Daily podcast – March 25, 2009

In today's podcast: De Beers' diamond joint venture in Namibia receives government approval to halt production from April 1 for three months due to weak sales; and the US Environmental Protection Agency said that it has "serious concerns" about...

SA to increase fluorspar consumption in next five years – Minister

Within the next five to ten years, South Africa would aim to increase the ratio of local consumption of fluorspar, and would make a concerted effort to increase the beneficiation of the mineral, Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena...

SA Finance Minister resigns

The JSE Top-40 index plunged over 4% on Tuesday after news that South Africa’s Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, along with another ten Cabinet Ministers and three deputies, on Tuesday handed in their resignations. President Thabo Mbeki, who...

Daily podcast – September 23, 2008

In today's podcast: the ANC assures that Mbeki's departure will not translate into any major changes in macroeconomic policy, Agrément South Africa kicks off its thirteenth AGM and, Chamber of Mines economist Roger Baxter says that the South...

Gold glitters in industrial uses

The virtues and unique characteristics of gold such as ductility, reflectivity, resistance to corrosion, and ability to be used as a thermal and electrical conductor, makes it an ideal candidate for use in a variety of industrial applications,...

Hi-tech minerals unlocking sought

SOUTH African mineral technology science council Mintek is seeking to use nanotechnology to unlock new properties of the country’s minerals. There is a genuine expectation for nanotechnology to assist in the beneficiation of SA's...

New product receives top technology award

The newly launched Water Angel, a product designed to mitigate the risk of geyser and pipe bursts, received an award from the Da Vinci Institute in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology, for attaining a position in the top ten...

Kumba's R&D unit wins recognition

The research and development team at diversified metals and mining company Kumba Resources, a subsidiary of Anglo American, has jointly won the National Science and Technology Forum (NSTF) award for a corporate organisation.

The search for gold's new uses

South Africa may be at the forefront of developing new non-traditional uses for the universally popular precious metal gold, and, perhaps, the most groundbreaking advance will be in catalytic applications.

The new gold rush

Search is on for new uses

Gold makes debut as catalyst

Gold has made its debut as a catalyst five years after the launch of intense research and development into greater industrial uses, Mining Weekly Online can today report.

Mintek R&D should aid new mining entrants

Science Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena has reaffirmed government commitment to increasing South Africa’s research and development (R&D) expenditure to over 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) from its current level of about 0,7%.