Lodestar strengthens exploration team to advance Chile and US projects

The miner appointed Robin Wilson, Ross Chandler and Felipe Jiménez to strengthen its exploration strategy and accelerate the development of its rare earths, copper and gold projects in Chile and the United States.

Lodestar Minerals has announced the strengthening of its exploration team with the appointment of three highly experienced industry experts, in a move aimed at accelerating the advancement of its project portfolio in the United States and Chile.

The company confirmed the appointment of Robin Wilson and Ross Chandler as consultants, alongside the designation of Felipe Jiménez as Exploration Manager for Chile.

Wilson brings more than 35 years of experience in the mining industry, with a background spanning rare earth elements, copper, gold and uranium. Among his key achievements is his previous role as Exploration Manager at Northern Minerals, where he helped lead the team through to the discovery of the Browns Range heavy rare earth deposits in northern Australia.

Chandler, meanwhile, holds a PhD in Economic Geology and Geochemistry and was awarded AMEC’s Prospector of the Year in 2023. The company also highlighted that he is a co-discoverer of the Yin rare earth element deposits.

Felipe Jiménez will oversee Lodestar’s exploration activities in Chile, bringing 20 years of experience in copper and gold across multinational mining companies in Chile, Argentina, Australia, Canada and Peru. He previously served as Chief Geologist at Exploraciones Mineras, a subsidiary of Codelco.

Lodestar Executive Director Coraline Blaud said the company’s project pipeline has developed rapidly in recent months.

“With viable xenotime-related heavy rare earth mineralisation confirmed at Virgin Mountain, and encouraging early indicators from the Three Saints iron oxide copper-gold and Los Loros porphyry projects in Chile, it was crucial that we strengthen our exploration team to support the successful development of these projects,” she said.

Blaud added that the combined technical expertise of the new appointees will play a key role in supporting the company’s strategic priorities for 2026, from expanding its rare earth footprint in the United States to advancing drilling programs across its Chilean copper-gold portfolio.

Lodestar Minerals is a gold and base metals explorer focused on developing its asset portfolio in Australia, Chile and the United States.