en.Wedoany.com Reported - A study by Chilean mining consultancy GEM Mining has found that mining companies can unlock billions of dollars in additional value by managing adjacent operations as integrated districts rather than isolated assets.
The company's second Perspective report introduces the District Potential Value Index (DPVI), which ranks districts based on their ability to create and sustain long-term value. The study screened an initial database of 1,641 mines and projects, ultimately evaluating 49 districts globally. It found that economies of scale, shared infrastructure, and operational coordination are more important than mere geographic proximity.
GEM Mining CEO Juan Ignacio Guzmán stated that the industry can no longer evaluate mines in isolation, and the greatest opportunities lie in connecting adjacent operations through shared infrastructure, coordinated development, and long-term regional planning, enabling companies to capture value that single assets cannot achieve.
The study results indicate that the industry's next competitive advantage may stem from collaboration rather than exploration. As ore grades decline and constraints on permits, water resources, and social acceptance tighten, companies that share infrastructure and coordinate regional development can improve productivity, reduce costs, and extend mine life.
Leading Global Districts
The highest-ranked districts include: the Altura-Pilgangoora lithium district in Australia; the Collahuasi-Quebrada Blanca and Andina-Los Bronces copper districts in Chile; the Lubin-Polkowice-Sieroszowice-Rudna copper district in Poland; and the Salar de Olaroz-Cauchari Olaroz lithium district in Argentina.
The study found that Oceania leads overall, due to its vast resource endowment, strong social performance, and relatively manageable environmental constraints. Meanwhile, copper districts in northern Chile demonstrate how mature infrastructure and operational continuity can build a lasting competitive advantage.
The report also warns that geological conditions alone are no longer sufficient to guarantee value. Districts with abundant mineral resources may still struggle to create value if they face water shortages, permitting uncertainty, social conflicts, or weak governance. Conversely, stable jurisdictions without sufficient economic scale offer limited opportunities, even under favorable regulatory conditions.
Guzmán stated that proximity creates opportunities but does not itself create value. Successful districts require economies of scale, operational compatibility, and the ability to sustain development over decades through effective environmental and social management.
The DPVI does not simply rank districts by resource potential; instead, it classifies them into strategic categories, identifying mature districts suitable for integration, emerging districts requiring further investment, and clusters too fragmented for coordinated development. GEM Mining says that as global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, this approach can help miners prioritize acquisitions, infrastructure investments, and long-term regional planning.
