Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast Podcast

In this episode, we chat with Andrew Hume, the MD of Thor Energy, a dual-listed exploration company (ASX and AIM) focused on natural hydrogen and helium, with a significant footprint in the highly prospective South Australian region. In addition to their clean energy focus, they maintain a diversified portfolio of strategic metal projects in uranium, copper, nickel, tungsten, lithium, and gold across Australia and the US, offering investors exposure to a range of key commodities. A geologist by background, Andrew has a 27-year career in the energy sector, holding key roles in multinational companies across business and technical disciplines, principally in the USA, Australia, Denmark, and the UK. After joining the company at the beginning of the year, Andrew gives us an overview of the company, news on the hydrogen and helium market, updates on their projects, and plans for the future. KEY TAKEAWAYS Thor Energy is rationalising its portfolio to concentrate on key assets, particularly in natural hydrogen and helium, while also maintaining a diverse range of strategic metal projects. This strategic focus aims to enhance the company's growth potential and market positioning. The natural hydrogen and helium market is viewed as having significant growth potential, with increasing demand for hydrogen in various industrial applications and the unique advantages of natural hydrogen as a cleaner energy source compared to traditional methods. Thor Energy plans to employ innovative exploration techniques, such as soil air analysis with gas chromatography, to better understand subsurface potential. This approach aims to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of identifying hydrogen and helium deposits. The recent Maiden Prospective Resource Assessment for the High Range project indicated promising figures, with substantial estimated volumes of hydrogen and helium. This assessment provides a strong foundation for future exploration and potential commercialisation efforts. BEST MOMENTS "Natural hydrogen and helium... has some of those same sort of hallmarks that the oil and gas industry would have had 100, 150 years ago... This really could be part of the global energy solution going forward." "The geology in our areas is really very interesting... We've got known discovered natural hydrogen and helium very close by... So we know we're in a very good place geologically." "Hydrogen... is almost the cleanest energy source, right? It's coming out of the ground. We're not having to put any energy into it to produce the hydrogen." "We're going to be looking at some other esoteric techniques... to better understand the right places to eventually drill." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS https://thorenergyplc.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/thor-energy-plc https://x.com/ThorEnergyPLC ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode, we chat with Santiago Montt, CEO of Los Andes Copper, who are focused on developing its 100% owned tier one Vizcachitas copper-molybdenum porphyry project in Chile. Vizcachitas is one of the largest advanced copper deposits in the Americas.Santiago is a seasoned mining executive with over a decade of experience in multinational mining companies. Before joining Los Andes, he spent more than ten years at BHP, where he held various senior roles overseeing corporate and legal affairs across the Americas, including in Chile, Brazil, and Australia. He gives us an overview of Los Andes Copper, discusses how Chile will continue being the number 1 jurisdiction for copper, and the outlook of the commodity for the energy transition. KEY TAKEAWAYS Los Andes Copper is focused on developing its 100% owned Vizcachitas copper-molybdenum porphyry project in Chile, which is one of the largest advanced copper deposits in the Americas, with significant resources and robust economic metrics. Transitioning from a major mining company like BHP to a junior mining company involves a shift in responsibilities and work dynamics, requiring a direct problem-solving approach and a willingness to engage in hands-on management. Los Andes Copper emphasises the importance of building trust and engagement with local communities, implementing programs that promote social value, such as female entrepreneurship initiatives and educational programs to prepare the workforce for future mining operations. The demand for copper is expected to rise significantly due to the global energy transition towards electrification, with estimates suggesting a need for an additional 10 million tons of copper by 2035 to meet this demand. BEST MOMENTS "We are a mining company that owns the Vizcachitas project, a copper moly project based in Chile, the number one producer of copper in the world." "When you decide to move from a major to a junior, it's a change of career. It's a change of lifestyles as well." "Copper is a fundamental element of nature. There's no better conductor... We're moving to decarbonise our economies. There's no replacement." "We have been doing a lot of work in this area... to increase and build trust and connection with the community." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS X: https://x.com/LosAndesCopper  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/los-andes-copper/ https://losandescopper.com/ info@losandescopper.com ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode,  we chat with Ryan King, Senior VP Corporate Development and IR for Calibre Mining, who are a Canadian-listed, Americas focused, growing mid-tier gold producer with a strong pipeline of development and exploration opportunities across Newfoundland & Labrador in Canada, Nevada and Washington in the USA, and Nicaragua. Ryan has over 15 years of experience in capital markets, corp. dev and IR, working for the likes of Kirkland Lake Gold and Newcore Gold, and has assisted in raising over $350M during his career. He discusses the history and background of Calibre Mining, the project, the recent acquisition they made and the local initiatives they have in Nicaragua. KEY TAKEAWAYS Calibre Mining has successfully transitioned from a junior gold developer to a mid-tier gold producer, focusing on acquiring and optimising production assets in favorable jurisdictions like Canada and Nicaragua. The recent acquisition of the Valentine Lake gold mine is a significant step in diversifying their portfolio. Calibre emphasises community engagement, with 95% of its direct employees in Nicaragua being local nationals. The company prioritises creating job opportunities, providing training, and investing in local infrastructure, which fosters a supportive workforce and enhances its social license to operate. The company is actively pursuing exploration opportunities, particularly at the Valentine Lake site, where recent drilling has indicated promising mineralisation. This exploration success is expected to lead to increased reserves and production capacity. With the merger with Equinox Gold, Calibre anticipates generating significant operating and free cash flow from its combined assets. The focus will be on quickly de-leveraging the balance sheet while also considering reinvestment into exploration and potential returns to shareholders through dividends or share buybacks. BEST MOMENTS "We believe that there's going to be an opportunity to optimise that plant a little further... Why hinder ourselves from additional throughput and additional metal production if we assume that we will have that exploration success?" "The technical studies looked at what could we maximise the throughput to... we believe there's an opportunity to take it from 4 million ton phase 2, probably up to about a 5 to 5.4 million ton throughput." "We want to see that transition into a steady ramp up to nameplate 2.5 million tons throughput, as well as the continued unlocking of value through Greenstone as it ramps up to nameplate capacity." "We believe that Equinox is looking at those types of opportunities... one might be a share buyback. Also, I think top of mind would be a dividend policy for new Equinox shareholders." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS X – https://x.com/CalibreMiningCo Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/CalibreMining Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/calibremining/ Linkedin – https://ca.linkedin.com/company/calibre-mining-corp-cxb- Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/@calibreminingcorp Website: www.calibremining.com Email address: calibre@calibremining.com ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode, we chat with Alan Carter, President & CEO of Cabral Gold, a mineral exploration company with a focus on gold and copper with a key asset, the Cuiú Cuiú gold project located in Northern Brazil. A geologist by background, Alan has an extensive career across South America so is well-positioned to develop this gold project in Brazil, and gives us an update on the Cuiú Cuiú Gold project since we last spoke, his outlook for the junior space, their latest drill results, mining in Brazil and outlook of the company. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cabral Gold is a mineral exploration company primarily focused on gold and copper, with a key asset in the Cuiú Cuiú gold project located in northern Brazil. The company aims to explore the Tapajós region, which has a rich history of gold production. The outlook for gold prices remains optimistic due to geopolitical tensions, inflation risks, and increased central bank demand. The junior mining sector, which has lagged behind major producers, is beginning to show signs of movement as gold prices rise. The exploration sector has evolved, with a shift away from traditional models that relied heavily on dilution for funding. Companies are now focusing on generating cash flow through initial small-scale production to fund further exploration and development. Recent drill results from the Cuiú Cuiú project have shown promising high-grade intercepts, including a notable 12 meters at 27.7 grams per ton of gold. This indicates the potential for significant discoveries and resource growth in the area. BEST MOMENTS "The fundamentals are driving are all pointing towards a higher gold price... Both political and economic uncertainty is usually very good for the gold price." "We've already got 1.3 million ounces on the scorecard. We're targeting five. This could be 10. It's definitely going to get a lot larger." "Instead of relying on one private placement after another... a much better strategy is to get into production as fast as you possibly can." Alan Carter: "The opportunity to really define a new world-class district... the potential of this region is, frankly, enormous." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS Cabral Gold - https://cabralgold.com/corporate/management/ Alan Carter LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-carter-636a796a/?originalSubdomain=ca https://www.linkedin.com/company/cabral-gold/posts/?feedView=all https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuuhX3_5ABC-5RruviG1WKw ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode, we have a returning guests who appeared back in May 2022 (Episode 239), Terry Harbort, President, CEO and Director or Talisker Resources, a junior mining company involved in the exploration of gold projects of two advanced stage projects, the Bralorne Gold Complex and the Ladner Gold Project, both advanced stage projects with significant exploration potential from historical high-grade producing gold mines, as well as its Spencer Bridge Project. Terry is a structural geologist by background with over 25 years experience working across Australia, South America, and Canada during his career and has discovered a few significant deposits like AngloGold Ashanti’s Le Colosa and Gramalote deposits. At the helm of Talisker Resources for the past 6 years, Terry gives us an update since we last spoke, an overview of their Bralorne gold project, and all the technicalities around the resource, their approach to sustainability and environmental responsibility, and the biggest challenges they are facing as they go into first pour. KEY TAKEAWAYS The company is currently transitioning Braylorne into production, with plans to start mining operations by the end of April or early May, targeting an average grade of approximately 11 grams per ton over the first five years. Talisker has successfully implemented ore sorting technology, which has significantly increased the grade of the material processed, allowing for a more efficient operation without the immediate need for building a mill. Terry and his team work closely with First Nation partners and focusing on responsible waste management, including potential uses for waste material and transitioning to dry stack tailings to minimise environmental impact. Talisker boasts a diverse and experienced management team, including veterans from major mining companies, which enhances the company's ability to navigate the challenges of transitioning from exploration to production effectively. BEST MOMENTS "I think it really comes down to understanding, particularly continuity of these deposits. There have been a lot of classic failures in vein mining around the world where there hasn't been enough drilling or they don't understand the modelling of these structures." "We're looking at transitioning across into paste backfill, putting it back in the hole. We've got tonnes of holes there underground." "We're starting off here at just 100 tonnes per day for the first three months until we get everything sorted out." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS https://taliskerresources.com/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/talisker-resources X: https://twitter.com/Talisker_Ltd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talisker_resources Facebook: https://facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565501233511 ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In the episode, we chat with Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal Resources, a UK based development company focused on critical and precious metals exploration. The company owns the flagship Pilot Mountain Project in Nevada, which is believed to host the largest undeveloped tungsten deposit on American soil. Oliver is a geologist and has over 10 year’s experience in both the mining and oil and gas sectors and has worked in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Africa.  He founded Guardian Metal Resources in 2021 and led the IPO in May 2023, and we discuss the history and background of the company, the tungsten market, the uses of tungsten, Nevada as a mining jurisdiction, recycling of tungsten and much more. KEY TAKEAWAYS Guardian Metal Resources is primarily focused on tungsten exploration and development, with its flagship Pilot Mountain project in Nevada believed to host the largest undeveloped tungsten deposit in the U.S. The company has also acquired another significant asset, Tempaiute, which was formerly the largest tungsten-producing mine in the 1980s. The tungsten market is currently experiencing tight supply due to geopolitical factors, with China, Russia, and North Korea controlling approximately 90% of global tungsten production. Recent export restrictions from China have further intensified the need for domestic sources of tungsten in the U.S. While defence applications drive short-term demand for tungsten, the metal is also crucial in various high-tech industries, including aerospace, mining, and renewable energy technologies. Its unique properties, such as high melting point and density, make it irreplaceable in many applications. Although recycling efforts for tungsten are increasing, they currently supply only about 20-25% of annual consumption in the U.S. The growing demand, particularly from defense sectors, means that new mine supply is essential to meet the shortfall. BEST MOMENTS "We are firmly positioned, we believe, as the leader in U.S.-focused tungsten exploration and development."  "When Russia invaded Ukraine, it became clear that the Western world needed safe domestic sources of these important input metals."  "The U.S. has no domestic supply. It hasn't mined any primary tungsten for over 10 years now."  "It's a really unique metal because it has the highest melting point of any metal on the planet." "We're seeing a lot of investors pick up on this... critical metals is such an important global narrative right now." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS https://www.guardianmetalresources.com/ info@guardianmetalresources.com https://x.com/GuardianMetRes https://www.linkedin.com/company/guardianmetalresources/ ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode, we chat with John Passalacqua, CEO and Director of First Phosphate, who are a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate (“LFP”) battery industry. First Phosphate is committed to producing at high purity level, in a responsible manner, and with low anticipated carbon footprint. John is an international business strategist with over 35 years of extensive technology and capital markets experience and was recognised as one of the top international business strategists during the early internet era. He has placed strong emphasis on strategic partnerships and cost-efficient development as core elements of the company’s growth strategy. He advocates for maintaining low capital and operational expenditures while constructing commercially viable facilities to support long-term expansion. In addition to his corporate leadership, John actively engages in discussions on global trade policy and its impact on the LFP battery sector advantages in this rapidly evolving industry and John’s on the podcast to give us the history and vision of First Phosphate, their mining practices and community engagement initiatives, technology they are using, the phosphate market and more. KEY TAKEAWAYS First Phosphate is strategically located in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec, which is one of the few places in North America with high purity igneous phosphate essential for producing purified phosphoric acid used in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The company focuses on high purity phosphate, which is crucial for the production of LFP batteries. Unlike the majority of the world's phosphate used in agriculture, which is of lower purity, First Phosphate's product can directly produce the purified phosphoric acid needed for battery manufacturing. Phosphate-based LFP batteries offer significant environmental benefits compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The process generates recyclable gypsum, and the batteries themselves are less toxic and easier to recycle, contributing to decarbonisation efforts. First Phosphate aims to create a robust North American phosphate supply chain by integrating mining operations with downstream processing, ensuring that the entire production process from phosphate extraction to battery material is localised and efficient. BEST MOMENTS "We're located in a very, very rare portion of Quebec, the only real place in North America with hard rock phosphate."  "To make purified phosphoric acid for batteries, you need high purity phosphate, which is not available from the 95% of the world's phosphate used in agriculture."  "The hard rock phosphate is actually very, very clean. It's amongst the purest in the world."  "You have to perfect your process in one country and then you might need to establish operations in many different countries to get around trade barriers."  VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS Website: FirstPhosphate.com​ Investor Relations: investor@firstphosphate.com​ X: https://x.com/FirstPhosphate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-phosphate Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@firstphosphate ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode, we chat to Luke Rogers, who is an experienced mining and mineral processing executive whose work has taken him all over the world providing technical capability and support to mining companies in developing countries across a range of commodities. An avid listener to the podcast, we have a general chat about education and learning and how we can start to educate our children and those outside of mining about our industry and improve the branding and understanding of this great industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Engaging with children and communities about the mining industry is crucial for shaping future perceptions and understanding of its role in society, especially in light of global challenges like climate change and the energy transition. It is never too late to pursue a career in mining or related fields. Many professionals have successfully transitioned into the industry as mature students, highlighting the value of diverse experiences and backgrounds. Mining professionals can positively impact local communities by actively participating in educational initiatives, supporting local schools, and fostering knowledge transfer to encourage interest in STEM subjects. There are many misconceptions about mining, often rooted in historical events. Educating the public about the industry's contributions to everyday life and its importance in sustainable development is essential for improving its reputation. BEST MOMENTS "It's never too late to join the industry... there are other mature students... who completely decided to change their career."  "It's really important to educate the public... because they're not all going to grow up to be miners."  "I think the more of us get out there and talk to people, the more people want to absorb."  "You've got to get out there and do stuff. Things don't happen. You've got to be proactive."  VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS Luke.rogers@imr.ltd https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukerogers1/ ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode, we chat with Patrick Elliot, President and CEO of Forte Minerals Corp, a listed Canadian exploration company committed to maximizing shareholder value through acquiring, exploring, discovering, and developing copper and gold projects in Chile and Peru. With a geology and mineral economics background, Patrick has over 17 years' experience in mineral exploration and resource sector finance and marketing working extensively throughout North and South America. He specializes in economic resource project evaluation, financial modelling, CAPEX estimation, and mining finance and discusses the history of Forte Minerals, Chile, and Peru as mining jurisdictions, leadership styles and insights, the copper market, and much more. KEY TAKEAWAYS Forte Minerals Corp is a Canadian exploration company focused on copper and gold projects in Chile and Peru. The company aims to maximise shareholder value through acquiring, exploring, and developing these mineral resources. With over 17 years of experience in mineral exploration, the team at Forte Minerals has a unique strategy of leveraging a pipeline of pre-vetted copper and gold projects. This approach allows them to advance projects to drill-ready status, primarily targeting large mid-tier and major mining companies. Forte Minerals emphasises the importance of community relations in mining. They have developed an in-house social team to ensure consistent engagement with local communities, which is crucial for building trust and facilitating project advancement. The current copper market is experiencing supply crunch concerns, and junior miners like Forte are well-positioned to fill this gap. The company has been accumulating properties during downturns, allowing them to attract partners and advance projects when market conditions improve. BEST MOMENTS "I think the biggest misconception is that there might be some instability and the communities can be an issue in some of the regions... The largest copper producers in the world have been there for several decades." "We're not looking to find deposits that we could put into production ourselves... All these targets are for large company targets and we're essentially fuelling their pipeline." "We brought the social aspect in-house... It's vitally important. Short-term success can be measured with that type of strategy that we've deployed." "We're finally drilling our high sulfidation Puccarini project... This will be the first time as a public company that we've gone in and drill tested our own targets." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/forte-minerals-corp Meta (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/ForteMinerals X (Twitter): https://x.com/Forte_Copper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forteminerals/ Website: https://forteminerals.com/ Contact Emails: Corporate inquiries: adalair@forteminerals.com Investor inquiries: kguichon@forteminerals.com ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. 

In this episode, we chat with Scott Vincent, President of the Critical Ocean Minerals Research Center, who are an organisation representing a group of stakeholders who have been studying seabed mineral extraction, and take a closer look at some of the important issues surrounding this method of mining. The organisation aims to provide balanced information on the environmental and economic aspects of deep-sea mining, addressing both its potential benefits and concerns. Scott’s background combines extensive experience in finance and investment with a focused interest in marine resource management, positioning him to contribute significantly to discussions on sustainable ocean mineral extraction. On this podcast, Scott talks about the benefits, negatives, and impacts of harvesting polymetallic nodules, some of the misperceptions about nodule harvesting, what it means for this industry with a new administration in power, and a lot more. KEY TAKEAWAYS Deep sea mining primarily targets resources located below 1,000 meters, focusing on three main types of formations: polymetallic nodules, seafloor massive sulfides, and cobalt crusts. Polymetallic nodules are considered the most attractive due to their ease of extraction and lower environmental impact. Harvesting polymetallic nodules can have negligible to positive impacts on human health and welfare. It offers a potential solution to reduce reliance on terrestrial mining, which often has severe negative effects on human health and the environment. Additionally, deep sea mining can lead to lower CO2 emissions and less toxic waste compared to traditional mining methods. There is significant opposition to deep sea mining, largely driven by environmental groups advocating for a moratorium. Common misconceptions include exaggerated claims about the destruction of ocean ecosystems and the potential release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which are not supported by scientific evidence. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) governs deep sea mining in international waters, but the presence of countries that rely on terrestrial mining for their economies complicates the regulatory process. Some nations, like the Cook Islands, are moving forward with regulations for deep sea mining. BEST MOMENTS "We found that there was just a lot of misinformation, omitted information, and there was kind of a void in the marketplace where there wasn't a response from industry to counter some of the narratives out there." "The first benefit I always talk about is the fact that it looks like the impact on human health, human welfare, from harvesting nodules is negligible to positive." "The interesting thing in my book is that WWF looks the other way when we have these atrocities in the DRC and Indonesia." "If we fulfilled all those requirements with nodule harvesting tomorrow onward for the next 20 years, we would only touch 0.06% of the abyssal plains." VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com GUEST SOCIALS https://comrc.org/ https://x.com/COMRC_ORG https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556584570043 ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.