Colombia's Minister of Mines and Energy, María Nohemí Arboleda, announced on 2026-04-12 the repeal of ten resolutions that delimited mining districts across 119 municipalities. ^[1] The Colombian Mining Association (ACM) reported that foreign direct investment in the mining sector fell by 88%, dropping from US$1.508 billion to US$178 million between 2022 and 2025. ^[2] Collective Mining discovered a deposit of rare tungsten in the Caldas department of Colombia while exploring for copper, gold, and silver. ^[3] Collective Mining, a company operating in the Caldas department of Colombia, identified tungsten deposits during exploration activities initially aimed at finding gold. ^[4] María Nohemí Arboleda stated that the previous mining district model was contradictory because it limited exploration and foreign investment despite intending to organize the territory. ^[5] The repealed mining districts cover 10.4 million hectares, which represents approximately 10% of Colombia's total territory of 114 million hectares. ^[6] The discovery was made when an expert at Collective Mining noticed an anomaly in drill cores and used ultraviolet light, revealing the mineral chelita. ^[7] Tungsten is valued for its extreme heat resistance and is essential for manufacturing microchips, semiconductors, and aerospace components. ^[8] According to information cited by Blu Radio, the price of tungsten can reach close to US$60 per pound, though its value is subject to market conditions and international supply and demand factors. ^[9] Omar Ossma stated that the discovery of tungsten can expand perspectives on the mineral resources available in the Colombian subsurface. ^[10] Omar Ossma, president of Collective Mining, stated that the company found tungsten while conducting exploration work in the Caldas region. ^[11] Omar Ossma, president of Collective Mining, stated that the discovery evidences the extraordinary and still unexplored potential of the Colombian subsurface for hosting strategic minerals. ^[12]