In 2015, Minera Southern Copper (Grupo Mexico) intended to carry out an exploration project of copper, gold and molybdenum (deposit "Las Nenas and Will"), in the vicinity of Las Coloradas, Province of Neuquén. One of the biggest concerns about this mining project is the affectation of the River Basin Lil, a source of water for the local population. The inhabitants of the Coloradas and their surroundings already have problems with water for consumption and use, both in its availability and in its quality. Added to this, the company's dark trajectory was very worrisome in other countries (as in its Aunt María project in Arequipa, Peru, where the repression and murders suffered by the opponents of the project; and the pollution of rivers in Mexico) . Thus, the Assembly of autoconvocados neighbors of the Coloradas was formed, supported by other groups of the localities of Aluminé, Junín de los Andes and San Martín de los Andes. The Assembly presented two amparos and precautionary measure, one based on environmental law and another in indigenous law, to stop the public hearing of the project, which was to be held in August 2015. The Judiciary suspended the audience for shortcomings in information official. The members of the Assembly reported that neither the mining company nor the Environment Secretariat approached to provide information. For the neighbors, the brake of the audience was a first triumph, which denotes the reason that the Assembly had on its questionings to the mining project. In addition to the lack of information, the place where the audience would be performed, inhospitable and 60 km from the Coloradas. The measure of slowing down the public hearing did not suspend the project but a part of the process of environmental impact assessment. Also participate in the conflict Mapuche communities (Felipín and Cayupán), which question the non-realization of the prior, free and informed consultation, postulated by Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), and also presented a Judicial Amparo before this lack of consultation The Will Area is within the territory of the Felipín community. Both communities asked the provincial authorities to approval of the territorial survey, which they consider that it comes into conflict with mining interests. They denounce that companies continue to act in the area, despite their brake due to the presentation of the amparos, in search of social consensus to advance the exploration. The Neighborhood Assembly denounces the presence of sociologists contracted by the company, made also denounced by the local priest priest. Other Mapuche communities in the area are Cayulef, Paineo and Namuncurá. Marches were made in the town of Las Coloradas, and then in Zapala. In the march performed during Zapala's anniversary, organizations from various cities of the province, such as Junín de los Andes, San Martin de los Andes, Step Aguerre, Neuquén capital, the Coloradas and Picun up. The Mapuche communities Cayupan, Millaqueo, Felipin, Quinchao, Wiiny Folil, Winkul Newen and the Xawvnko Zonal, also attended.

In addition to the marches, festivals and conferences were made. Press in Neuquén, capital of the province, to achieve greater visibility in the media and a greater diffusion of the conflict. Faced with this situation, the municipality sanctioned the Ordinance 174/15, which does not authorize any type of mining activity in its jurisdiction. Although it is a contribution, this ordinance did not meet the expectations of those who oppose the mining project, because of the unparalleled form in which it was sanctioned and by saying in its text "does not authorize" instead of "prohibits". In addition, by mentioning that it does not authorize "all kinds of mining activity" is very general, because it places all kinds of mining at the same level. On the other hand, it does not prevent the progress of other extractive activities, such as hydraulic fracture. For the Assembly, the possibility of progressing will be lost to provide greater protection.

While the mining project is located outside the municipal ejid, the sanction of the Ordinance, a result of the mobilization of the local population accompanied by other groups in the region, constitutes a sample of the social humor of the population with respect to the metalliferous mining project.