On The Rocks

In this episode of On the Rocks Podcast, host Emily King sits down with Zainab Usman, the Director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of "Economic Diversification in Nigeria: The Politics of Building a Post-Oil Economy". Zainab and Emily dig into the discussion of managing natural resources in different countries and economies, especially those rich in oil and mineral commodities.  <embed> One of the key themes discussed in the episode is similarities and differences between countries that are rich in oil and gas versus mined commodities. Examples include: Similar - These are all non-renewable, natural resources, and important to many economic and industrial activities.  Similar - Revenues tend to be quite large, generated by exports, and typically captured by the government. Because of this, there is a strong external dimension, meaning the economies are vulnerable to the volatility to the international pricing of these commodities. Different - The process of extraction is very different. The enclave nature of oil extraction and production can be very dissociated from the rest of the economy, and the jobs created can be very minimal. The mining sector also has an enclave nature, but it tends to be more labor intensive and have more people engaged.  Different - The scale of revenues generated tend to be different, with crude oil the scale of revenues tend to be much larger than the mining sector due to the dynamics of the global market. Zainab also challenges the idea of the "resource curse", due to many countries that have been able to successfully manage their natural resources for economic growth. The key, according to Zainab, is to identify the broader challenges that need to be addressed and get the diagnosis of the problem right. 

For this special release episode of On the Rocks Podcast, guest host and Prospector's Head of Corporate Development, Gautam Iyer, sits down for a chat with James Sykes, CEO of Baselode Energy, to discuss all things uranium and nuclear energy! Dig into common misconceptions, exploration opportunities, and the possible future of this industry!  Uranium is an essential element in our everyday lives, serving as a fuel for nuclear energy and powering various industries. It's an attractive alternative to fossil fuels in the clean energy space, due to its almost zero carbon emissions. Unfortunately, common misconceptions about this fuel source have prevented many nations from adopting this vital source of energy in the past. However, recently more nations are embracing this technology as a way to meet their CO2 reduction goals.    Gautam and James also dig into the famous Athabasca Basin in Canada, and what makes it different than other uranium deposits globally. James discusses his Athabasca 2.0 thesis, and how it might be a game changer in the uranium mining industry. He also lets us in on the cool technologies coming into the nuclear energy space!  Be sure to tune into the full episode for a radiating good time, and lodes of great information! Prospector also recently released our 2023 Uranium Resource Report as a Free Download, so be sure to check that out!  Discover Baselode Energy and other great uranium mining projects and companies on Prospector! 

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are increasingly becoming an important part of mining investment decisions. For investors, ESG provides a way to understand the degree of uncertainty and to manage and minimize that uncertainty. Meanwhile, for mining companies, it helps them to create value and ensure that their plans to mine, process the metal, and sell the product are accurate. This week on On the Rocks, host Emily King sits down with Allison Coppel, an ESG in Mining Investments Expert, to discuss the various roles of ESG in the mining industry.  The Environmental factor (E) in mining is mainly about water, climate, air, waste, biodiversity, and tailings. The Social factor (S) covers safety, health, labor relations, supplier relationships, training, human rights, and diversity and inclusion. Governance (G) is about the company's trustworthiness, legal compliance, political contributions, and board of directors. All these factors are essential to manage and minimize uncertainties and create value creation opportunities. ESG is important to the mining industry because it enables mining companies to protect and enhance the environment, ensure safety for workers and good relationships inside and outside the company, respect human rights, create a business where people and communities grow and are happy to do so, be transparent about how the company is run, and follow the law. These are basic expectations of society, particularly when talking about an investment that is going to be there for 10, 20, or even 100 years. Unfortunately, for years, a number of these concepts have been ignored, misunderstood, and thought of as a mere asterisk to the “real plans,” not core components of investment decisions. Investment decisions can happen throughout the mine life – in early exploration, each stage of project development, during operations expansions or upgrades, closure. And they can be from an investor, an operating company, and may be an M&A. The key is to disaggregate ESG, define what is material to the investment, and then integrate as it makes sense. Be sure to tune in to the full episode to learn more!

On the latest episode of the On the Rocks, we had the pleasure of chatting with Doug Wicks, Program Director at ARPA-E, about his rabbit hole interest in geologic hydrogen and its potential as a primary energy source! In this episode, we delved into geologic hydrogen 101. Doug outlined the different "colors" of hydrogen, and discussed what makes geologic hydrogen so fascinating. It could even be a game-changer in the energy industry. We also talked about the challenges associated with mining hydrogen, including the energy sources required and the environmental impact. Doug shared his vision for a future where geologic hydrogen could become a primary energy source, and what it would take to get there. As part of his work at ARPA-E, Doug is reaching out to students to talk about the future of mining and the challenges and opportunities it presents. He emphasized the need to transform the mining industry and bring it into the 21st century. However, he acknowledged the challenge of reaching beyond the "bubble" of those already interested in energy technology. Overall, it was a fascinating conversation about the potential of geologic hydrogen and the work being done to make it a reality. If you're interested in the future of energy, this episode is definitely worth a listen!

This week on On the Rocks, all that glitters is not gold - it’s diamonds! Host Emily King sits down for a chat with Eira Thomas, the President and CEO of Lucara Diamond to discuss diamond 101, Eira’s journey into the diamond mining industry, and much more! Diamonds have always been a valuable commodity, not only because of their high monetary value but also because of the sentiment attached to them. Today, there are fewer than 25 active diamond mines in the world, and investing in diamonds can be a great way to get started investing in mining. What makes a diamond though? Diamonds are made of carbon and formed deep within the earth’s mantle over millions of years. Kimberlite pipes then bring the diamonds to the earth’s surface through volcanic eruptions. Diamonds are the hardest known naturally occurring substance on Earth, with a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale. Fun fact - the word “diamond” comes from the Greek word “adamas”, which means “unconquerable” or “indestructible”! Eira and Emily discuss industrial versus gem quality diamonds, and how processing and sorting methods are changing and evolving with new technologies. Lucara has been working to create better alignment along the diamond value chain, and providing a secure, online marketplace called Clara for consumers to buy diamonds directly. This innovative approach connects with ESG by providing consumers with assurance of diamond provenance, allowing companies to work directly with communities to understand their needs and ambitions. “Every mining company wants to do the right thing at the end of the day, and create benefits that are lasting for the communities in which they operate, but the most important thing is to understand what their priorities are and to work with those communities to find ways to meet those needs and priorities.” Lucara is not only working with their local communities in Botswana, but also recently worked with a woman-led jewelry company, Shiffon, to bring ethically sourced diamonds to their newest jewelry line which celebrates the Women’s Tennis Association and 50 years pay parity in women’s sports! Dig in to the full episode below to learn more!

VRIFY is changing the way mining companies share their stories by using cutting-edge technology to showcase their projects and communicate their value to different communities. In this episode of On the Rocks, we explore how VRIFY is revolutionizing the mining industry, drawing a clear line between mining and manufacturing, and raising awareness of its critical role in our daily lives. We also delve into the relationship between mining, communication technology, and investing in innovation, and share suggestions for moving the industry forward. Tune in and learn more 👉 https://thenugget.prospectorportal.com/otr-steve-de-jong-vrify

Cyanide is a chemical commonly used in gold mining to extract gold from ore. Although many people are aware of its use, they may not understand how the process works or the risks involved in using it. Proper management and monitoring can help decrease the risk of using cyanide for extraction. This week on On the Rocks, we are joined by Benedikt Kirchgaessler, the founder and CEO of CyanoGuard, a company that specializes in monitoring and managing cyanide. Through his research and practical experience, he realized the importance of monitoring and managing the use of cyanide in mining. CyanoGuard has a range of customers from different industries, including almond producers and breweries, although most of the customer base is the mining industry. Despite its widespread use, the way cyanide has been used in mining has not changed in the past 20-30 years. This has had an impact on interactions within the mining industry and the way cyanide is used as a product. "As we went to the mines, we saw the need is for re-automating [process control] and helping the miners make the right decision" To adapt to new challenges and become more sustainable and efficient, the mining industry needs to adapt new digital technologies and processes. Digital process control will have a huge impact on All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) in the future. Understanding the use of cyanide in mining and the importance of monitoring and sustainability is crucial. By embracing digital technology and investing in digital process control, the mining industry can change for the better!

We hear it repeatedly on the On the Rocks Podcast - people within the mining industry want to improve public perception of how mineral exploration and mining is done. However, very few people are actually successfully improving that perception, especially through social media. So, how can mining companies get the word out of the echo chamber and into the public? One company leading the charge in this regard is Geologize Ltd. Founded and led by Dr. Haydon Mort, Geologize specializes in teaching communication skills for geoscientists, with a particular focus on using social media platforms to improve public perception of the earth sciences and mining industry. Recently, the company released Practical Geocommunication 3.0, the latest update to its popular series of courses. In this episode of the On the Rocks Podcast, Emily and Haydon discuss the importance of communicating outside of the mining industry, and how improving mining social media can help improve share price as well as public perception. During the episode, Haydon provides valuable tips for mining companies looking to improve their public perception through social media. A huge thank you to Ridgeline Minerals, Golden Rim Resources, and Lomiko Metals for volunteering to be examples on the podcast! Check out these companies and more on Prospector!

On this episode of OTR, we chat with Michael Konnert on key decision points for investing in mining companies and the role of mining in decarbonization.

On this week's "On the Rocks" episode, host Emily King interviews Ewan Downie, CEO of i-80 Gold Corp., about Nevada's mining industry and the importance of critical minerals and the supply chain. They also discuss i-80's current projects and the enduring value of gold.