BUENOS AIRES (miningweekly.com) – Mineral exploration activity in Argentina in 2009 was four times as much as the historical average, according to the country's National Mining Secretariat.

Despite the global economic crisis, which prompted miners around the world to curtail exploration budgets, more than 570 000 m were drilled in Argentina last year.

There were also four new foreign-owned projects commissioned during the year, which represented a record for the country.

Together, the four mines represented investment of 3,13-billion Argentine pesos, 8 000 new jobs and generated work for over 750 local small and medium-sized enterprises.

Pan American Silver spent the equivalent of 866-million pesos to build its Manantial Espejo silver mine, in the province of Santa Cruz, while Yamana Gold invested 1,01-billion pesos in its Gualcamyo operation, in San Juan province.

Chinese-owned MCC spent 260-million pesos to restart iron-ore mining at the Sierra Grande operation, which had been halted for more than 23 years, and Canada's Silver Standard started mining at its Pirquitas operation, which had a capital cost of 900-million pesos.

Another highlight for the local industry in 2009 was Barrick Gold's announcement it had approved the start of construction at Pascua Lama, the huge project straddling the border between Argentina and Chile.

The mine will cost around 11-billion pesos, the biggest project price tag for a Canadian mining company on foreign soil.

The project also represents a milestone in the relationship between Chile and Argentina, which signed an agreement in April on cross-border tax on goods and services.

Looking ahead, Troy Resources plans to start construction soon on its 440-million peso Casposo mine, which will create require around 3 000 workers and create opportunities for some 160 local SMEs, the secretariat said.