Varsity, geophysics firm team up to tackle mining, engineering skills dearth

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and airborne geophysics company GyroLAG have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to conduct joint activities aimed at helping to bridge the skills gap in the mining and engineering industries.

India sets aside $1.4bn for exploration investment

India’s Mines Ministry has proposed a government spend of $1.4-billion between 2012 and 2017 to plug the technological gap in mineral exploration, thereby increasing mining’s share in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), which was...

Diamond exploration company starts reconnaissance programme in Cameroon

Diamond exploration and project development company Botswana Diamonds (BOD) has started a reconnaissance exploration programme on its diamond exploration licence in eastern Cameroon, in April.

Key Africa projects to deliver results by third quarter − Paragon

Aim-listed Paragon Diamonds, which has agreed to increase its stake in International Diamond Consultants (IDC) to 98,5%, expects the Lemphane project, in Lesotho, and the Kaplamp project, in Zambia, to deliver meaningful results by the third...

India has lofty goals with new mining law

India’s Parliament is expected to consider a proposed new mining law in November, and the new legislation, which aims to open up the country’s resources to foreign and local private investment and increase the benefits from mining to local...

Sable Mining buys iron-ore licences in Liberia

Aim-listed Sable Mining has acquired a 51% interest in Southern Cross Investments, which holds iron-ore interests in Liberia, it announced on Tuesday. Southern Cross holds the 477-km2 Bopolu and the 486-km2 Timbo iron-ore reconnaissance licences...

Coffey Mining completes preliminary assessment 
of Ghana bauxite project

Coffey International subsidiary, Coffey Mining, has completed a preliminary assessment of the Mamou-Dalaba bauxite project in Guinea, West Africa, on behalf of Canadian-based client Anglo Aluminium Corporation.

Gold exploration potential 
in Eritrea upgraded

Global gold company Chalice Gold Mines has upgraded the regional exploration potential at its 80%-owned 944 000-oz Zara gold project, in Eritrea, East Africa, after completing the first phase of a regional exploration programme.

Greater R&D investment imperative to meet mining industry challenges

State-owned minerals body Mintek on Monday called for a larger investment in research and development (R&D), specifically relating to mining technologies and practices. Speaking at the inaugural Mine-Tech International conference, Mintek CEO...

Teal granted Moz uranium exploration permits

TSX- and JSE-listed Teal Exploration & Mining has been awarded several licences to explore for uranium and associated metals in Mozambique, and has established a new company, Teal Mining Mozambique, to operate its exploration activities in the...

Explorer granted gem-prospecting right

JSE-listed exploration company Miranda said on Monday that it had received the right to prospect for diamonds on the farm Number 4, Bergmans Hope, in the magisterial district of Barkley West, covering an area of 6,52 ha.

Diamond shortfall to kick in by 2008

The development of a new diamond mine equivalent to the current annual output of Botswana would be needed to balance the diamond supply and demand gap expected by 2010. Speaking at the 2006 World Diamond Conference in Perth, Johannesburg-based...