Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast Podcast

In this episode, we chat with Travis Schwertfeger, Executive Chairman of Many Peaks, a junior miner focusing on adding value through cost- effective minerals exploration and discovery and who are advancing gold and copper projects in West Africa. Travis is a geologist with over 20 years of global industry experience primarily in gold and copper projects working across Australia, Africa, and South and North America. He discusses how Many Peaks formed, what they are looking to achieve in West Africa, and discusses the geology across West Africa and why it's unique about the region. KEY TAKEAWAYS Many Peaks is concentrating its efforts on mineral exploration in West Africa, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire, which is seen as a promising region for gold and copper discoveries due to its geological similarities to other prolific mining areas. The company is employing innovative exploration methods, such as auger drilling and hyperspectral imagery, to navigate the unique geological challenges of West Africa, including the presence of iron-rich layers that complicate traditional geochemical techniques. Many Peaks has three key projects in Côte d'Ivoire, with the Ferke project being the flagship. The company is building on previous exploration successes and aims to expand the known mineralization through systematic drilling. With a tight corporate structure and a current enterprise value significantly lower than comparable companies, Many Peaks presents an attractive opportunity for investors, especially with the potential for substantial re-rates following successful drill results. BEST MOMENTS "Côte d'Ivoire hosts the largest proportion of this greenstone belt. Over 30% of the Proterozoic terrain hosting gold is there, but proportionally it's seen the least amount of exploration versus those neighbouring countries." "We believe Côte d'Ivoire is quite ripe for a generation of discoveries over this coming decade." "We’re implementing a lot of auger drilling just to be able to drill through that cuirass... to get into the clay saprolite where you’ll see the true endowment of gold in the rock." "We have a very tight corporate structure... with a few successful drill holes, we would quite quickly see a substantial re-rate in terms of company valuation." 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 https://manypeaks.com.au/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/many-peaks-gold/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/travis-schwertfeger-09745927/ https://x.com/ManyPeaksASX 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 Gord Neal the CEO of World Copper, a listed junior miner who are an oxide copper-focused exploration, development, and production company with two proven resources, one in Arizona and the other in Chile. Gord has extensive experience in the metals and mining sector, as well as in the capital market, corporate governance, corporate finance, and investor relations, and has raised in excess of U$500M for various resources companies. Today, he discusses the journey of World Copper, the current state of the copper market, valuations in the junior space plus how the US elections could affect the mining industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS World Copper has two main assets: the Zonia Copper Oxide Project in Arizona and the Escalones Oxide Project in Chile. Zonia is positioned for quicker production due to its pre-stripped nature and existing infrastructure, while Escalones has a larger resource but faces permitting challenges due to recent government restrictions. The copper market is currently experiencing a significant deficit, driven by the increasing demand for copper in electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies, and infrastructure development. This demand is expected to rise as the world moves towards decarbonisation. Many junior mining companies, including World Copper, are facing valuation challenges, particularly those with market caps below $50 million. The current market conditions make it difficult for these companies to attract investment and gain attention. World Copper plans to conduct a verification drill program to confirm the presence of copper on leach pads at the Zonia project. Successful verification could significantly enhance the company's market valuation and support its move towards a bankable feasibility study. BEST MOMENTS "The biggest issue is we just don't have enough copper."  "If I can verify that there's $120 million worth of copper that's ready to be processed, any bank in the world is going to give you money."  "It's tough for the juniors... it's hard to get attention, it's hard to get capital."  "The market is a herd mentality... once that happens, everybody jumps in."  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 Website: worldcopperltd.com Email: gneal@worldcopperltd.com Phone: (604) 638-3287​ All Socials (Facebook, X, LinkedIn): @WorldCopperLtd 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 Gavin Ferrar, who is now the new CEO of Central Asia Metals, a base metals producer on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and has a copper operation in Kazakhstan, and a zinc and lead mine in North Macedonia.  With a geology and finance background, Gavin has over 25 years of experience mainly working in the London investment banking sector focusing on debt and derivative financing for mining clients of Barclays Capital and equity and debt investments for Investec. He became the CFO of Central Asia Metals back in 2018 before stepping into the CEO’s shoes just recently. Gavin talks to us about his new role, how the company has progressed during his tenure, their ESG initiatives, and their business development activities especially with their recent investment into Aberdeen Minerals. KEY TAKEAWAYS Central Asia Metals operates two key assets: the Kounrad copper processing facility in Kazakhstan and the Sasa lead-zinc mine in North Macedonia. Both operations have shown strong profitability, with Kounrad achieving a 72% margin and projected copper production of 13,000 to 14,000 tons for the year. The company is transitioning to more efficient mining methods at Sasa, including paste fill and dry stack tailings, which enhance resource extraction, improve safety, and extend the mine's life to 2039. Central Asia Metals is committed to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, including a solar power project in Kazakhstan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and compliance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). The company is actively seeking to expand its portfolio by acquiring additional cash-flowing assets and has invested in ventures like Camel X for greenfields exploration in Kazakhstan and Aberdeen Minerals, which shows promising geological potential. BEST MOMENTS "I think my elevation to the CEO is part of that continuity... two people who understand the business intimately, but are also very keen to drive Central Asia Metals into its next phase of growth." "We've achieved exceptionally high margins, and the recent results that we put out in September, the margins that we're achieving are around 72%, which is fantastic." "The benefits now is that we've got much more efficient extraction of that resource using much more selective mining techniques." "Our goal is to achieve a 50% reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030... this was part of that program in terms of getting there." 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 Website: https://www.centralasiametals.com/ Investor Relations Manager Richard Morgan 36 Carnaby Street London W1F 7DR  +44 (0) 20 7898 9001  richard.morgan@centralasiametals.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 John Lee, CEO and Executive Chairman of Silver Elephant, a TSX & OTC listed mining company with growing silver production from its 100% owned Pulacayo Paca mining project in Bolivia. John has an Economics and Engineering degree, is a CFA charter holder and accredited investor who specialises in mining M&A, raising over $150 million through the TSX and TSX Venture Exchange for junior companies since 2009. Today, he’s going to talk through Silver Elephant, the political and economic risks operating in Bolivia, gives us more of an insight into the silver market, and discuss what the future holds for humanity and why it's important to hold physical gold and silver. KEY TAKEAWAYS John has over 25 years of experience in the mining industry, transitioning from investing in mining stocks to running mining companies. He has raised over $150 million for junior mining companies and has a specialisation in silver. Silver Elephant, formerly known as Prophecy, has been focused on silver since 2016. The Pulacayo project in Bolivia is one of the largest underground silver mines in the world, with over 107 million ounces of indicated silver and a production rate of close to 100 tons per day. Bolivia has experienced fluctuations in foreign investment, particularly under different political regimes. Despite challenges, the country has a strong mining tradition and is considered economically stable, with a growing infrastructure and community relations that are crucial for mining operations. Silver Elephant prioritises sustainability by ensuring environmental protection, local employment, and community training programs. The company aims to leave the project in better condition than it was found, focusing on safety and economic benefits for the local community. BEST MOMENTS "Bolivia is actually the sixth largest silver producer, despite all the lack of foreign investments. It actually produces more silver per year than Argentina." "My definition of ESG is to make sure that we provide economic benefits and skill training. We ensure that the safety and environmental protocols adhere to the absolute highest standards." "The resources are massive, so we don't rely on additional discoveries in order to expand our operations." "I think the reason for that is the metals haven't really caught up to inflation. So the mining companies really haven't delivered cash flow and dividend to 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 John Lee Email: jlee@silverelef.com John Lee Twitter: https://x.com/johnlee25893955Silver Elephant Twitter: https://x.com/SilverElMiningSilver Elephant Website: https://silverelef.com Silver Elephant Tickers: TSX: ELEF; OTCQB: SILEF 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 Roshan Pujari, Founder and Executive Chairman of Stardust Power, who are a company that develops and operates lithium projects in the US to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. They are developing a strategically located lithium refinery in Oklahoma, capable of producing up to 50K tonnes annually of battery-grade lithium. Roshan has over 20 years of analysis and deal-making experience as the Founder and CEO of VIKASA Capital, where he oversaw the firm’s energy transition business. Roshan explains the strategic outlook for Stardust Power with the lithium refinery, the US energy transition, and why they are focusing their activities in Oklahoma.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Stardust Power aims to develop North America's largest lithium refinery in Muskogee, Oklahoma, with a production capacity of 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium annually to support the growing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. The refinery's location in Oklahoma provides strategic advantages, including proximity to multiple sources of lithium brine and established transportation infrastructure, which helps mitigate risks associated with relying on single assets. Sustainability is a core value for Stardust Power, with plans to utilise electric production lines, zero liquid discharge technology, and sourcing power from renewable energy sources like wind and solar to minimise environmental impact. The company is committed to engaging with the local community in Muskogee, focusing on workforce training and education to prepare for the new green jobs created by the energy transition, leveraging the existing skilled workforce in the region. BEST MOMENTS "We saw a lot of investment going upstream into raw material production... but the critical gap in the supply chain was really refining capacity." "Sustainability is built into each step of our process... we're designing all of our trains as electric, so the production lines do not produce air emissions." "Oklahoma has always been at the crossroads of U.S. American leadership in the energy sector... it's a great place to start a new business." "We want to move appropriately, but we really want to move fast... we believe we're very close to that process from definitive supply upstream." 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 https://stardust-power.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/stardust-power/ https://x.com/SDST_Power www.youtube.com/@Stardust-Power https://www.instagram.com/sdst_power/ 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 Mike Ralston, CEO of Blencowe Resources, who owns 100% of the Orom-Cross graphite project in Uganda.  This is a huge deposit (estimated 2-3 billion tonnes) with proven high-grade end products (via substantial met test work, including the recently completed 600t bulk sample testing in China) and a 21-year mining license.  This project is now at Definitive Feasibility Study stage with first production in 2025.  Mike is a chartered accountant with 25 years of experience successfully developing businesses worldwide, including several in Africa where he has considerable expertise. He has been a senior executive and board member for several junior listed resource companies over the past 17 years and has raised over A$300m in debt and equity over that period. He discusses the history of Blencowe, educates us on the graphite market, how the Orom-Cross will move into production in the near term, and explains Uganda as a mining jurisdiction KEY TAKEAWAYS Blencowe Resources, established in 2019, owns the Orom-Cross Graphite Project in Uganda, which is estimated to contain 2-3 billion tons of high-grade graphite. The project is currently in the definitive feasibility study stage, with first production expected in 2025. The demand for graphite, particularly small flake graphite used in lithium-ion batteries, is anticipated to grow significantly, potentially reaching 3-4 million tons per annum by 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing production of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage solutions. Many graphite projects struggle to move from the definitive feasibility stage to production due to high operating costs, capital requirements, and the need for high-purity end products. The lack of new graphite mines entering production exacerbates supply constraints in the market. Uganda is recognised for its mineral wealth, including graphite, and the government is actively working to develop the mining sector. The stability of the government and recent changes in mining laws have created a more favourable environment for investment in mining projects. BEST MOMENTS "You need three things to make a project work: low cost to operate, low capital cost to build it, and high purity of end product." "The anticipated growth in the market is around the small flake product because that's what gets further purified and ultimately put into lithium-ion batteries." "There's not many, if any, graphite new graphite companies, mines going into production. While we're seeing this demand growth, we're not seeing a corresponding growth in supply." "Uganda is a great jurisdiction. It's stable, and the government's been running under the same government since 1986, so it's definitely got the stability factor." 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 https://blencoweresourcesplc.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/blencowe-resources/     https://x.com/BlencoweRes 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 Hayden Locke, CEO of Marimaca Copper who are a TSX-listed copper miner that have a flagship asset which is their Mari-maca Copper Project in Chile’s Antofagasta region which has the promise to become one of the most significant copper‐oxide discoveries in recent years. An engineer by background, Hayden is an experienced mining executive with a demonstrated track record in mining & metals, investment banking, private equity and technology having spent the latter part of his career developing and leading successful LSE and ASX-listed mining companies. Today he discusses the background of Marimaca Copper, their flagship project, what Copper holds in store for us and much more. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Marimaca Copper Project in Chile is one of only a few new copper oxide discoveries made globally in the last decade, highlighting its potential importance in addressing the growing demand for copper. The project is characterised by its all-oxide resource, which allows for a lower capital intensity compared to traditional copper concentrate projects. This includes the absence of tailings storage and a simpler processing method using heap leaching. Securing environmental permits is identified as the biggest risk facing the project. The company is focused on thorough preparation to ensure compliance and mitigate risks associated with environmental approvals. There is a consensus that underinvestment in copper exploration and production, combined with increasing demand driven by the energy transition, could lead to a significant rise in copper prices in the coming years. BEST MOMENTS "Marimaca is one of only 3 or 4 new copper discoveries that have been made globally in the last 10 years. That is a really remarkable and quite frightening statistic for such a fundamental commodity." "We think we'll have some of the best return on investor capital metrics in the market. The biggest challenges always with every mining project is environmental permitting." "There has not been enough money spent, particularly in exploration, to find new copper projects. What that means is, as demand increases, you need to be finding and bringing on new production." "We are very focused on becoming a copper producer and moving as quickly as we can to do that." 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 https://marimaca.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/marimaca-copper-corp/ https://marimaca.com/presentations/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayden-locke-171aa220/ 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 Mark Learmonth, CEO of Caledonia Mining, who are a gold producer with a 64% stake in Blanket Mine and other assets in Zimbabwe.  Mark has over 25 years experience in corporate finance and investment banking, predominantly in the resources sector in Africa and has been with Caledonia Mining for over 15 years and tells us about the history of the company, their project and how Zimbabwe is as a mining jurisdiction. KEY TAKEAWAYS Caledonia Mining has shifted its focus primarily to gold production in Zimbabwe, particularly through its flagship asset, Blanket Mine, which has been operational since 1907. The company initially explored cobalt in Zambia but pivoted to gold after acquiring Blanket Mine in 2006 for $4 million. The potential of Zimbabwe's gold resources was recognised as largely untapped due to historical challenges in the country. Navigating Zimbabwe's complex bureaucratic and foreign exchange control systems poses significant challenges for mining companies. Caledonia Mining has developed expertise in managing these complexities, which has contributed to its success in the region. Caledonia Mining is advancing the Bilbo's project, which has a resource endowment of 2.5 million ounces of gold. The project is expected to produce 150,000 ounces annually over ten years, with plans to upgrade its preliminary economic assessment to a feasibility study. BEST MOMENTS "Zimbabwe is incredibly prospective for gold... it's pretty much elephant country."  "The biggest challenge comes down to foreign exchange controls... if you don't know what you're doing, you just go round and round in small circles." "We have this unique ability to navigate the administrative channels to make it work."  "Our approach... is to maximise the NPV per share of Caledonia."  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 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/condor-resources/ Website: https://www.caledoniamining.com/X - https://x.com/CaledoniaMiningYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@caledoniaminingcorporation9285Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/caledonia-mining-corp-cal-/ 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 Adam Wooldridge, CEO of Cobre Ltd who are a copper exploration and development company with a focus on the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB) in Botswana, one of the most prospective areas globally for new sedimentary copper discoveries. Adam is an experienced geophysicist and geologist with over 25 years of experience in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, where he has worked in exploration management and consulting positions across a variety of deposit types specialising in large-scale multi-disciplinary target generation. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cobre Limited is a copper exploration and development company primarily focused on the Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana, which is recognised as one of the most prospective areas globally for sedimentary copper discoveries. The company is exploring in-situ copper recovery methods, which offer advantages over traditional mining techniques, such as lower capital and operational costs, reduced environmental impact, and the ability to recover copper from lower-grade deposits. Participation in BHP's Xplor program has provided valuable insights into large-scale exploration strategies, emphasising a process-driven approach to identifying potential Tier 1 deposits rather than merely targeting specific sites. Cobre employs a three-pronged strategy that includes bulk-scale exploration for large deposits, strategic drilling for shorter-term returns, and a development story focused on advancing their flagship project. BEST MOMENTS "We found gravity hugely useful and we've basically taken the belt and broken it down into a series of sub basins... This allows you to be way more effective with your target generation." "If you can get your recovery rate to 40, 50 or 60%, you've got probably something on the lowest CapEx OpEx curve for mining." "The real key for us is if you have a higher grade zone and you use a traditional mining method, you're going to recover most of your ore body. Whereas here, you probably recover half." "The accessibility of your department of mines, for example, you can actually speak to people quite easily and have meetings with them." 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 W: www.cobre.com.au E: info@cobre.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-wooldridge-44a72788/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/cobre-limited/about/ X: https://x.com/cobrelimited  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 Dr Pat Foster, Head of Camborne School of Mines & Professor in Mine Safety at University of Exeter where he lectures and undertakes research into the health, safety, and working environment aspects of mining and quarrying. Pat is going to talk to us about the Camborne School of Mines and discuss the eagerly awaited restart of the undergraduate mining engineering degree and also the recent introduction of the degree apprenticeship in mining engineering and how people within the industry can apply plus much more. Please share this episode to help improve mining as a brand and get more people interested in our industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Camborne School of Mines is set to reintroduce its undergraduate mining engineering degree next year, following a pause in 2020 due to low student intake. This decision is driven by increased demand for graduates in the mining sector, particularly in light of the UK's critical metals strategy. A new degree apprenticeship in mining engineering has been launched, allowing students to work while studying part-time. This model enables apprentices to gain practical experience and earn a salary without incurring student debt, making it an attractive option for those entering the industry. The new mining engineering degree will feature a common first year with a focus on generic engineering skills, followed by specialised modules in subsequent years. This structure aims to attract a broader pool of students and enhance employability by integrating essential skills relevant to the evolving mining industry. The development of the degree apprenticeship involved collaboration with industry stakeholders, including the Mining Association of the UK. This partnership ensures that the curriculum meets the needs of employers and prepares students for the challenges of modern mining practices. BEST MOMENTS "The demand for critical metals has really spurred this introduction... Our industry probably has never been as vital as it is now. It's crucial to the energy transition, the green economy." "Mining engineering takes the best bits of other engineering disciplines... It's not just about mining. Many of my peers have gone on to great things as well." "We need to work with industry, professional institutions. We all have a role in doing this... We need to promote ourselves." "If we want to improve the image, the branding, get more people into our industry... this episode needs to be shared." 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 Degree Apprenticeship https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/degreeapprenticeships/programmes/mining/ The Mining Engineering part-time degree (which is the equivalent of the degree apprenticeship for international students) https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/mining/miningb/ Contact email for Degree apprenticeships or the equivalent international part-time programme is: miningDAPT@exeter.ac.uk Full-time course: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/mining/ 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.