Belén Doce and Victoria Cadario, geologists with Tecpetrol’s Exploration and Development Vice Presidency, share the technical challenges and unique experiences of working at 4,000 meters above sea level.

It looks like another planet. At 4,000 meters above sea level, the Salar del Hombre Muerto stretches across the Argentine Puna region in a stark, otherworldly landscape, shaped by relentless winds and an extraordinary sense of isolation. Beneath it lies one of the world’s richest sources of lithium brine. It was here that Alpha Lithium began its exploration campaign in January 2026, joined by two geologists from Tecpetrol’s Vice Presidency for Exploration and Development (VIED) for a field assignment that would prove as personally memorable as it was professionally challenging.

Belén Doce and Victoria Cadario, both part of the Young Professionals (JP in Spanish) Pool program, arrived at the Salar de El Tolillar camp earlier this year, and ended up living and working together for almost a month. Exploration is only just getting underway at Salar del Hombre Muerto, some 40 kilometers from El Tolillar and another 400 meters higher up.

The two geologists worked on the analysis of subsurface samples collected during drilling. “I supported the drilling operation by describing the cuttings—the fragments of rock brought to the surface—to determine their lithology and properties,” Doce says of her first experience working on a drilling campaign in the field. “The drilling fluid carries the cuttings to the surface, where we analyze them under a binocular microscope,” explains Cadario, who works in the Geomechanics department.

Life on the salt flats

Arriving at the salt flats feels like stepping onto a movie set, with the brilliant white expanse of salt framed by the surrounding volcanoes. “They gave us such a warm welcome and took the time to explain everything we needed to know. We really felt like part of the family,” says Cadario.

“At one point, drilling was delayed—which is fairly common—so Claudio, Victoria and I went out to take water-level measurements from several wells at El Tolillar,” Doce recalls. The team made the most of the down time between drilling activities, carrying out constant-rate pumping tests on existing wells to better understand their hydrogeological properties. They also collected soil samples for analysis.

Learning

Back in their regular roles, the two geologists had plenty to share with their teammates about their first taste of the lithium industry. “Being immersed in a completely new industry gave me a whole new perspective,” says Cadario. “I understand the business so much better now, and I find myself looking forward to the daily report to see how the operation is progressing.”

“It was a fantastic experience,” concludes Bassi, who hosted the two geologists alongside Julio César Fuertes, Senior Reservoir Geologist Analyst. “They arrived full of enthusiasm and threw themselves into work that was completely new to them. Their contribution was a huge help—and we still need it. It would be great to have more people come and take part.”