Joaquín Merino was appointed Emerita’s Chief Executive Officer in April 2026 and has continued to serve as President & Director since 2012. He is a senior professional geologist with over 28 years of experience in the mining industry, specializing in exploration and mining operations. Prior to joining Emerita, he held senior leadership roles including Vice President Exploration at Primero Mining Corp. and Apogee Minerals Ltd. and previously served as Exploration Manager for Placer Dome at the Porgera Mine, and as Mine Geologist at Hecla Mining’s La Camorra Mine. His international experience spans across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific regions. Currently based in Spain, he is leading the advancement of the IBW Project, while simultaneously pursuing continued business opportunities, and engaging in effective community relations and constructive stakeholder dialogue.Mr. Merino is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario. He holds an MSc from Queen’s University and a BSc in Geology from the University of Seville, Spain.
Iberian Belt West: Poised to be a significant contributor the EU's bid for Responsible Mining Development and Critical Metals Supply
Emerita Resources’ 100%-owned Iberian Belt West (IBW) project sits in Spain’s Iberian Pyrite Belt, a World Class VMS district which hosts renowned current and past producers such Neves-Corvo, Rio Tinto, Los Frailes and Cobre Las Cruces, with an endowment of minerals that have been sought for and mined since the Roman era. Designated a project of strategic interest by the Government of Andalusia, IBW is being advanced as a responsible source of critical and strategic metals—zinc, copper, lead, silver and gold—for Europe. With a focus on modern underground methods, environmental sustainability, and providing a boost to the local economy, Emerita's objective is not simply another exploration story, but a credible European path from resource to responsible production.
