To ensure this, said the professor of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, exploration is carried out in two ways. New deposits with traditional or less traditional metals can be sought (greenfield exploration) and producing deposits can also be explored (brownfield exploration).

However, he pointed out that in both cases finding reserves or new deposits is becoming increasingly difficult, and those that have been easy to find have already been found. For this reason, we need to develop a variety of exploration methods, including desk work, review of satellite photos and field work.

"New exploration methods are now emerging that include geophysical studies, the use of drones and Artificial Intelligence, such as machine learning. They are very interesting methods and are useful if there is a good interpretation of the geological information behind the use of these methods", said Vallance.

In this respect, he stated that a close relationship is needed between the exploration work and the work of researchers in the Academy, in order to understand more and more the natural processes of formation of mineral deposits, increasingly improving the geological models.

These researchers are both teachers who will train the next generation of geologists and who can also participate in the ongoing training of geologists who are already working. "Here is the great role of proEXPLO 2021, which is to take part in the training with conferences, posters, seminars and short courses," he said.

Pre-Congress and post-Congress courses have been scheduled. In addition, three virtual seminars called "Road to proEXPLO" have been held since June 2020 with the participation of 5 world-renowned experts. These seminars lasted 2 to 3 years and were focused on copper.

Seven short courses of about six hours each are scheduled to be held between March 19 and 28. These are 5 pre-congress courses and 3 post-congress courses mainly for geologists working in mining companies and exploration companies in Peru.

These courses will be virtual and will be taught by experts from Australia, USA, Sweden, Canada and Peru. Registration for the courses is open. We are confident that the courses will be well attended.

Pre-Congress short courses

• Geometallurgy for Explorers - Samuel Canchaya.
• Valuation of Mining Projects - James Gilbertson and Mike Armitage.
• Tops and bottoms of epithermal deposits, and transition to porphyry deposits: Application to exploration - Jeff Hedenquist and Antonio Arribas.
• The Basics of Mining Disclosure Securities Laws - NI43-101 and S-K 1300 - Deborah McCombe and Rosmery Cárdenas.
• Strategies for (on-site) targeted geochemical analysis of minerals - Lisard Torró.

Post-Congress short courses

• Alteration and Mineralization in Porphyry Deposits - David Cooke.
• Geochemical and mineralogical applications for the selection of geophysical methods in the exploration of VMS deposits - Marcelo Imaña.
• Geochemistry Applied to Mining Exploration: Porphyry and Epithermal Systems - William Chávez Jr.