Peru is home to an estimated 200 operating mines and related mining projects that could be worth as much as $59.5 billion [1]. Two fundamental realities should be considered when it comes to the extractive industry in Peru: On the one hand, there is a great deal of pressure in and on the industry to get resources out of the ground. On the other hand, the industry is still facing many challenges. This article depicts the journey undergone in exploring one particular challenge that has been accompanying almost every new mining report: social conflicts. https://www.informs.org/ORMS-Today/Public-Articles/April-Volume-43-Number-2/Mining-mitigating-social-conflicts-in-Peru [accessed Feb 09 2018].