Metso’s new crusher reduces costs, improves uptime by 10%

Diversified engineering group Metso launched its new rock crushing technology at the Conexpo-Con/Agg 2017 industry event in Las Vegas, in the US last month. The Metso MX cone crusher is based on... 

Heavy rainfall hits production at Namibia’s Tschudi copper mine

Copper mining company Weatherly International (WTI) CEO Craig Thomas has provided an update for copper cathode production in the March quarter for the company’s Tschudi openpit copper mine, in... 

SRK rated among SA’s top five consulting engineering firms

Independent engineering and scientific consultancy SRK Consulting South Africa has been rated a top five company in South Africa’s consulting engineering, mining and infrastructure segment in the... 

Analysts paint sparkling picture of coloured gemstone market

The shift from small-scale artisanal mining to larger mechanised mining owing to the increasing involvement of larger mining companies and greater formalisation of the sector is expected to... 

Mark Davis

This week we feature Mark Davis, the CEO of Master Blaster, a company that provides alternative blasting solutions to the mining industry 

Junior iron-ore miner outlines ambitious aims, supports local steel production

Junior iron-ore miner Manngwe Mining plans to expand its asset base and increase production at its existing operation over the next five years to provide integrated steel and mining company... 

Peru uranium/lithium mine to come on stream in 2020 – developer

Project developer Plateau Uranium aimed to have its Macusani Plateau uranium and lithium project, in Peru, in production by 2020 to be prepared to take advantage of analysts’ forecasts of a uranium... 

Report highlights jobs and revenue impact of automation in mining

Local communities and governments will lose jobs and tax revenues as mines become increasingly automated through the adoption of emerging technologies, such as self-driving trucks. This is... 

ETFs act as market indicator for precious metals, ensuring improved transparency

Precious metal exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have evolved a long way from being the new kids on the metals investment scene. ETFs now act as a market barometer for underlying investor demand and a... 

Strong lithium prices predicted until at least 2021

Lithium prices are likely to remain elevated at around $9 500/t till at least 2021, which is a significant increase on its historic pricings of $6 500/t. This is attributable to rising demand and... 

After three years of decline, gold price rises as investors return to sector

Gold prices increased on an annual average basis in 2016, after declining for three consecutive years, with the price increase primarily driven by investors returning to gold. This is according to... 

Mines seeking to ensure safe, productive operations

Amid the scramble to acquire capital for reinvestment in the mining industry, a group of executives participated in a roundtable discussion at the recent 2017 Investing in African Mining Indaba, in... 

Mobile power plants mooted as solution to African mines’ electricity woes

One of the main topics of discussion at the recent 2017 Mining Indaba revolved around power supply to mines on the continent. With official power distribution grids only covering around 40% of... 

DMR to be more flexible with small-scale mining applicants

The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) will “amend and relax” some of its conditions in issuing mining permits to small-scale miners, said Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Godfrey Oliphant last... 

Cautious optimism prevails in mining as prices rise, shallow growth returns

For the first time in a number of years, there is a mood of cautious optimism in the mining industry, with commodity prices on the rise, shallow growth returning to different end markets and most... 

Chamber of Mines ‘seriously concerned’ about Gordhan’s dismissal

The Chamber of Mines has added its voice to the chorus of parties that are worried about the consequences of President Jacob Zuma’s decision to reshuffle his Cabinet. Those that were removed from... 

Coal junior targets near-threefold output increase to 10Mt/y in two years

Junior coal mining company Canyon Coal is producing 300 000 t/m of run-of-mine (RoM), which equates to 3.6-million tons of coal a year across all its operations. However, the company is aiming to... 

Radical attitudinal shift needed to improve productivity – SRK

A change in attitudes, from the boardroom to the operational pit level, will be the only way for mines to escape low productivity levels and find a path back to long-term sustainability, says... 

Coal junior targets near-threefold output increase to 10Mt/y in two years

Junior coal mining company Canyon Coal is producing 300 000 t/m of run-of-mine (RoM), which equates to 3.6-million tons a year of coal across all its operations. However, the company is aiming to... 

Amplats unveils social and labour plan projects

Platinum miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) hosted Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant at the official handover ceremony of a number of the company’s social and labour plan... 

Bushveld outlines vision to transform from explorer to junior miner

Diversified mineral development company Bushveld Minerals is confident that it will soon unlock the vanadium mineral resource potential of the Bushveld Igneous Complex (BIC) – which spans the North... 

Harmony aims to increase gold production from 1.1Moz to 1.5Moz in three years

Dual-listed Harmony Gold is aiming to increase its yearly gold production from the current 1.1-million to 1.5-million ounces over the next three years. This would be achieved by undertaking... 

Govt to ‘amend and relax’ laws for small-scale miners in bid to combat illegal mining

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) –  The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) will “amend and relax” some of its conditions in issuing mining permits to small-scale miners, Mineral Resources Deputy... 

‘Barometer’ provides assessment of mineral resources industry transparency

Governments are challenged with creating new approaches to governance that enable them to better exploit the developmental potential provided by mineral resources. It is therefore imperative that... 

‘Women, local communities must play greater role in mining’

Women must be encouraged and supported to play a greater role in Africa’s mining industries, states Zambian Mines, Energy and Water Development Minister Christopher Yaluma. The Minister, who was... 

Simplified processes, suitable technologies key to success – diamond miners told

Historically diamond plants were designed on the basis of process engineering excellence. However, this focused excessively on ensuring maximum diamond liberation and recovery, rather than on the... 

Mine mechanisation and automation accelerating in South Africa and globally, says Sandvik

The mechanisation and automation of mines in South Africa and globally is accelerating, with ancillary support services, such as information technology (IT), information transfer and data analysis,... 

Harmony plans to grow output to 1.5Moz, outlines acquisition criteria

Dual-listed Harmony Gold is aiming to increase its yearly gold production from the current 1.1-million to 1.5-million ounces over the next three years. This would be achieved by undertaking... 

Oliphant visits various Amplats-led SLP projects in Rustenburg

Platinum miner Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) on Friday hosted Deputy Mineral Resources Minister Godfrey Oliphant at the official handover ceremony of a number of the company’s social and labour... 

Faulty statistics to blame for belief that PGM prices are inaccurately low – report

Platinum group metals (PGMs) market analysts have expressed confusion that platinum and palladium prices have been cut in half over the past few years while the PGM statistics they use show... 

Commodities supply shortfall looming following years of underinvestment

Several years of little or no investment in exploring for and developing new mining projects has resulted in the emergence of an impending commodity supply cliff in a number of resource sectors,... 

West African explorer targets Ghana gold project

Gold exploration company GoldStone Resources is aiming to focus its resources on developing the company’s flagship Homase-Akrokerri gold project, in Ghana, says CEO Emma Priestley. She says it is... 

Caledonia targeting higher output, lower costs at Zim mine

Southern Africa-focused gold miner Caledonia Mining Corporation aims to have its Blanket gold mine, in Zimbabwe, produce 60 000 oz of gold at all-in sustaining costs (AISCs) of between $810/oz and... 

Mining deaths up 31% since January

South African Colliery Management Association (Sacma) president Kevern Mattison has called for a “revolutionary step change” to achieve the mining industry’s goal of achieving ‘zero harm’. He... 

MPRDA Amendment Bill to redress racial, economic inequalities – DMR

Radical economic transformation is a key driving force behind the creation of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill, says Department of Mineral... 

Form partnerships and seek community acceptance, mines urged

Forming partnerships and social acceptance by communities are the two key factors miners need to ensure to promote sustainability in the mining industry, says University of Cape Town Department of... 

Coal industry expresses concern over fatalities

South African Colliery Management Association (Sacma) president Kevern Mattison has called for a “revolutionary step change” to achieve the mining industry’s goal of achieving ‘zero harm’. The plea... 

SA-based company partners with Chad to develop country’s nascent minerals sector

Gold mining, refining and resources development company Quaestec Gold Africa Resources has partnered with the government of Chad to develop the Central African country’s nascent mineral resources... 

‘Ground-breaking equipment’ set to join Babcock’s product line this year

Engineering support services company Babcock announced at the Investing in African Mining Indaba that it would be launching “ground-breaking construction equipment” during the course of this year.... 

SA-based company partners with Chad to develop country’s nascent minerals sector

Gold mining, refining and resources development company Quaestec Gold Africa Resources has partnered with the government of Chad to develop the Central African country’s nascent mineral resources...