Dig Deep

In this episode, we chat with Adam Oehlman, CEO of African Gold, an ASX-listed junior explorer who are exploring and developing a multi-million ounce potential at the Didievi Gold project in Côte d’Ivoire. With qualifications in Geology, Mineral and Energy Economics and an MBA, Adam is an experienced mining professional with a strong background in both technical and commercial roles, holding key positions at Northern Star, Hancock Prospecting, and Goldfields. At the helm of African Gold, he gives us an overview of the business, recent activities they have undertaken, and some of the challenges they have faced and overcome. He understands the importance of mentoring, so he will provide some advice to young professionals starting out and the value you should always be looking to give your employees and others you work alongside in the industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Young professionals should seek guidance from experienced individuals and actively pursue opportunities rather than waiting for them to come. African Gold operates in Cote d'Ivoire, a premier West African mining jurisdiction with strong infrastructure and support from existing mining companies. The company is focused on exploring and developing its Didievi Gold Project, which has a maiden inferred resource of 450,000 ounces. The company is currently executing a 10,000-meter drilling program aimed at expanding its resource base. Adam believes that the current resource is just the beginning, with the potential to exceed one million ounces. Adam highlights the company's commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. African Gold actively supports local communities, including educational programs and training for locals, to foster trust and demonstrate the benefits of mining. With gold prices at record highs, African Gold is well-positioned to capitalise on market conditions. The company plans to release a resource update and continue drilling to unlock additional resource zones, maintaining a steady flow of positive news for investors. BEST MOMENTS "I think you'd be crazy not to have a big focus on community and environment these days. It's a massive focus of us." "Every drill program we do, every hole we put in, there's gold in mind. It's not just drilling to test science; it's drilling to find answers and add shareholder value." "Cote d'Ivoire is just an absolutely lovely place. I've just been so surprised how welcoming the people are, how good the infrastructure is." "I always think people, you can probably live in your head a bit too much. So I think you probably need to think less and do more." 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: https://www.african-gold.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/african-gold/ X: https://x.com/AfricanGold_Ltd Email: info@african-gold.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 to Nicole Richards, CEO of Allonnia, who are a company harnessing nature to solve the biggest environmental challenges for net positive impact. They transform liability into value by leveraging the power of biotechnology and engineered systems to help our customers reach their ESG goals in a waste-free world. Nicole has over 28 years of industry leadership within water treatment, mining, and chemicals industries and gives us the history and story behind Allonnia, how they work with mining companies, how their technology helps mining companies hit their sustainability goals and thoughts on the trade wars that are having an impact on our industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Allonnia is leveraging synthetic biology to innovate within the mining industry, focusing on transforming waste into value and addressing sustainability challenges through biotechnology. The company is developing solutions for environmental contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane and PFOS, showcasing the potential of biotechnology to remediate harmful substances in various industries, including mining. Allonnia's first product, D-Solve, aims to selectively remove impurities from ore, which can enhance the grade of metals like nickel and improve overall mining efficiency while reducing environmental impact. The mining industry is increasingly open to innovation, with major companies actively seeking partnerships with startups to test and implement new technologies, creating opportunities for faster commercialisation. Focus on Value Unlocking: The immediate economic drivers for biotech in mining are centred around unlocking value from low-grade ores and waste streams, with long-term goals of reducing environmental liabilities and promoting sustainable practices. BEST MOMENTS "Waste is a failure of the imagination. How do you take synthetic biology or really transformational biology and bring that into these processes?"  "In the near term, the biggest driver is in the value unlock... around metals recovery from low-grade ores and waste streams."  "If you shut down a mine for a minute, the millions of dollars they're going to lose is incredible."  "The way we look at it... is that that's been a huge improvement. They're creating innovation challenges."  "What is rare is countries being able to domesticate the processing of those rare earths." 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 Get in touch at https://allonnia.com/contact-us/ Follow Allonnia on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/allonnia/ 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 Karl Akueson, Founder, CEO, and Director of Switch Metals, who are the largest holder of coltan (tantalum and niobium) and lithium licences in Côte d’Ivoire with over 3,000 km2 of licences with their flagship project being the Issia coltan project. Karl is a natural resources entrepreneur and former investment banker with BMO Capital Markets in London, who co-founded Awale Resources and has now established Switch Metals. In this episode, he talks through his entrepreneur journey, the background to Switch Metals and their projects, Côte d’Ivoire as a mining jurisdiction, and the tantalum market, plus more. KEY TAKEAWAYS Switch Metals is primarily focused on tantalum, a metal used in various electronic devices due to its unique properties, such as heat resistance and conductivity. This focus differentiates the company from other mining ventures that typically concentrate on more common commodities like lithium. Cote d'Ivoire is highlighted as an attractive mining jurisdiction due to its infrastructure, stability, and under-explored potential. The country has a growing mining sector, particularly in gold, which provides a supportive environment for new ventures like Switch Metals. The company aims to generate early cash flow through shallow coltan placer mining at the Issia Coltan Project. This approach is designed to provide a strong cash flow foundation, allowing for sustainable operations and further exploration without relying heavily on equity financing. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) considerations are integral to Switch Metals' operations. The company emphasises ethical sourcing and community engagement, ensuring that local communities are informed and involved in the mining process, which helps mitigate the risks associated with artisanal mining. The immediate focus for Switch Metals is on resource definition through systematic pitting and bulk sampling to estimate the grade of tantalum. Following this, the company plans to conduct metallurgical studies and a scoping study to establish economic parameters, paving the way for future production. BEST MOMENTS "Tantalum is a metal that we use daily... It's used in capacitors, in the electronics industry particularly, but also in the cutting industry, in the alloy industry in general." "Cote d'Ivoire had that potential, but nobody really knows about it... I decided to build a company around this potential in the past few years." "We have this advantage of having both some material at surface... It's generally called placer deposits... It's something you can scratch from at the surface very shallow, it's free dig." "ESG is inherent to what we do... We have no choice but to meet all these ESG criteria because our end clients want us to demonstrate that we have traceability." 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.linkedin.com/in/karl-akueson-b3456617/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/switch-metals/ https://switchmetals.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 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.