The gold deposit at Cerro Vanguardia was first discovered in 1976 and, in 1987, mining group Pérez Companc S.A. formed a mineral exploration joint venture with AMSA, Anglo American’s South American holding company.

AngloGold Ashanti owns the right to exploit the deposit for 40 years based on the Usufruct Agreement, signed in December 1996.

[2] The mine suffered a difficult year in 2008, when production fell by 25% while the cash cost more than doubled.

The Cerro Vanguardia mine consists of a number of small open pits.

[3] Geologically the mine lies in Deseado Massif, an area known for its valuable gold deposits.