to 2024. Exploration activities in frontier regions, such as the Guiana Shield or Bolivian Altiplano, are ongoing, which may result in the database undercounting emerging opportunities. Additionally, resource estimates for many deposits are incomplete or outdated.

Summary

The SAmMD, developed under the auspices of ASGMI (Asociación de Servicios de Geología y Minería Iberoamericanos), (opens in a new tab) represents a tectonic shift in how South America can leverage its geological assets. For the rare earth and critical mineral community, it delivers new clarity on where future supply resilience may emerge and who holds the cards.

SOURCE:

Guilherme Ferreira da Silva et al.(2025). SAmMD: The South American mineral deposit database. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Vol. 153, 105362. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2025.105362 (opens in a new tab)