Mining and Exploration

East Asia Minerals (EAS) is proving it is possible to overcome obstacles to mine gold from challenging locations using sound management, local knowledge and a lot of determination.

Having established a reputation for solving tough industrial drying problems, particularly in the minerals industry, South African engineering company Drytech is now taking that expertise globally.

Following the re-opening of the plant, which was shut down in July, the company has revealed that three yellow stones weighing 27, 17 and 15 carats respectively, and three white stones weighing 12.4, 9.2 and 9.1 carats have been recovered during the last quarter.

Charles Wells, general manager of sustainability, talks about the company’s approach to sustainability and the initiatives it has in place to leave behind a positive social, environmental and economic legacy when it moves on.

High pressure grinding rolls offer financial and environmental benefits to mine owners over more conventional crushing and grinding technology—and in Australia, one supplier is leading the market.

Take-up on alternative technologies within the operational side of the mining industry can sometimes take a while to gather momentum; but when the financial and environmental benefits are made clear, the case for adoption becomes hard to resist.

Swakop Uranium is about to develop Namibia’s largest uranium deposit. CEO Norman Green talks about the challenges of the project and how the company is protecting the sensitive desert environment.

Following the recommendation of Xstrata’s board of directors to its shareholders to back the merger terms offered by the commodities trader, a vote will now be held on whether to accept the offer of 3.05 Glencore shares for every Xstrata share.

Should said offer by accepted, the merger is expected to bring together the respective strengths of the two companies, thus creating a unique natural resources company boasting a virtually unparalleled level of experience, industry know-how and expertise.

Mineral Processing Manager Greg Rasmussen talks about the role of one of the leading exponents in new mining technology in the introduction of new ideas to the industry.

Ralph Waldo Emerson promised that if we built a better mousetrap, the world would beat a path to our door. It’s a common theme, though, within the mining industry, that customers aren’t so easily weaned away from the technology they know and love.

Part of a strategy by the government to counteract the loss of oil revenue following the session of South Sudan in 2011, the Sudan Gold Refinery is expected to produce more than 328 tonnes of gold per year.

According to the Reuters news agency, Sudan hopes to sell gold worth up to $3 billion this year, a figure that works out to double that of 2011’s gold revenue. The refinery, which will also process silver, is the first project of its kind in Sudan and the second in Africa for producing and extracting the two minerals with high quality and purity.

Gold Fields aims to be the global leader in sustainable gold mining. That does not mean staying in business for ever; but rather leaving behind a viable economy, a clean environment and a thriving community.