The province of Salta says it has strengthened its position among the world’s leading borate-producing regions after the reopening of the historic Sol de Mañana deposit in Argentina’s high-altitude Puna. After a prolonged period of inactivity, Ulex Comercializadora Argentina S.A. resumed mining and processing at the site. The company’s restart is linked to renewed activity affecting production, employment and export growth in a sector described as shaping the regional economy for more than 150 years.
The Sol de Mañana operation is located in Sijes, within Argentina’s Los Andes Department. It sits at more than 4,000 meters above sea level and is roughly 80 kilometers from San Antonio de los Cobres. The project had remained dormant following the transfer of mining activities from Ulex S.A., and its return is described as a milestone for both the province and Argentina’s mining industry.
Boron mineral production chain at Sol de Mañana
Ulex, established in 1987, operates across global markets through the extraction and processing of boron minerals. The minerals are used in more than 1,500 applications spanning agriculture, chemicals, glass manufacturing, ceramics, pharmaceuticals and advanced technologies. The company’s role in those supply chains is tied to its operations at deposits including Sol de Mañana.
At the Sol de Mañana deposit, operations cover the full production chain. Mining focuses on extracting hydroboracite and colemanite, which are identified as two of the most valuable borate minerals. Following extraction, the material undergoes crushing, washing, drying, granulometric classification and laboratory quality control intended to meet international standards.
The integrated process is described as enabling customized borate outputs for customers worldwide. This approach is presented as supporting Salta’s export profile for boron minerals. The restart therefore connects operational steps at the deposit with downstream product supply for international markets.
Salta Puna borate deposits and historical exploitation
Borate mining has been a long-running part of Salta’s economic development, according to historical and geological records. Commercial exploitation of borates in the Puna began during the 1870s, making it one of Argentina’s oldest continuously operating mining industries. The sector’s continuity is also attributed to conditions found across the Puna region.
Ricardo Alonso, a Salta geologist cited in the report, describes borate production as one of the province’s most enduring mining achievements. He links it to a legacy of uninterrupted activity spanning more than a century and a half. The geology of the Salta Puna is identified as a key factor behind that outcome.
The region hosts two major categories of deposits: salar borates in salt flats and hard-rock or fossil borates within mountain ranges such as Sijes. The deposits are said to contain substantial reserves of hydroboracite and colemanite. Those minerals are described as comparable in quality and scale to material found in major producing regions including Turkey and the United States.
Refined borate products exported from Salta
In addition to raw mineral supply, Salta has developed a processing industry focused on refined derivatives rather than only exporting unprocessed material. Local producers manufacture products including boric acid, processed borax, pentaborates and specialized compounds. These products are identified as used by agricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries.
The report states that this value-added approach supports Salta’s competitiveness in international markets. Borate products from the province are exported to more than 40 countries, with Brazil highlighted as one of the most important destinations. Demand there is linked to Brazil’s glass and ceramics industries.
The expansion of export markets is presented as reflecting the role of boron minerals within global industrial supply chains. It also reinforces Argentina’s position as a supplier of those materials. In this context, Sol de Mañana’s restart is positioned alongside broader export activity from Salta.
Restart amid broader mining growth beyond lithium
The reopening of Sol de Mañana is reported to coincide with what Salta describes as unprecedented mining growth in the province. That growth is said to be driven largely by major lithium projects and new metalliferous exploration programs. While lithium has attracted significant international attention, borates are described as remaining part of Salta’s diversified mining portfolio.
Borates are characterized as having stable long-term demand supported by a broad range of industrial applications. The report contrasts this with commodities that experience significant market fluctuations. It states that this stability has helped maintain the sector’s strategic relevance alongside new critical mineral developments.
The restart is described as involving more than returning a single project to operation. It signals renewed confidence in one of Argentina’s established mining industries while supporting regional economic development across the Puna region. The operational return is therefore linked to both production activity at Sol de Mañana and wider provincial mining momentum.
Expected local economic effects from resumed operations
The return of mining activity is expected to generate benefits for local communities and businesses across the region. In addition to direct employment opportunities, operations are said to increase demand for transportation services, equipment maintenance, logistics providers, contractors and local suppliers. These downstream effects are tied to ramping up production at the site.
As output increases, the project is expected to contribute to broader economic activity while strengthening an industrial ecosystem supporting mining operations in the Andes. With more than 150 years behind it, Salta’s borate industry is described as a cornerstone of the provincial economy. Reactivation of Sol de Mañana is presented as preserving a long-established mining tradition while reinforcing Salta’s role in global boron mineral production and exports.
