By Lucas Drobina, Senior Regional Marketing Manager, Latin America
PDAC 2026 offered a remarkable window into the growing influence and cohesion of Latin America’s mining sector.
The region’s presence was impossible to miss. Delegations arrived with strong agendas, co-ordinated messaging, and a high-level energy reflecting confidence, ambition and eagerness to get connected.
The result was a week defined by meaningful conversations, strategic announcements, and a clear sense of regional momentum.
The Peruvian delegation had more than 400 participants, making it one of the largest groups at the event. Their instantly recognisable red scarves became a visual symbol of unity and purpose, reinforcing Peru’s commitment to knowledge exchange and cross‑industry collaboration.
Latin America was once again well-represented at PDAC 2026.
Source: Seequent
Brazilian representation was equally dynamic.
ADIMB’s efforts once again consolidated the Brazilian Pavilion as a key gathering point, creating the environment for discussions on structural advances across Brazil’s mining sector and its increasing adoption of cutting‑edge technologies, points well discussed during the Brazilian Mining Day.
Chile also stood out, driving dialogue around critical minerals, energy transition, and the upcoming 2026 change in government — themes that underscored the country’s strategic importance in global supply chains.
Clients and industry leaders provided valuable insights into how exploration and investment are expected to evolve this year. These highlighted notable activity in Argentina, where mining exploration is expanding across commodities including iron, silver, zinc, copper, lithium, and gold.
PDAC provided opportunities for important conversation and ideas sharing including the Andean Mining Night from Canada-Peru Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Seequent
For Seequent, early access to this kind of market intelligence is essential. It allows regional teams to plan additional customer engagement, training, and support activities that keep them closely aligned with the needs of geoscience and mining professionals across Latin America.
A recurring theme was the challenge of executing projects effectively in complex operating environments. Delegates emphasised the need for better data integration, improved decision‑making, and technologies that turn dispersed information into reliable insights.
Critical minerals remained central to nearly every conversation, particularly regarding the role of geoscientific modelling and integrated platforms in reducing project uncertainty and improving efficiency.
Leapfrog’s long‑established presence in the region meant users were eager to share feedback and learn what’s coming next. Interest continues to build in Evo, launched at PDAC 2025, reflecting a growing appetite for connected workflows and advanced data management capabilities.
A highlight of the event was the announcement of the Geoscience Leadership Forum. Designed to bring industry leaders in technical areas together to discuss challenges, emerging trends, and the future of technology, the initiative resonated strongly with delegates and reinforced the region’s momentum.
Latin America’s mining sector is entering a period of accelerated transformation. Investment in rare earths and critical minerals continues to rise, and Seequent is well positioned to support this shift through continual updates, innovation, and deeper regional engagement.
Opportunities for stronger collaboration are particularly evident in rapidly developing markets such as Argentina and Colombia.
Ultimately, Latin America’s significance to both Seequent and global mining extends far beyond its geological resources.
The region is home to a dense ecosystem of multinational operators, highly skilled geoscientists, and leading academic institutions, positioning it not just as a resource provider but as a global hub of talent, innovation, and scientific excellence.
PDAC takes place in Toronto each year and is attended by more than 27,000 people.
Source: Seequent