Kimberlite deposit in Nunavut twice as deep as previously estimated

Peregrine Diamonds Ltd. (TSX:PGD) announced that the CH-6 kimberlite deposit at its Chidliak diamond project, located 120 kilometres northeast of Iqaluit, Nunavut, is twice as deep as it previously estimated.

“The 2017 resource expansion drill program at the CH-6 kimberlite has confirmed that the high-grade CH-6 kimberlite extends from surface to 540 metres below surface, an additional 280 metres below the 260-metre depth of the current CH-6 Inferred Resource announced on April 7, 2017,” the company said in a press release.

The Vancouver-based miner, who had its first kimberlite discovery at Chidliak in 2008, added that caustic fusion microdiamond results released from the 2017 drill program match well with pre-2017 microdiamond results for the KIM-L High Grade and the KIM-L Normal Grade kimberlite units. The KIM-L High Grade were estimated at 4.16 carats per tonne in the Inferred Resource, while the KIM-L Normal Grade were estimated at 2.12 carats per tonne.

These results, the junior mining company says, will form the basis of a revised CH-6 resource estimate whose expectation is that of extending the categorized resource base from a depth of 260 metres below surface to 540 metres below surface.

Peregrine sees potential for doubling the number of diamonds extracted from the site. In addition to this, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Tom Peregoodoff, said that the expectations are high following the recovery of a very rare green diamond. “[The finding] bodes well for the presence of other rare, coloured diamonds that could have a significant impact on the overall average prices eventually received for diamonds recovered from the Chidliak project,” Peregoodoff said.

The post Kimberlite deposit in Nunavut twice as deep as previously estimated appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2iuvQs4

Recycled lithium to reach 9% of total lithium battery supply in 2025: analysts

Five-thousand-eight-hundred tonnes of lithium and 22,500 tonnes of cobalt from recycled batteries will reach global markets in 2025, a new report by Creation Inn states.

According to the recently-launched strategy consultancy firm, China will lead the recycling activities for both metals. In detail, more than 66 per cent of the lithium-ion batteries, or 191,000 tonnes, is expected to be recycled by the Asian giant, feeding the country’s fast-growing battery material industry. When it comes to cobalt, 76 per cent is expected to be recycled in China by 2025, without taking production scrap or other sources into account.

These volumes, however, are still relatively low, Creation Inn says. Long service life, positive prospects for second use and poor collection of portable batteries are the main contributors to the small numbers.

After assessing the European and North American markets, the analysts conclude that the race for closed-loop solutions can already be lost to China. Large amounts of current end-of-life batteries are exported to China benefiting both the Chinese recycling industry and the domestic producers of battery materials. "When volumes eventually increase in Europe and North America the Chinese recycling industry will have a strong competitive advantage through proven technology and available capacity," the experts state in the report.

For the lead author of the study, Hans Eric Melin, the two blocks of developed nations export their used batteries not because they don't have the technology to give them a second life, but because existing policy frameworks don't acknowledge the value of reusing these materials. "From a circular point of view, it actually works fairly well but it doesn’t provide much support to government’s ambitions to secure access to critical raw material in EU, US and Canada,” Melin says.

The analyst adds that better opportunities are given the automotive industry. "They have an excellent opportunity to capture a substantial part of the energy storage market by taking back electric vehicle batteries and use them in utility-scale storage solutions. The model connects well with similar solutions for vehicle-to-grid in which the vehicle is used as a grid-connected battery, and provides strong growth opportunities while also compensating for revenues that will be lost when sales of spare parts and services are decreasing due to the limited need for maintenance of new electric cars," he says.

Creation Inn anticipates that at least 60 per cent of the batteries from electric vehicles will serve in second use solutions before they are sent to recycling.

Talking about cobalt, the report predicts that by 2025 the amount of the silver-gray metal from recycled batteries would reach almost 20 per cent of the demand. "Most of this is expected to be recycled and resynthesized to new cathode material ready to be used in Chinese cathode manufacturer’s processes," the document concludes.

The post Recycled lithium to reach 9% of total lithium battery supply in 2025: analysts appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2i3m787

Canadian miner to survey property using Long Wave Infrared Imaging

Vancouver-based Tasca Resources revealed that it is planning to conduct a Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) Survey over the Poplar Copper Project located in northern British Columbia, adjacent to New Nadina’s Silver Queen claim block.

According to the miner, the new technology is a significant advancement in exploration tools, particularly when it comes to developing potential exploration targets that were not previously visible to prospectors. "LWIR bands have the ability to penetrate vegetation and cover, to then mathematically 'fingerprint' target mineralization and the component minerals," Tasca said in a press release.

LWIR Consultants, the firm conducting the survey, has already obtained some preliminary LWIR data for the Poplar claim block, along with various Nadina claim blocks announced for review, processing and exploration target generation.

Tasca’s property holdings in the New Nadina area consist of four claim blocks of prospective geology totaling almost 67,290 hectares. Included in the property package is the Poplar copper deposit where an historical indicated mineral resource of 131 million tonnes grading 0.31 per cent copper, 0.009 per cent molybdenum, 0.09 gram per tonne gold and 2.39 grams per tonne silver and a historical inferred mineral resource of 132 million tonnes grading 0.27 per cent Cu, 0.005 per cent Mo, 0.07 g/t Au and 3.75 g/t Ag has been identified through the drilling of 147 historical holes.

The post Canadian miner to survey property using Long Wave Infrared Imaging appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2iuqnkT

Lumina Gold raises $20M to advance projects in Ecuador

Vancouver-based gold junior, Lumina Gold (CVE:LUM), closed $20 million to help fund the company's projects in Ecuador.

Lumina had planned to raise $15 million for the work at the start of the month but up-sized the offering due to "positive institutional and retail demand."

The financing was arranged by a syndicate of agents, co-led by Raymond James Ltd. and Haywood Securities Inc.

Lumina updated its Cangrejos Gold-Copper project, located in El Oro Province of southern Ecuador at the start of the month. Contained gold was increased from 4.0 to 8.8 million ounces at a grade of 0.65 grams per tonne.

Lumina president, Marshall Koval, plans to advance the project to a preliminary economic assessment in 2018.

“We are extremely pleased to see a significant increase in the scale of the deposit and an increase in the grade," says Koval in a news release.

"Both of these factors will contribute positively to the Preliminary Economic Assessment planned for completion mid-next year. This resource estimate will serve as the basis for the assessment. Drilling in early 2018 will further delineate priority open areas of the Cangrejos deposit.”

The post Lumina Gold raises $20M to advance projects in Ecuador appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2i5x21j

La Coche : la plus puissante centrale hydroélectrique Pelton de France

La plus grosse turbine « Pelton » de France est en cours d’installation en Savoie, à La Coche, pour augmenter la puissance électrique d’une centrale originale, où, parfois, l’eau remonte vers le sommet de la montagne. Visitez en vidéo ce chantier pas comme les autres.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2i3MP0k

Une intelligence artificielle peut apprendre une langue sans aide humaine

Des chercheurs travaillant sur des projets indépendants ont créé des intelligences artificielles bilingues qui peuvent apprendre une nouvelle langue sans piocher dans un dictionnaire existant, et même sans intervention humaine. Une avancée remarquable.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2i5Nv5y

Volcans : les superéruptions plus fréquentes que prévu

Les superéruptions volcaniques, qui rejettent des milliards de tonnes de cendres dans l’air, peuvent menacer notre civilisation. Le laps de temps qui sépare deux superéruptions serait plus court que ce que les scientifiques pensaient jusqu'à présent.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2kbafW5

Two women to lead Australian iron ore mining company

As soon as the new year kicks off, Fortescue Metals Group (ASX:FMG) will be led by two women.

Elizabeth Gaines, who took over as the company's CFO in February after being a non-executive director since 2013, has been appointed new Chief Executive Officer. Her right hand will be Julie Shuttleworth, who moves from being general manager of Fortescue’s Solomon operations to the position of deputy CEO.

According to Fortescue's chairman, billionaire Andrew Forrest, both Gaines and Shuttleworth will lead an organisation "where every person seeks advice from their immediate principal as opposed to an industry accepted management method of unilateral authority."

Gaines, on the other hand, said that it is the strong relationship between the chairman and the CEO what determines Fortescue's success. “I embrace the culture and values that truly set this company apart and I look forward to working with Andrew, the board and the newly appointed leadership team of talented individuals to continue to deliver success and value for our shareholders," she said in a corporate press release.

In the same statement, Forrest said that one of the reasons behind Gaines' appointment is that the CEO-elect has shown strong aptitude to encourage her colleagues and sleet recognition to them while actively providing support so that people reach their full potential. "It is this aversion to being the smartest person in the room, her obvious and effective collegiality and ability to communicate at all levels of both the organisation and the community that led to the Board’s decision to select Elizabeth over an outstanding international field of CEO applicants," he said.

Gaines, who will succeed outgoing CEO Nev Power, is the former CEO of HelloWorld. Prior to that, she was chief operating officer and CFO of HelloWorld, CFO of Stella Group, chief finance and operations director of Entertainment Rights in the United Kingdom and CEO of Heytesbury.

Besides Gaines and Shuttleworth, Fortescue has made several changes to its leadership team, with Ian Wells taking over as CFO and former operations director Greg Lilleyman being appointed as chief operating officer.

The post Two women to lead Australian iron ore mining company appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2i3Oy5K

Une étrange bactérie découverte sur l'ISS

Des bactéries ont été découvertes à l’extérieur de la Station spatiale internationale (ISS). Les scientifiques russes qui ont étudié les échantillons rapportés sur Terre s’interrogent sur leur origine : terrestre ou extraterrestre ?

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2ALNz5C

Une toute nouvelle application Futura sur IOS !

L'appli mobile Futura nouvelle mouture pour l'iPhone est arrivée. Entièrement repensée, elle est à découvrir dès maintenant. Et Android, alors ? Elle arrive...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2ngIfBw

Un disque de matière noire a-t-il tué les dinosaures ?

La physicienne Lisa Randall avait proposé une ingénieuse théorie reliant l'existence de certains modèles de matière noire avec la disparition des dinosaures. Mais les observations du mouvement des étoiles de la Voie lactée, réalisées avec le satellite Gaia, ne semblent pas compatibles avec cette...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2zBpuKy

Sonic Soak : une machine à laver dans la poche

Sonic Soak est un appareil de nettoyage par ultrasons qui peut s'emporter partout avec soi. Il permet de nettoyer non seulement du linge sale, mais aussi des objets du quotidien et même les fruits et légumes.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2ngbVPj

Dominican Republic presents Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report

The Dominican Republic, the Caribbean’s largest economy whose mining resources and reserves have been estimated in $60 billion for metallic and 40 billion for non-metallic minerals, presented today its first report as a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

The report and the website that hosts it show complete information of “every penny received, every ounce of extracted mineral, every dollar earned, every royalty paid to the State, and how that income is used,” the Minister of Energy and Mines, Antonio Isa Conde, told El Día newspaper.

According to Isa Conde, just by clicking on the website, Dominicans will be able to access transparent information and provide feedback. Citizen involvement, he said, is key to keep the industry in check and to make sure it remains accountable.

The goal is to update the database permanently and present a new report on the status of mining in the country every year.

In an unprecedented move for the island nation, the first report reveals how much mining companies paid to the national treasury in Income Tax, Tax on the Participation in Net Profits, Minimum Annual Mining Tax, Net Return of Smelting, and for exporting bauxite. The total amount was of approximately $228 million.

Besides presenting fresh information, the site includes different sections that explain how the approval process for mining concessions works, what laws and regulations are in place, and what kind of natural resources can be found in the Dominican Republic.

The post Dominican Republic presents Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative report appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2AHXoSp

Gold production will grow in coming years: BMI

A report by BMI Research states that global gold mine output growth will pick up in the next few years, supported by higher gold prices and solid projects in key countries.

“We forecast global gold production to increase from 105moz in 2018 to 125moz by 2026, averaging 2.3% annual growth. While a steady pace of growth, this represents a slight deceleration in growth rate compared with the previous eight-year average of 3.1%,” the firm says.

For short-term prices, BMI predicts that they will continue to head higher, averaging $1,300/oz in 2018.

As with many metals, Chinese deals lead gold’s performance when it comes to production and price. According to the business intelligence company, major firms hailing from the Asian giant will ramp up investment in foreign gold mines, as the country’s gold demand growth far outpaces that of production which, BMI says, will stagnate over the coming years at around 16.5moz.

“In 2016, the Asia Pacific region accounted for 44.7% of global gold mining merger and acquisition activity,” BMI estimates, while highlighting that some of the major transactions were carried out by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International, who invested $890 million for an initial 10% stake in Russian gold producer Polyus Gold, as well as Shandong Gold, who purchased a 50% stake in the Veladero mine in Argentina from Barrick Gold for $960 million while committing to advance exploration activities in the area.

Back in 2016, state-owned China National Gold Group paid $300 million for the purchase of the Jinfeng gold mine from Eldorado Gold, while Indonesian firm PT Amman Mineral International paid $1.3 billion purchase of Newmont Mining's Indonesian assets, including the country's second largest copper-gold mine, Batu Hijau.

Australia is another big player in this game. Gold production Down Under is expected to grow, as higher gold prices increase miners’ profit margins and a weaker Australian dollar fosters mine expansions and increased exploration activities by both top and junior miners.

The research firm hints to the performance of Newmont Mining Corp (NYSE:NEM), as the key driver of Australia’s positive outlook. The world’s 2nd largest gold miner expects 2017 production at Australian operations to be 1.5-1.7moz, with total spending between $205-240 million.

“We forecast Australia’s gold output to increase from 10.5moz in 2018 to 13.2moz by 2026, averaging 3.1% annual growth and remaining the second largest global gold producer by a significant margin,” BMI states.

The firm sees modest production growth for Russia’s gold industry, while the U.S. gold sector will see steady production growth supported by rising prices and the fact that federal deregulation under the Trump administration will prompt project development and relax environmental requirements.

The post Gold production will grow in coming years: BMI appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2inV4sf

Canadian miners want to launch clean resources supercluster

Six organizations working in the mining sector submitted an application to the Government of Canada’s Innovation Superclusters Initiative with the idea of creating a clean resources supercluster.

The Canada Mining Innovation Council, the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation, the International Minerals Innovation Institute, the Mining Suppliers Trade Association, CIMRE and COREM, hope to receive $200 million in government funding for their Clean, Low-energy, Effective, Engaged and Remediated Supercluster or CLEER, which needs a total investment of $700 million -$450 million in cash and $244 million in-kind.

According to a press release sent out by the organizations involved, the CLEER's goal is to harness innovation across the existing mining ecosystem to tackle global challenges of water, energy, and environmental footprint, with targets of 50% reductions in each area by 2027.

To reach its objective, the supercluster would run collaborative initiatives by partnering with 162 leaders from different sectors such as clean tech, R&D innovation support organizations, post-secondary institutions, the mining services and supply sector, anchor companies, among others. The focus of their work would be in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and Quebec.

Besides moving toward more environmentally sustainable practices, proponents say the CLEER has the potential of creating more than 38,000 new, direct high-paying jobs and training opportunities within the cluster for a total of 100,000 jobs including indirect sectors. “Activities will focus on developing HQPs in advanced mining technologies, clean tech, battery electric vehicles and energy technologies, advanced mineral processing technologies and water technologies, environmental technologies, and science. Additionally, Supercluster activities will entail the deployment of advanced business and human resource skills as developed products and services are moved to commercialization,” Charles Nyabeze, Director of Government Affairs for the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation, told MINING.com.

Nyabeze and his team hope that the project’s breakthroughs would lead to the development of new mines. “And every new mine opened will generate an average of 3500 direct and indirect, long-term jobs,” he said.

They also anticipate the project's GDP contribution to exceed $26 billion after five years, plus an additional 8,000 jobs and $21 billion in ripple effect impacts throughout Canada.

A final decision on their application should be made public in early 2018.

The post Canadian miners want to launch clean resources supercluster appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2jw36LO

PotashCorp CEO confirms Chinese interested in lithium producer SQM

Canada’s Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (TSX, NYSE:POT), the world’s largest producer of the fertilizer by capacity, confirmed Wednesday rumours pointing at Chinese firms hoping to buy the miner’s stake in Chilean lithium producer SQM.

SQM became a target of international firms after PotashCorp announced it would sell its 32% stake in it, worth about $4.5 billion at current market values. The move was made to comply with some of the conditions imposed by regulators to let PotashCorp merge with smaller rival Agrium (TSX, NYSE:AGU).

Canada’s PotashCorp must sell its interest in Chile's SQM — worth about $4.5 billion at current market values — within 18 months of merging with Agrium.

“You can imagine the broad interest of potential bidders and actual bidders is coming from those who are interested in lithium,” Potash Corp chief executive Jochen Tilk told Reuters. “And many of them are in China,” he added, declining to name interested parties or the number of bids the company has received.

Last week, sources familiar with the matter mentioned Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital and Canada's Wealth Minerals (TSX-VE:WML) as the latest firms to be weighing an investment in SQM, the world's largest lithium producer.

A few days earlier, news reports said world’s second largest mining company Rio Tinto (ASX, LON:RIO) was also considering to bid for PotashCorp’s stake in SQM.

SQM, which has a market value at just over $15 billion, produced roughly 44,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate last year and is developing new projects in Chile and Australia.

 

The post PotashCorp CEO confirms Chinese interested in lithium producer SQM appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2ikSuTM

Luxembourg, Japan team up to explore and mine space resources

Luxembourg seems to be in a rush to become Europe’s hub for space mining, as it announced Wednesday yet another deal aimed at boosting boost the exploration and the commercial utilization of resources from near earth objects, such as asteroids.

The fresh agreement, this time with Japan, is part of Luxembourg’s SpaceResources.lu initiative launched last year to promote the mining of celestial bodies for minerals.

The five-year cooperation agreement between Luxembourg and Japan covers the exchange of information and expertise on the matter and intends to further enhance collaboration in the field of space activities, the parties said in a statement.

The five-year cooperation agreement covers the exchange of information and expertise on the exploration and mining of out-of-earth resources.

“The exchange of information may cover all the issues of the exploration and commercial utilization of space resources, including legal, regulatory, technological, economic, and other aspects,” they noted.

Japan is not the first country to sign this kind of agreement with Luxembourg. Previously, Portugal and the United Arab Emirates had gotten on board too, joining dozens of firms to have either settled in the tiny country or signed cooperation deals with it about space mining.

Some of the companies that have signed accords with Luxembourg include US-based companies Deep Space Industries and Planetary Resources.

With Deep Space, Luxembourg is jointly developing Prospector-X, a small and experimental spacecraft that test technologies for prospecting and mining near Earth asteroids after 2020.

With Planetary Resources the link is mostly financial, as the country recently invested more than $28 million in the firm to help launch its first commercial asteroid prospecting mission by 2020.

Earlier this year, the nation —one of the euro zone's wealthiest — passed a law defining the conditions companies must fulfill to obtain a licence for launching a space mining mission.

While Luxembourg foray into out-of-earth mining is fairly new, the country has a long-standing space industry, which has played a significant role in the development of satellite communications.

Geologists believe asteroids are packed with iron ore, nickel and precious metals at much higher concentrations than those found on Earth, making up a market valued in the trillions of dollars, and The Grand Duchy is definitely after them.

The post Luxembourg, Japan team up to explore and mine space resources appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2zQin56

Yéti : l'abominable homme des neiges serait un ours

Depuis des siècles, la légende du yéti perdure au Népal et au Tibet, avec des témoignages et des récits transmis de génération en génération. Une nouvelle analyse ADN de huit échantillons provenant de supposés yétis montre qu’il s'agirait en fait d’ours asiatiques.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2BxVMYg

Western Australia's gold royalty hike blocked again

The Western Australian government’s second attempt at increasing the royalty rate for gold miners has failed to pass in Parliament.

Under the revised scheme, the royalty rate would have increased from 2.5 to 3.75 per cent when the gold price was above $A1400/ounce instead of the previously planned $1200/ounce, which was rejected back in October.

The motion to deny the Mining Amendment Regulations (No 3) 2017 and the royalty increase attached to it, was brought by One Nation MP Robin Scott, who represents the Mining and Pastoral Region. His disallowance proposal was supported by members of the Liberal Party, The Nationals, Shooters and Fishers, and the Liberal Democrats.

According to the opposition, the Labour government of Mark McGowan unrelentingly attacks the mining sector.

However, last week, Western Australia's Treasurer Ben Wyatt said that the revised royalty hike plan had taken into account the industry’s concerns about the jobs impact that a higher royalty rate would have.

Despite such considerations, the gold miners were quick to reject the proposal, which was aimed at raising A$332-million in four years for the state's budget and to provide an assistance package for marginal mines.

Interviewed by SBS, the CEO of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA, Reg Howard-Smith, said that the local government "should respect the will of the parliament and now give the gold industry a chance to do what it does best – continue to invest heavily in exploration which will, in turn, create further jobs and stimulate economic growth."

The post Western Australia's gold royalty hike blocked again appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2AJOFyM

SolGold on a roll in Ecuador with finds at Timbara, Porvenir projects

Shares in Ecuador-focused miner SolGold (LON, TSX:SOLG)  were slightly up on Wednesday after the company said it has discovered "promising" new copper prospects at the Porvenir and Timbara projects.

According to the company, rock chip samples from both assets, located in the south of Ecuador, graded up to 4.27% copper.

SolGold also said it found outcropping porphyry style copper mineralization at the projects, which are of Jurassic age similar to nearby Lundin Gold’s (TSX:LUG) greenfield project Fruta del Norte, as well as to Mirador and Santa Barbara deposits.

The Ecuador-focused miner said it has discovered 'promising' new copper prospects at the Porvenir and Timbara projects, with rock chip samples graded up to 4.27% of the metal.

The miner said rock chip samples from Porvenir returned grades of 1.58%, 1.30% and 4.27% copper. At Timbara, rock chip samples returned 1.00%, 1.23%, 1.59%, 1.64% and 2.44% copper in different samples.

This follows on from SolGold's discovery announced earlier this week of an extensive new corridor of porphyry copper mineralisation at its La Hueca project. The two new mineralised prospects revealed on Wednesday are located along trend, south-west of La Hueca.

The company’s stock rose on the news, almost 1% up in London to 27 pence in midafternoon trading.

SolGold, which earlier this year began trading in the Toronto Stock Exchange, has grabbed headlines thanks mainly to its flagship asset — Cascabel copper-gold project, located 180 km north of the country’s capital Quito.

That project is located in the northern portion of the Andean copper belt in Ecuador, renowned for hosting almost half the world’s copper known reserves.

The South American country has been gaining ground as a mining investment destination thanks to a revised regulatory framework and a major investor engagement campaign that has already attracted around 420 applications for concessions in less than a year.

Currently, the nation’s emerging mining sector employs 3,700 people, but the government estimates the figure will rise to about 16,000 in the 2017-2020 period.

The country’s Ministry of Mining has said it expects to receive $488 million in revenue in the next four years from the 237 mining concessions that it recently granted to private companies.

The post SolGold on a roll in Ecuador with finds at Timbara, Porvenir projects appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2jvvNsA

Bientôt des batteries magnésium-ion pour battre celles au lithium ?

Des chercheurs ont réussi à créer un électrolyte solide pour des batteries magnésium-ion qui s'avère être un conducteur efficace. Une percée encore expérimentale mais qui laisse entrevoir une alternative intéressante aux batteries lithium-ion.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2i1GUcs

Brazil mining code remains unchanged as Senate fails to vote on bill

Brazil’s Senate has not approved a temporary decree issue by President Michel Temer in July changing some sections of the current mining, aimed at making the country’s industry more competitive and sustainable.

Among the proposed modifications there was a shift in responsibility for environmental monitoring away from government and to the companies, which many saw as a risky move, as it could mean more mining accidents.

Before opening Tuesday’s session, Brazil’s lower house of Congress removed from the agenda the discussion of the provisory measure No. 790, which modified the country’s current mining law.

According to local paper Jornal do Brasil, the lawmakers mostly opposed a provision allowing the use of by geologists, mining engineers, economists and chemists, which they didn’t see as helping the industry’s development.

Without the Senate’s vote, Temer’s temporary decree expired and the original code remains in place.

Congress did approve another bill, which creates an autonomous regulatory agency for the mining sector, a move aimed at accelerating slow licensing approvals in the country.

Such bill was approved as amended by the lower house to eliminate a new tax on miners that would have supported the agency’s operations while increasing its staff. The agency, known as ANM, will replace current regulator DNPM.

Last week, however, lawmakers passed a related proposal to hike mining royalties as part of the same reform agenda. Iron ore producers will now pay a 3.5% royalty instead of the previous 2%. That amount would be calculated off gross revenue instead of net revenue as is presently done, which would notably increase collections.

Gold royalties were set at 1.5%, up from the previous 1% and potassium’s at 0.2%, down from 3%.

While the higher royalties have been met with criticism from the industry, particularly local miner Vale (NYSE:VALE), the world’s top iron ore producer, the government has argued that more efficient regulation under a new agency could offset the higher levies.

Temer will have 15 days to sign or veto the tax-related bill once it arrives at the presidential palace.

The post Brazil mining code remains unchanged as Senate fails to vote on bill appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2nek0Up

Un lanceur russe Soyouz rate sa mission

La fiabilité légendaire des lanceurs russes se dégrade depuis quelques années. Hier, un lanceur Soyouz a raté sa mission et perdu les 19 satellites qu'il devait envoyer en orbite. Un échec loin d'être un cas isolé. Depuis 2010, l'Agence spatiale russe totalise un triste record avec pas moins de...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2By50UK

Encelade : une nouvelle exploration à l'étude

Encelade, satellite naturel de Saturne, est l'une des destinations privilégiées pour de futures sondes spatiales. Le milliardaire russe Iouri Milner a révélé qu'une mission financée par des fonds privés était à l’étude pour en savoir plus sur ce monde potentiellement habitable.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2ihZoc8

Mine site restoration needs more time: Australian researchers

Researchers with the Centre for Mine Site Restoration, an initiative at Curtin University near Perth, Western Australia, released a report where they state that more time is needed to allow for adequate mine site restoration practices.

“After a mining operation ceases, there is often less than ten years given to adequately restore the used land back to a sustainable ecological landscape, but the timeframes required for soils and plant communities to develop naturally on tailings is at odds with this short deadline, especially across different climatic zones,” the lead author of the study, Adam Cross, said in a press release.

According to Cross, the mining industry is being asked to achieve thousands of years of natural soil development in under a decade. “We’re not saying it can’t be done – we’re just saying it needs more time and industry need tools that can help predict the trajectory and resilience of restoration at early stages,” he said.

After analyzing tailing samples from the processing of magnetite ore, Cross and his team realized that they were different from natural soils in the region. Specifically, they contain no clay minerals, exhibit virtually no microbiological activity, and their chemical characteristics are “biologically challenging.” Thus, when these effluents are returned to the earth, they don’t match the composition of the original, pre-mining landscape.

Based on previous studies that have shown that natural microbes can assist in soil development and foster effective plant growth, the Centre for Mine Site Restoration’s research highlights the need for the early establishment appropriate microbiota in tailings to adequately prepare the soil to sustain vegetation, before revegetation can begin. “Adequate restoration is much more than simply sprinkling some seeds and planting some trees – ecologists need to prepare the soil layer by layer, introducing microbes to create a sustainable foundation and then move on to the above ground landscaping – a process which takes a considerable amount of time,” the scientist explained.

The research paper “One giant leap for mankind: can ecopoiesis avert mine tailings disasters?” was published today in Nature’s Plant and Soil.

The post Mine site restoration needs more time: Australian researchers appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2AiCTbK

Archaeologists find connection between metalwork and Iron Age feasting rituals

Archaeologists with the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom unearthed a unique collection of Iron Age metal artifacts, which sheds new light on feasting rituals among prehistoric communities.

Found during an excavation at Glenfield Park, Leicestershire, the collection is unprecedented in terms of the overall mix of findings. Among the objects extracted from the site are eleven complete, or near complete, cauldrons, fine ring-headed dress pins, an involuted brooch and a cast copper alloy object known as a ‘horn-cap,’ which may have been part of a ceremonial staff.

“It is the metalwork assemblage that really sets this settlement apart. The quantity and quality of the finds far outshine most of the other contemporary assemblages from the area, and its composition is almost unparalleled. The cauldron assemblage, in particular, makes this a nationally important discovery. They represent the most northerly discovery of such objects on mainland Britain and the only find of this type of cauldron in the East Midlands,” John Thomas, director of the excavation, said in a press release.

Most of the cauldrons appear to have been deliberately laid in a large circular enclosure ditch that surrounded a building. They are of different sizes and have a combined capacity of approximately 550 litres, which illustrates their potential to provide for large groups of people that may have gathered at the settlement from the wider, well-established community in the area.

Cauldron bowl attached to iron band. Photo by University of Leicester.

“Due to their large capacity it is thought that Iron Age cauldrons were reserved for special occasions and would have been important social objects, forming the centrepiece of major feasts, perhaps in association with large gatherings and events,” Thomas added.

The vessels are made from several separate parts, comprising iron rims and upper bands, hemispherical copper alloy bowls, and two iron ring handles attached to the upper band. CT scanning has shown that some of them had decorations, such as a raised stem and leaf motifs on the iron band, close to the handle locations, which are similar to the so-called ‘Vegetal Style’ of Celtic art, generally dated to the 4th century BC.

“The importance of cauldrons as symbolic objects is reflected in their frequent appearance in early medieval Irish and Welsh literature, which has been drawn upon in studies of Iron Age society. They are rarely found in large numbers and, with the exception of a discovery in Chiseldon, where 17 cauldrons were found in a pit, there have been few excavated examples in recent years,” the lead researcher in the Leicester project said.

Thomas’ fieldwork took place over the winter of 2013/14, but results will be available by December 6, 2017, in the print edition of British Archaeology.

The post Archaeologists find connection between metalwork and Iron Age feasting rituals appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2AgdPoc

Iron ore will go back to $50, says Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs analysts expect iron ore prices to decline to $50 a tonne in 2018, as global supply increases due to Vale’s (NYSE:VALE) strategy to ramp up production at its giant S11D mine in Brazil, while China’s demand for the raw material for steelmaking declines.

In an interview with Bloomberg, analyst Hui Shan said that Goldman’s projections see iron ore falling to $60 a tonne in three months, $55 in six and $50 in 12. If that is the case, the raw material prices would have dropped for the second year in a row. Down sharply from highs struck early in 2017, the price for benchmark 62% fines was last at $67.76 a dry tonne, according to the Metal Bulletin.

In Shan’s view, not even the Chinese cuts to steel production to curb pollution will drive prices up by forcing users to pay more for iron ore. He says that even though such reforms have pushed steel prices up, iron ore prices should be determined by their “own supply-and-demand dynamics.”

China consumes more than two-thirds of the seaborne iron ore market and produces as much steel as the rest of the world combined.

But the expert says that steel margins have been high for an extended period precisely due to the Asian giant’s policy-driven output cuts, which depress iron demand. On top of this, global supply is expected to grow in 2018 as Brazil plans to export 403 million tonnes of iron ore, and Australia 872 million tonnes.

The post Iron ore will go back to $50, says Goldman Sachs appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2AeQQKa

London's largest mining companies

Story developed using data from Mining Intelligence. Learn more and schedule a demo.

No surprise that largest miner headquartered in London is Anglo American, with a $19.83B market capitalization.

The storied miner was kicked off 100 years old by Sir Ernest Oppenheimer. Anglo American is the world's largest producer of platinum.

There are 92 mining companies that are publicly-listed and active in London, putting the city fifth on MINING.com's list of top mining destinations.

There are only 8 companies in London that crack the $1B valuation. Toronto has about double the amount of companies in the same billion dollar bracket.

---

Sign up for Mining Intelligence and get rich insights about miners, juniors and projects. Our online tool puts rich data at your fingertips.

Creative Commons image of London from Wikipedia.

The post London's largest mining companies appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2iZaDTV

Hebron project off Newfoundland coast kicks off oil production

Hebron oil field off the coast of eastern Canada has produced its first oil, project operator Exxon Mobil said on Tuesday, which is expected to boost to Atlantic Canada's output after years of weak crude prices.

Hebron, will produce up to 150,000 barrels per day

At its peak Hebron, will produce up to 150,000 barrels per day (bpd), with roughly 31,000 barrels of oil per day net to Suncor, which has a 21% stake in the project, located in the Jeanne d'Arc Basin, 350 km southeast of St. John's.

Hebron is expected to help Atlantic Canada offshore production rise 44% to 307,000 bpd by 2024, according to estimates from the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers.

The platform is located 350 kilometres (200 miles) off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador in depths of 92 metres (300 feet) and the oil field, first discovered in 1980, is estimated to contain more than 700 million barrels of recoverable resources.

ExxonMobil Canada Properties (35.5%) is the operator of the Hebron project. Its other joint venture partners —other than Suncor — are Chevron Canada Limited (29.6%), Suncor Energy Inc. (21%), Statoil Canada Ltd. (9%) and Nalcor Energy-Oil and Gas Inc. (4.9%).

The post Hebron project off Newfoundland coast kicks off oil production appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2iewJ87

Tax payments from Minnesota's iron ore industry show lower production

The Iron Mining Association of Minnesota released a report that shows that the industry in the midwestern U.S. state paid 11% fewer taxes in 2017 compared to the year before.

According to the Association, the lower figure reflects the smaller amount of iron ore produced during 2016. Taconite-pellet plants and ore-concentrating firms produced 29 million tonnes last year, down from 33 million tonnes in 2015, which was down from 40 million tonnes in 2014.

The output reduction is the result of a global industry downturn and pricing pressures that left seven Minnesota ore-processing facilities either in a temporary stoppage or completely shut in 2015 or 2016.

The 2017 forecast is more positive, though, as growing demand from Canada, China and Japan has allowed for the reopening of Keetac, Minntac, United Taconite and Northshore Mining. At the same time, the Star Tribune reports that investment firm ERP Iron Ore has plans to bring the once-bankrupt Magnetation back online in Grand Rapids, Minn., and Reynolds, Ind.

In real numbers, 2016 iron ore taxes in Minnesota totaled $96.5 million, of which some $38 million went to the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation Board.

The post Tax payments from Minnesota's iron ore industry show lower production appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2zNuOyU

Canada’s Goldcorp challenges you to disrupt mining

Canada’s Goldcorp (TSX: G, NYSE: GG), the world's third largest gold producer by market value, is once again calling companies and individuals to participate in #DisruptMining, a challenge aimed at accelerating the pace of innovation in the sector by thinking differently and seeking cross-sector collaboration.

The best proposals submitted to at a live event will be presented on Sunday, March 4, 2018, during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference to be held in Toronto.

This is the second year the company decides to run the contest, which has already generated some ground-breaking advances. Last year’s winner, KORE Geosystems, used the Cdn$1 million investment granted by Goldcorp to accelerate its ‘smart-drilling’ technology development and is launching its first pilot program with the Canadian gold miner next year.

In the current version of #DisruptMining, participants will be judged against their ability to provide solutions to some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing mining today:

• How to feed the long-term pipeline for metals
• How to enhance productivity, efficiency and automation
• How to improve safety
• How to reduce environmental footprint
• How to facilitate open and transparent markets

The contestants also have the option to submit a project that doesn’t fit any of the above categories, under the one named “Go Rogue.”

“The industry has started to embrace the need for step-change innovation to stay competitive and deliver greater value but we all need to accelerate the pace of innovation to provide the raw materials that fuel our rapidly changing global economy," Todd White, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Goldcorp and board member of the Canadian Mining Innovation Council, said in the statement. "We must keep pushing boundaries, thinking differently,” he noted.

Semi-finalists will be invited to exhibit their ideas at the Innovation Expo, and three finalists will be chosen to pitch at the #DisruptMining live event. All semi-finalists and finalists will be notified by February 5, 2018.

The post Canada’s Goldcorp challenges you to disrupt mining appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2zMFr51

Course de drones : une IA de la Nasa se mesure à un pilote humain

Le Jet Propulsion Laboratory de la Nasa a organisé une course entre des drones autonomes et un pilote humain. Résultat : si l'Homme a encore le dessus, l'écart avec l'intelligence artificielle (IA) est faible. Cette dernière a même fait montre de qualités de pilotage prometteuses, pour...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2Bv2236

More than 130 potential buyers to bid for Alrosa’s rare collection of polished diamonds

Russian miner Alrosa  (MCX:ALRS), the world’s top diamond producer by output will auction Wednesday a rare collection of diamonds produced domestically, including the most expensive rock ever polished in the country — a giant 51.4-carat gem.

More than 130 potential buyers have already registered to participate in tomorrow’s online sale of the collection of diamonds, named after the dynasties of the Romanov, the company said in a statement. That family ruled for more than 300 years before the Russian Revolution.

The largest of all bears the same name as the entire Dynasty collection. It’s a huge, traditional round-cut diamond, whose 2.5 cm (1 inch) diameter is equal in size to the visible part of a human eye.

Discovered in 2015, the rough version of the diamond was a massive 179-carat gem, found in a mine in the northeast region of Sakha. It was then cut and polished into five smaller gems, named after noble families of the imperial era: Sheremetyev, Orlov, Vorontsov and Usupov.

“There was a good reason to choose the name for the collection, which is connected with Alrosa’s intention to revive the traditions and memory of renowned Russian jewelers famous for their craftsmanship and filigree since Russia’s first cutting and polishing factory founded by Peter I (the Great) early in the 18th century,” the company said.

According to Alrosa, the Dynasty diamond is potentially the most expensive diamond manufactured in the history of Russian jewellery because of its quality.

Alrosa’s decision to produce these polished diamonds and sell them online fits with a broader industry quest to find new ways to the market and add value on the part of gem producers.

Alrosa and Anglo American’s De Beers unit, which for the first time auctioned polished stones this year, produce about half of the world’s rough diamonds.

The post More than 130 potential buyers to bid for Alrosa’s rare collection of polished diamonds appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2icR9OO

BHP tightens belt, targets $1.6bn in cost-cutting at Australian operations

World’s No.1 miner BHP (ASX, NYSE:BHP) (LON:BTL) is tightening its belt, especially when it comes to its operations in Australia, targeting as much as $1.6 billion in productivity gains at its iron ore, copper and coal units in the country over the next two years.

While the company has already had reduced costs across its Australian businesses over the past five years, it’s now hoping to lower unit costs by further 10% in the medium term, BHP Minerals Australia president Mike Henry said Tuesday.

At the same time, BHP plans to lift its Australian iron ore production "run rate" to 290 million tonnes a year by the end of fiscal 2019, Henry said during a briefing in Adelaide. This, as the mining giant sees prices for iron ore and metallurgical coal rebounding sharply in two months, as buyers look to replenish stocks.

Once again BHP showed one of its favourite commodities in which to base future growth is copper, mostly due to the expected uptake of electric vehicles and renewable energy.

The company also pointed to a shortage of the red metal emerging by the early 2020s and says $100 billion in new mine spending is needed to meet demand over the next 15 years.

Source: BHP’s “Ten Reasons Why We Like Copper”.

For now, BHP is pushing ahead with a study into a $2.1 billion expansion of its Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium mine in South Australia.

The company already is in the midst of its biggest annual investment spending at Olympic Dam, rebuilding its smelter and targeting high-grade ore deposits through the expansion of its underground mine.

It will increase copper production from 166,000 tonnes last financial year to 230,000 tonnes in 2020.

In 2020, BHP’s board is expected to make a final investment decision on a $2.1 billion expansion that would lift production to 330,000 tonnes by 2023.

The post BHP tightens belt, targets $1.6bn in cost-cutting at Australian operations appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2AiGIgU

Ces tortues respirent par leur anus pour survivre dans le froid

En hiver, des tortues aquatiques, comme la tortue peinte, au Canada, hibernent dans l'eau des rivières, lacs et étangs, sous la glace. Ectothermes, elles n’ont pas besoin de chauffer leur corps. Et pour respirer… elles utilisent leur anus et leur cloaque : c’est la respiration cloacale.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2k8RHpb

L’astéroïde Phaéton, associé aux Géminides, va « frôler » la Terre

La très belle pluie d’étoiles filantes des Géminides, dont le pic d’activité se produira cette année dans la nuit du 13 au 14 décembre, est vraisemblablement alimentée par Phaéton. Deux jours plus tard, le 16 décembre, ce corps céleste de 5 km atteindra sa plus petite distance avec la Terre...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2AEQnBM

Biohacking : il modifie son ADN pour être plus musclé

Afin de paraître plus musclé, le biohacker Josiah Zayner a expérimenté sur lui le système CRISPR-Cas9 dans une expérience visant à supprimer le gène de la myostatine dans des cellules du bras. Il se propose aussi de vous aider à modifier vous-mêmes votre ADN grâce à un labo maison…

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2zM2U6k

Youbionic : un double main robotique pour « l’Homme augmenté »

Youbionic ajoute deux mains robotisées contrôlée avec des flexions de l’index et de l’annulaire. Un concept qui demande à démontrer son utilité mais qui pourrait au moins ravir les amateurs de cosplay.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2Ah8oCT

Les éclairs produisent des réactions nucléaires

On savait déjà que des éclairs pouvaient parfois produire des photons gamma et de l'antimatière. Or, selon des physiciens japonais, ces photons gamma peuvent produire, en plus, des réactions nucléaires.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2BgpC2L

Prince Harry gives “invaluable” diamond ring to his fiancé

Following today’s announcement by the Prince of Wales about his second son’s engagement, the press went crazy trying to find out the details about the ring that Prince Harry gave to his fiancé, the American actress Meghan Markle.

Designed by the Prince himself, the jewel features a yellow gold band and a central stone from Botswana, where Harry traveled to while growing up and again this past summer with Markle to celebrate her 36th birthday.

The ring was created by Cleave and Company, Queen Elizabeth II’s preferred jeweler, and it includes two additional diamonds on the band. The smaller gems come from the late Princess Diana’s personal jewelry collection, a rarity that has industry experts calling the piece “invaluable.”

In an interview with the BBC, the future groom -who is the fifth person in line for the British throne-, said that the yellow colour in the jewel responds to Markle’s preference. Talking about the little diamonds on the sides, he said: “[they] are from my mother’s jewelry collection to make sure that she’s with us on this crazy journey together.”

In an attempt to gauge the price of the jewel, Money interviewed Amanda Winters from Blue Nile, one of the largest online diamond retailers, and she estimated that if the ring included perfect diamonds, it could cost between $300,000 to $350,000. If using mid-range diamonds, it would cost closer to $35,000 to $40,000.

The newly engaged couple presented the ring on Markle’s hand Monday at the Sunken Gardens at Kensington Palace. Once they are married, they will live in Nottingham Cottage.

 

Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle are "thrilled and happy" to be engaged. http://pic.twitter.com/HBz30SbZVE

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) November 27, 2017

The post Prince Harry gives “invaluable” diamond ring to his fiancé appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2i8JjWl

U.S. environmentalists file lawsuit to overturn approval of Canadian copper mine

Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition and the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter have filed a lawsuit in federal court in the hope that it rescinds the U.S. Forest Service’s approval of Hudbay Minerals’ (TSX, NYSE:HBM) Rosemont Project in southern Arizona.

The $1.5-billion Rosemont Project is an open-pit copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains, about 50 km southeast of Tucson. It is expected to be the third-largest copper mine in the United States, accounting for approximately 10% of the country’s total copper production, and it received a Final Record of Decision from the Forest Service back in June, 2017.

But before Hudbay reaches such big production goals, it has to deal with environmentalists’ concerns and legal actions. In the case of the recent lawsuit, the four organizations involved allege that the mine would violate nearly a dozen state and federal laws, threaten water resources and destroy Coronado National Forest land.

In a press release, the activists explain that their claim is based on the fact that the company would “pile potentially toxic mine tailings and waste rock hundreds of feet high in the Cienega Creek watershed, which replenishes Tucson’s groundwater basin.”

They also say that more than 5,000 acres would be harmed, including nearly 4,000 acres of public land that would be covered by the mine’s waste dumps, open pit, processing plant and infrastructure. “The pit and waste dumps would remain as a permanent scar and environmental hazard on public land. The mine also would destroy prime jaguar habitat, land that’s critical to the survival and recovery of jaguars in the United States,” the release reads.

In their statement, the plaintiffs accuse the Forest Service of neglecting local communities and the environment in favour of protecting the interests of a foreign company who is only focusing on its own short-term profits.

MINING.com approached Hudbay for comment on this matter, but didn’t receive a reply before publishing time. However, in a media brief published on the company’s website following the Forest Service’s green light, officials emphasized how thorough their environmental assessments had been. The process, they say, involved “17 co-operating agencies at various levels of government, 16 hearings, over 1,000 studies, and 245 days of public comment resulting in more than 36,000 comments.”

The Toronto-based miner is now waiting to receive the Section 404 Water Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. However, the commander of the agency's branch in Los Angeles District recommended the denial of the permit, which is now under consideration of the regional commander at the agency’s San Francisco office.

The mine also faces another lawsuit filed in September by the Center for Biological Diversity, which challenges the biological opinion prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that led to the approval of the Rosemont Mine by the Forest Service.

The post U.S. environmentalists file lawsuit to overturn approval of Canadian copper mine appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2BkGgOu

Vancouver versus Toronto: Miners by market capitalization

Story developed using data from Mining Intelligence. Learn more and schedule a demo.

The total market capitalization of the top miners in both Vancouver and Toronto are nearly the same.

As of end of this month the top 100 mining companies headquartered in Toronto have a total market capitalization of $106.63 billion. Vancouver's total is $107.58 billion.

Toronto's largest miner is Barrick Gold with a market capitalization of $21.19B, followed by Franco-Nevada at $20.21B.

Vancouver's largest miner is Teck at $16.93B followed by Goldcorp at $14.64B.

By shear number of active and publicly traded companies, MINING.com already declared Vancouver the capital of mining.

The top 15 miners are tree mapped below.

---

---

Sign up for Mining Intelligence and get rich insights about miners, juniors and projects. Our online tool puts rich data at your fingertips.

Creative commons image of measuring tape by Tom Hume

The post Vancouver versus Toronto: Miners by market capitalization appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2ztL8jZ

Fiore Gold reports growing output from Nevada project

Frank Giustra-backed Fiore Gold (TSXV: F) reported growing production from its Pan Mine in White Pine County, Nevada and announced management's expectation for the trend to continue in the coming months.

According to a corporate press release, Pan Mine's production in October totaled 425,634 tonnes of ore and 473,803 tonnes of waste, with the mine now maintaining a consistent mining rate of 14,000 tonnes per day of ore. Gold production for October was 1,809 ounces, a significant increase over the 1,602 ounces produced in September.

"As in any heap leach operation, increases in gold production will lag behind ore production, so we expect to see further increases in gold production going forward as leaching moves towards steady state, and as ore stacking begins on the new Phase IIA leach pad expansion," the statement reads.

Fiore is projecting gold production of 35-40,000 ounces in fiscal 2018, with gold production weighted towards the second half of FY2018 as higher-grade ore is mined.

The company also revealed that work on its Phase II Leach Pad expansion is nearing completion.

Tim Warman, Chief Executive Officer, said he was optimistic about the firm's outlook: "We are especially pleased with the progress on the new leach pad expansion, which will double our leach pad capacity and should improve overall leach performance.”

Early in 2018, Fiore will use a portion of the new leach pad to construct two test cells of approximately 10,000 tons each in order to compare the leaching characteristics of crushed vs. r of mine ore. "The testing will utilize the crusher currently on site to produce overliner material. Previous laboratory-scale tests have suggested that the addition of a crusher circuit would increase gold recoveries at Pan, particularly from the harder, more silicified North Pit ore. Results from this field test should be ready by mid-2018, and will help determine if the addition of a crushing circuit is warranted," the miner explained in the media brief.

Exploration work aimed at increasing the resource and reserve base at Pan is also ongoing, with a number of drill targets identified proximal to both the North and South Pits. Drilling is expected to commence in early 2018.

The miner says that its ultimate goal is to build on the existing operations at the Pan Mine to become a 150,000 ounce/year gold producer.

The post Fiore Gold reports growing output from Nevada project appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2hVjkxJ

Enbridge, Michigan reach deal to boost pipelines safety, protect the Great Lakes

Enbridge (TSX, NYSE:ENB), Canada’s largest pipeline company, has reached an agreement with the State of Michigan on its Line 5 pipelines, which run in a tunnel under the St. Clair River, between Lakes Huron and Michigan.

The more than 1,000 km-long (645-mile) twin pipelines begin in Superior, Wisconsin before ending in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. They were laid in 1953 and currently transport around 540,000 barrels a day of light crude oil and natural gas liquids. Its age and transport capacity have recently sparked concerns about the potential impacts on the Great Lakes if it were to leak.

For that reason, the deal calls for a study to allow faster detection of and quicker response to a potential spill.

Enbridge sees the agreements as an effort to protect the Great Lakes and other Michigan waterways. Under it, the Calgary-based energy company will replace the portion of Line 5 that crosses beneath the St. Clair River with a new pipe in a tunnel under the water.

The company says the pipeline is still in “good shape” and “fit for service,” noting it operates at less than 25% of maximum pressure capacity for enhanced safety, so it shouldn’t be shutdown, as some opponents have demanded.

However, the deal announced today includes a requirement that Line 5 be shut down temporarily during storms that cause high waves in the Straits of Mackinac for an hour or longer.

“We hope the agreement is a step in a positive direction to demonstrate our commitment to doing the right thing to serve Michigan and protect the waters of the Great Lakes,” Enbridge said in the statement. “The Great Lakes are a treasure that must be preserved now and for future generations,” it added.

The parties have set a deadline of Aug. 15, 2018, to determine the future of the twin pipelines.

The post Enbridge, Michigan reach deal to boost pipelines safety, protect the Great Lakes appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2zKpcVT

Investors force Rio Tinto to ditch plans to have Mick Davis as chairman

Plans to name former Xstrata chief executive Mick Davis, the current leader of Britain’s ruling Conservative Party, as chairman of Rio Tinto (ASX, LON:RIO) have been abandoned due to investors pressure.

According to Sky News, Davis is "no longer in the running" to replace Jan du Plessis in the wake of a full-scale investor revolt led by the Investor Forum, a London-based body representing some of the world’s biggest money managers.

The group of shareholders, who make up about 20% of Rio's stock, wrote to the miner’s board last week saying that appointing Davis would be “unacceptable.”

It seems like the main concerns were related to bonuses he paid to the executive team of Xstrata when he was in charge as the company was taken over by Glencore (LON:GLEN) in 2012. Investors were also said to be wary of Davis’ aggressive deal-making.

The mining veteran had emerged as the frontrunner for the top post at Rio Tinto two weeks ago and, up to the time this article was written, it was still unclear whether he had withdrawn from the process through choice once he was made aware of the Investor Forum's letter.

Main concerns were related to bonuses he paid to the executive team of Xstrata when the company was taken over by Glencore in 2012.

Davis is a well-known name in the mining industry as he led Xstrata from a $500 million-business in the early part of the last decade to an operation so big that — at one point — it made a takeover offer for Anglo American (LON:AAL).

After selling Xstrata to Glencore he set up X2 Resources, a mining fund that was unable to score any deals in the three years since launch.

Rio Tinto, the world’s second largest mining company, has been looking for a new chairman since March this year, but the search has proven to be more difficult than originally thought.

To make things worse, John Varley, the non-executive director tasked with finding a replacement for Jan du Plessis, had to step down in June, as he was charged in the UK with fraud over his time as chief executive of Barclays.

Three months later, chief financial officer Chris Lynch announced he was also retiring this year. Under his direction, Rio cut debt significantly and, in February, it was able to post its first gain in annual profit since 2013.

Chief executive officer Jean-Sébastien Jacques, who took the helm in July last year, has since then replaced nearly all of the top executive team as he dealt with the aftermath of a series of probes. Those investigations included an inquire into a questionable payment made to an external consultant over the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea, and a $3bn write-down on a mine in Mozambique.

Ann Godbehere, the Rio board member who is now leading the search for a new chairman, has said the new leader’s name would be announced before the end of the year.

The post Investors force Rio Tinto to ditch plans to have Mick Davis as chairman appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2zIzsOz

À Bali, les éruptions du volcan Agung produisent de dangereux lahars

Selon la classification du niveau de dangerosité d'une éruption volcanique en Indonésie, l'Agung est désormais en alerte rouge, ce qui signifie qu'une éruption importante avec des nuées ardentes est possible dans les 24 heures. Des lahars sont déjà observables autour du volcan à Bali.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2zJy3Y8

Argonaut Gold acquires Cerro Del Gallo project in Mexico for $15 million

Canada’s Argonaut Gold (TSX:AR) is expanding its Mexican portfolio with the acquisition of Cerro del Gallo gold-silver project from Primero Mining (TSX:P), in a deal value at $15 million cash.

Gold-silver project is located in central Mexico’s Guanajuato state, not far from Argonaut’s four other properties in the country.

The Toronto-based miner could potentially reduce the total investment by $1.7 million through recovery of value-added tax, it said in the statement.

CDG is located on the San Anton property in central Mexico’s Guanajuato state, not far from Argonaut’s four other Mexican properties.

Those assets include the 100% owned El Castillo gold mine and San Agustin gold-silver mine, which together form the El Castillo Complex in Durango, Mexico, as well as the 100% owned La Colorada gold-silver mine in Sonora, Mexico. Argonaut also owns 100% of the advanced development stage, San Antonio gold project in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Based on a definitive feasibility study completed by Primero Mining in 2012, the Cerro del Gallo project has an initial life of seven years, which could reach 14 years through a second stage carbon in leach/heap leach mill expansion. The open pit operation could produce 4.5 million tonnes per year for 95,000 oz. gold equivalent at $700 per ounce.

The post Argonaut Gold acquires Cerro Del Gallo project in Mexico for $15 million appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2i8oVVf

Mineral Resources not surprised by Environment Minister's rejection of its Western Australia project

Mineral Resources (ASX:MIN) issued a press release on Monday stating that management was not surprised by the decision of Western Australia’s Environment Minister to support a mining ban at the Helena-Aurora Range.

The Helena-Aurora Range is among the world’s oldest banded ironstone formation ranges. It is located in Western Australia’s Northern Yilgarn area and is home to several rare and threatened species. It is also the site of a number of Mineral Resources’ potential developments. Specifically, the company wants to exploit the Jackson 5 and Bungalbin East iron ore deposits.

However, the miner’s plans have encountered a series of roadblocks put in place by the Environmental Protection Authority, whose assessment found the company’s proposals to be environmentally unacceptable and led to the conclusion that the Range should be protected from mining.

Even though the EPA's report received nine appeals, such claims were eventually rejected following an independent investigation by the Appeals Convenor.

Last Friday, a new chapter of the saga was written when Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson made public his position on the matter saying that, indeed, mining should be banned in the area. “After carefully considering the concerns raised, I have found that the EPA's assessment was rigorous and comprehensive. I agree with the conclusions of the Appeals Convenor and the reasoning behind those conclusions, and have dismissed the appeals accordingly,” he stated.

In spite of his resolute tone, Dawson said that his announcement was not a final decision from government and that he will consult with other ministries “to ensure the social, economic and environmental aspects of this proposal are considered.” In addition to this, the actual final call on the matter has to be made by the WA Government by the end of the year.

“The definitive decision on whether mining at J5 and Bungalbin East will be approved by government has always rested with cabinet and ultimately the Premier who must now carefully consider the material social and economic benefits that government’s approval will deliver to the State year on year over the next decade and beyond,” was Mineral Resources’ answer to the Minister’s words.

The Perth-based firm also indicated that Dawson’s communiqué was to be expected. “The Minister’s statement reaffirms the Environmental Protection Agency long-held position to oppose mining at the company’s two Yilgarn deposits, Jackson 5 and Bungalbin East. This position has remained unchanged for a number of years,” the media statement read.

The post Mineral Resources not surprised by Environment Minister's rejection of its Western Australia project appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2jpHwIY

Une machine qui produit des hallucinations

Vous pensiez les hallucinations réservées aux personnes présentant des troubles psychiatriques ? ou à celles qui consomment des champignons magiques ? Détrompez-vous : avec leur « Hallucination Machine », des chercheurs britanniques assurent pouvoir vous faire vivre l’expérience.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2AcFkyQ

De Beers puts South Africa’s Voorspoed mine up for sale

De Beers, the world’s largest rough diamond producer by value, has put its South African Voorspoed diamond mine on the chopping block

The Anglo American unit, which is currently spending $2 billion on the Venetia underground diamond mining project in Limpopo, says the move paves the way for a lower-cost operator to take Voorspoed beyond 2020, when it is scheduled to close.

More to come…

The post De Beers puts South Africa’s Voorspoed mine up for sale appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2A8p6Xj

South32 to spin off South Africa coal business

Australia’s South32 (ASX, LON, JSE:S32) said Monday it plans to spin off its South African coal operations, as it prepares for a possible initial public offering of the unit in Johannesburg.

As part of the strategy, the miner will operate South African Energy Coal (SAEC) as a stand-alone business from April, when it would seek to broaden its ownership among the country’s majority black population.

“Establishing South Africa Energy Coal as a stand-alone business will enable us to improve the operation’s competitiveness and ensure its ongoing sustainability,” said chief executive Graham Kerr.

The process could lead to a listing of the business on the Johannesburg stock exchange, Kerr noted. He also admitted that Eskom’s demands that its coal suppliers are a minimum 51% owned by black investors had influenced the company’s decision.

In a separate statement, the Perth-based company — which spun off from BHP (ASX:BHP) in 2015 — also unveiled a $305 million (4.3 billion rand) investment to extend the life of one of its three South African coal operations, Klipspruit, for about 20 years.

South Africa modified its Mining Charter in June, raising the threshold for black ownership of mining firms to 30% from 26%, despite opposition from miners operating there.

The new rules also established that mining companies must pay 1% of turnover to their black empowerment partners, which if in effect last year it would have consumed 95% of the 6 billion rand (about $465 million at today's rates) paid in total dividends by the industry in 2016.

The country’s Chamber of Mines is still trying to stop the implementation of the new rules. The industry body claims the revised norms have not only raised costs and imposed new levies to fund community development, but they’ve also put at risk some major deals recently announcement.

Department of Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has agreed not to implement the charter until there’s a judgment in an ongoing judicial review case.

The court hearing, however, has been postponed to February from December, the Chamber of Mines said on Monday.

The post South32 to spin off South Africa coal business appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2hY6DlH

Brain Invaders, le jeu vidéo contrôlé par la pensée

Développé en France par le Gipsa-lab de Grenoble, Brain Invaders est un jeu vidéo qui fonctionne à partir d’une interface neuronale directe. Les ondes électriques P300 émises par le cerveau sont interprétées comme des commandes pour faire feu. Une technique qui pourrait être appliquée pour aider...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2hX4lDJ

SpaceX veut accélérer le rythme de ses lancements en 2018

2018 sera-t-elle l'année de la maturité pour SpaceX ? La firme d’Elon Musk prévoit d'augmenter sa cadence de lancement. Gwynne Shotwell, présidente et directrice des opérations de SpaceX, interviewée par SpaceNews, fait le point sur l’état d’avancement des lanceurs en développement et...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2A8BU0h

Galápagos : une nouvelle espèce apparaît en seulement deux générations

Il y a trente-six ans, un pinson mâle est venu sur une île isolée de l’archipel des Galápagos. Ce nouvel arrivant s’est reproduit avec un oiseau d’une autre espèce qui vivait sur l’île. Le couple est à l'origine d'une nouvelle espèce qui compterait aujourd’hui une trentaine d'individus.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2ztx22c

La pollution lumineuse ne cesse d'augmenter

La lumière artificielle peut avoir des effets néfastes sur notre environnement, surtout la nuit. C'est pour cela qu'il est question de pollution lumineuse. Une publication récente montre que cette pollution s’accroît un peu partout dans le monde.

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2i97ggb

Clothes not coal incinerated by Swedish power plant

Image by Mike Mozart via Flickr Creative Commons license 

The fortunes of a lagging coal industry were not helped by the actions of a Swedish power plant last week.

The heat and power station northwest of Stockholm aims to become free of fossil fuel use by 2020. To do that and keep the operation running, it has brought in recycled wood and trash to burn, along with damp and soiled clothes that clothing retailer H&M can't sell.

“For us it’s a burnable material,” Jens Neren, head of fuel supplies at Malarenergi AB, the utility which owns the plant, told Bloomberg. “Our goal is to use only renewable and recycled fuels.”

The story appears to serve as a bit of fortunate PR for H&M, which stands for Hennes & Mauritz AB. When contacted for comment by Bloomberg, the head of communications for H&M in Sweden said: “H&M does not burn any clothes that are safe to use. However it is our legal obligation to make sure that clothes that contain mold or do not comply with our strict restriction on chemicals are destroyed.”

Sweden is mostly powered by hydro, nuclear and wind plants, but some cities still use coal and oil as supplemental heat during cold days.

Read the full Bloomberg story here

The post Clothes not coal incinerated by Swedish power plant appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2iTf4zA

Lawsuit could be precedent-setting for Canadian mining companies operating abroad

Legal proceedings were held last week in Toronto related to a case against a Canadian mining company that formerly was operating through a subsidiary in Guatemala. The outcome of the case could have wider repercussions for Canada-based mining companies who do business overseas.

Base and precious metals miner Hudbay Minerals (TSX,NYSE:HBM) is defending itself against allegations that five women from a remote Guatemalan community were raped by employees of one of Hudbay's former subsidiaries.

"The alleged events predate HudBay Minerals' business interests and operations in Guatemala, and we are not aware that they have ever been reported to Guatemala law enforcement or other authorities": Part of Hudbay's statement about the case 

According to the CBC, the five women came to Toronto for pre-trial questioning by Hudbay's lawyers, in connection with three civil suits filed against the Toronto-based firm. States CBC:

They concern the alleged killing of community leader Adolfo Ich in 2009, a separate shooting that left another man paralyzed in 2009 as well as the gang rape of 11 women in 2007.

CBC Radio host Anna Maria Tremonti featured the story last week during The Current current affairs program. During the program a CBC reporter said the women feel they cannot get justice in Guatemela for their allegations, none of which has been proven in court.

The national broadcaster also reported that Hudbay's lawyers are arguing that the trial should be held in Guatemala, and that "the parent company isn't responsible for the subsidiaries actions" according to a lawyer for the Guatemalans quoted by CBC.

Hudbay Minerals purchased the Fenix nickel project owned by Compania Guatemalteca de Niquel, or CGN, through a takeover of Skye Resources in 2008, but sold it in 2011. The alleged rapes were perpetrated during forced evictions by security staff of CGN, states CBC. But at the time, CGN was not a subsidiary of Hudbay.

On its website Hudbay says the allegations "are counter to all of the available information we have" and vowed to "defend ourselves vigorously against them."

"The alleged events predate HudBay Minerals' business interests and operations in Guatemala, and we are not aware that they have ever been reported to Guatemala law enforcement or other authorities. Based on reports from government sources, we understand that a legal eviction was conducted by the Guatemalan government in the area on the date in question. Official government accounts indicate that substantial effort was made to keep the evictions nonviolent, and in accordance with Guatemalan law the evictions were carried out by unarmed police officers," reads an excerpt from the statement.

Mining industry watchers are paying close attention to the case because its outcome could shed new light on the extent of a mining company's liability when operating outside the country in which it is based.

Hudbay is joined by two other Canadian mining companies whose operations are the subject of lawsuits against them. The litigants claim the cannot get justice in their own countries and are therefore attempting to sue the companies on Canadian soil.

Nevsun Resources (TSX:NSU) is defending itself against allegations from former Eritrean mine workers that it was complicit in the Eritrean government's use of conscripted labour and other human rights abuses during construction of the company's Bisha mine. Nevsun argued the case should be heard in Eritrea but the BC Court of Appeal recently upheld the BC Supreme Court's ruling that the province's court has territorial jurisdiction, reported Canadian Press via The Financial Post. The allegations against Nevsun have not been proven in court.

Tahoe Resources (TSX:THO) made the same argument about legal jurisdiction regarding a civil claim launched by seven Guatemalans against the company. They alleged that Guatemalan security personnel used excessive force during a violent protest at Tahoe's Escobal silver mine. In December 2015 the BC Supreme Court ruled against the Guatemalans, saying that Guatemala is the proper jurisdiction for the claim.

In June however the Supreme Court of Canada denied Tahoe Resources leave to appeal, clearing the way for a civil lawsuit against the company to move to trial in British Columbia, according to Mining Watch Canada.

A 2016 article by Business in Vancouver cited a report showing that over three-quarters of the world’s mining and exploration companies are based in Canada and operate in 100 countries.

Regarding the Hudbay case, BIV quoted Nicholas Hughes, co-chairman of McCarthy Tétrault’s mining litigation group – author of the report – saying that even though Hudbay didn't own the mine when the alleged rapes occurred in 2007, it could still be held liable if the allegations are proven to be true:

“It depends on how the merger operated,” Hughes said. “If the merger operated as such that there was an amalgamation, then you bring in all the problems into the merged company.”

The post Lawsuit could be precedent-setting for Canadian mining companies operating abroad appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2i8QXjw

Science décalée : le courant électrique qui rend meilleur en maths

Comment améliorer ses performances en mathématiques sans plancher des heures durant sur un livre ? Il suffit de quelques chocs électriques dans un endroit bien précis du cerveau pendant la résolution d’un problème, et les capacités de calcul s’améliorent. De quoi donner des idées à quelques...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2AAcRUz

À Bali, les éruptions du volcan Agung inquiètent

Autour du volcan Agung, sur l'île de Bali, la menace d'une grave éruption se précise ces derniers jours avec deux éruptions phréatiques en une semaine, la dernière étant peut-être déjà devenue magmatique. Des panaches de cendres montent à plusieurs milliers de mètres et certaines compagnies ont...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2n6grQb

John Goodenough, le père de la batterie lithium-ion, invente une technologie encore plus performante

Dans les laboratoires, la recherche sur les batteries est en pleine ébullition depuis des années. Des annonces comme celles de l'inénarrable Elon Musk — la plus grande grande du monde et un modèle pour téléphone, présentés coup sur coup en novembre 2017 — témoignent d'une belle activité de...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2mSrawO

Quand Léonard de Vinci décodait les fossiles

Un tableau de Léonard de Vinci, Salvator Mundi, s’est vendu aux enchères à un prix record de 382 millions euros le 15 novembre 2017. Mais Léonard de Vinci n’était pas que peintre, c’était aussi un inventeur de génie qui s’intéressait à différents domaines scientifiques. En travaillant brièvement...

from Les dernières actualités de Futura-Sciences http://ift.tt/2iTftCa

The race to make mines smarter

SAP, the German maker of enterprise resource management systems, is touting its services in predictive analytics and artificial intelligence to help mines who are planning a digital transformation.

Software vendors are signing up big miners. Last year Barrick inked a deal with Cisco to deliver better, faster, and safer mining at its Cortez operation. Cisco plans to automate Barrick's equipment for increased productivity, and Cisco says it will also use predictive algorithms to enhance the precision and speed of maintenance and metallurgy.  Goldcorp tapped IBM this past spring to harness artificial intelligence and utilize all of the mine's idle data to make smarter insights about geological modeling and mine planning.

Investing in technology is at the top of CEO's minds. According to the consultancy EY, the number one risk miners face is digital effectiveness, that is making investments in IT that will have lasting and significant impacts upon the business. Profitability has come back with high commodity prices. Miners are no longer cutting back but are catching up on years of missed investment.

Eckhardt Siess, SAP's Global Vice President of Mill Products and Mining Business Solutions

Eckhardt Siess, SAP's Global Vice President of Mill Products and Mining Business Solutions, touted some of the company's own successes in an interview with MINING.com this month. SAP is an old-hand at selling software to miners.

SAP has been equipping mine with ERP systems since the '90s. Siess estimates that nine out of ten of the top mining companies are all SAP customers.

Compared to other industries that have been investing year-in, year-out, Siess says that miner's lack of investment has resulted in inefficiencies. He points to a McKinsey study estimating a 3.5% drop in productivity per year in the last decade.

Now that miners are investing in technology, some are seeing surprising, unseen gains.

Australian iron ore miner CITIC Pacific Mining is utilizing SAP Vehicle Insights, a monitoring tool for light vehicles. While the tool provides basic logging and trafficking of the company's assets, there is an additional benefit that resulted in a quick ROI for the spend. In Australia there is a general tax on fuel. However, if vehicles are being used within a mine, the tax doesn't apply. With automated logging of vehicle travel routes that was mapped to the mines boundaries, CITIC suddenly found it was paying less in fuel tax. A complicated, manual system used for logging travel was eliminated.

SAP has an artificial intelligence service, and Vale decided to try a proof of concept project to reduce the administrative headaches at its requisition department. Helio Mosquim, IT Innovation Manager at Vale, chose the project since it was a department that could be made more efficient. At Vale a big number of purchase requisitions end up being rejected because they are not linked to an existing contract.

"We wanted to avoid all the rejections and manual work required in procurement. It's not just automating but putting intelligence into it," said Mosquim at a SAP conference.

Mosquim said an administrator may not even know the contract exist. Human errors also slow fulfillment.  The SAP initiative increased requisition efficiency and accuracy.

Siess says the journey has just begun for transforming mines through the use of digital technology.

"Obviously there would be no transformation without the availability of big data and without the processing of big data. Collecting data is not new. Industry has been doing this for many years," says Siess.

Siess points to a McKinsey study showing that only 1% of data is actually used.

"I think big data is very important. However, big data is only one facet, one element of an overall bigger picture. It's all about the digital transformation that's happening within the mining industry."

Creative Commons image of truck by morebyless

The post The race to make mines smarter appeared first on MINING.com.

from MINING.com http://ift.tt/2k3NH9O