Mining and Exploration

Without beating around the bush, the gold industry as it stands in mid-2013 is under pressure and not just when it comes to the recent falls in gold price. This pressure also stems from issues including resource nationalism, labour concerns, political and legislative uncertainty, and increased environmental requirements.

As much of the Western world spent the latter years of the last decade and the first few of this battling the global recession, the economies of Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi have flourished. With each country experiencing economic expansion of between five and ten percent during the years during and following the crisis it comes as little surprise that East Africa has since been considered the core of Africa’s growth.

It was more than a decade ago now that Paul Peng, at the time working for another company designing his own unique grinding media, decided it was time to go it alone and set up his own business. It was this calculated determination that led the creation of Sino Grinding.

Balancing risks against opportunities is always a difficult call, and it is a problem that ASX listed Middle Island Resources takes very seriously. That is why the company, which was established to develop gold prospects in West Africa, has focused on countries that have an ‘acceptable’ level of sovereign risk, and in which there has been some precedent of successful mining.

Running along the western coast of South America, the Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. At around 7,000 kilometres in length, between 200 and 700 kilometres wide, and with an average height of approximately 4,000 metres, the Andes extends through seven countries, one of which is Peru.

Right at the geographical centre of Turkey sits the industrial town of Kayseri (called after Caesar Augustus as it happens). It is 120 kilometres north of Kayseri that the principal project of Canadian mining junior Aldridge Minerals can be found. The polymetallic Yenipazar project occupies a ten square kilometre site on a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) body that hosts a gold-silver-copper-lead-zinc mineral deposit.

For the last several decades Africa’s vast mineral wealth has been intrinsically linked with its economic growth. The continents’ mineral industry is unquestionably one of the largest in the world and for many African countries mineral exploration and production constitute significant parts of their economies.

Indeed mining and mines in Africa continue to play a fundamental role in its future socio-economic and sustainable development, with over 1,800 mining projects currently in various stages of development.