Dig Deep

Today we speak to Stewart Dickson, CEO - Variscan Mines Limited, a natural resources company focused on the development of high-impact base-metal projects who currently have projects in Australia, Spain and Chile. Stewart’s journey into mining isn’t the norm as he started off in the military so I was curious to know and understand how he got into the mining industry and learn how someone with a non-technical mining background can develop a career in the mining industry.     In this episode, we chat about what qualities are needed from people that are not from a mining background. We talk about the skills and experience Stewart has bought to the mining industry and his emphasis on teams, trust and cooperation which are so important in management today. We also cover risk and opportunity working in developing countries.     KEY TAKEAWAYS  An unconventional pathway  My career in the military provided me with a great foundation for working in the mining industry.  There are some common traits between the oil and gas mining industries and the military that allowed me to empathise with management teams.  These traits include being able to face up to a challenge whether technical, physical, political, intellectual and a willingness and desire to go out and achieve an objective or corporate intent irrespective of the circumstances.    It’s the will to win mentality and the ability and desire to see a project through from inception to completion.  Being non-technical  The nature of the industry, it’s multidisciplinary and complex, requires a comprehensive approach to situations, projects and opportunities.  Non-technical people benefit from not thinking in a particular way or are rigid because of expertise in a particular area.  You need to have the right people with the right skills in the right role  The role of the senior leader is to bring people together effectively to win or lose together as a team.  Good teams  You use the enriched experiences of those around you and what binds it together is clarity of intent, the unifying purpose needs to come from the leadership. Without commitment from leadership, the team will struggle to operate.  The key is clarity of intent everybody in the organisation knows what they are trying to achieve.  They know that whatever actions they take they are directed towards achieving the plan or purpose.  Leadership style  There is no right way or right pathway you have to be comfortable of your own strengths and weaknesses  There is no right way and if you try to be someone you are not it will not stand up in a stressful or complex situation  We are in a  hyper-connected world there will be times where you are looking at a physical situation with virtual aspects as well.  Trust your team you’ve hired and nurtured them.  If you apply this most of the time people pay you back hugely.    BEST MOMENTS  ‘It’s looking at situations in a 360 way’  ‘You need to want to win with personal resilience and robustness along with the fortitude to deal with what comes in front of you’  ‘In mining it’s all about the prevent phase - your social licence and engagement’     VALUABLE RESOURCES  The Dig Deep Mining Podcast  Variscan Mining website      ABOUT THE HOST  Rob Tyson  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 insight to people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  Rob 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 the first world to third world countries from Africa, Europe, 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’ organisation 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  Email Rob at rob@mining-international.org  Rob’s LinkedIn          Mining InternationalOfficial Website          Mining International’sTwitter       Mining International’sFacebook

In this episode, we chat to Martin Horgan, ex-director of Toro Gold, an African Gold explorer and developer recently bought out by Resolute Mining, who acquired their flagship asset Mako Gold Mine (Mako) located in Senegal.  I was really interested in getting Martin on the podcast as he has achieved a lot with Toro Gold and he didn’t necessarily follow the normal path that most other junior mining explorers would normal follow. We talk about his background, working on site, in the consultancy space, and then into the banking sector before starting an exploration company. We also discuss Toro Gold; how they made a greenfield discovery and took it successfully into production and an exit, which isn't the normal path an exploration company take, and why they remained in private hands rather than in a public listed company KEY TAKEAWAYS Martin’s extensive experience has seen him travel the world and work in all sectors of the mining industry. During the late 2000’s, against the accepted wisdom, Martin decided to start a business, affirming that his contacts and opportunities would help him to establish a real player. He established Toro in 2009 as a result. Job opportunities when leaving university back in the nineties was significantly easier as companies were actively seeking future stars at the universities themselves.  Many UK graduates feel that they are overlooked when it comes to employment, in favour of Australian or Canadian graduates, due to their indigenous mining backgrounds. To this, Martin recommends that UK graduates also study a second language; French perhaps, as this can give the graduate an advantage. The fundamental success of any business comes down to the people. Having people who were highly competent in their individual disciplines was key to the success of Toro. It’s surprising that many in the mining industry don’t deliver on their promises. One of Toro’s core principles is that it always makes sure to follow through on any promises given. This has led to an increase in trust in the company, and the reason for its lofty position as one of the more respected parts of the mining industry. The mining sector has something of an image issue. it is one of the more ignored in today’s civilisation, and yet it is perhaps the most important. There are hardly any goods on sale today that are not sourced from the proceeds of some kind of mining or exploration. Education is desperately needed in order to ensure the next generation of mining professionals. .BEST MOMENTS ’In those days, companies were still doing the “milk round”' ‘I’ve seen the sector from several different perspectives’ ‘It’s like Trivial Pursuit’ ’There’s no magic formula to it’ ‘It is actually a clean and ethical industry’ ‘We’re going to put the band back together' VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes Martin Horgan LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-horgan-038b298/?originalSubdomain=uk Resolute Mining - https://www.rml.com.au ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3

In this podcast, we speak to Sarah Gordon, Managing Director at Satarla who are a global network of trainers, consultants and researchers who believe that risk management should be practical and enable real decisions to be made and acted on, with mining at the core of their business. Sarah often speaks at events and after seeing her talk earlier this year, and also having heard her speak at the recent Mines & Money event in London, I’m excited she agreed to appear on this podcast. We talk about how she got her first graduate role and gives some tips for graduates looking for their first job. This episode provides a great insight around risk management and what mining companies should be implementing not only in their due diligence but also during operations.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Geology is all about uncertainty. No geologist truly knows about what is going on beneath the surface of the planet until someone excavates. Geologists are like risk managers in this regard, and so transitioning to this sector was a natural movie for Sarah. Sarah got her break in Anglo-American by going to a careers fair, where Rio Tinto were promoting their student internship scheme. While applying for Tinto, she applied for Anglo, who contacted her first. Putting yourself out there is certainly a better way of getting yourself noticed when leaving education. Every opportunity is a good opportunity. Never be afraid to speak up. Go to events, talks and networking summits. Tell them you’re a student and you will often get reductions, and in most cases, free of charge. Make sure you have business cards and CVs printed when talking to potential employers. Make sure you stand out, and make sure you follow up! Satarla’s goal when it was founded, was to provide rick management that was practical and accessible at all levels of the organisation.  Risk management varies from country to country. The issue many companies have is that they try to apply solutions and lessons learned to every territory worldwide. But they need to be re-evaluated on a territorial basis. Over the past few years, most other sectors have gradually brought all risk management sectors together into enterprise-wide risk management. Risk management is in danger of becoming overcomplicated by bureaucracy. It needs to become less management focussed and more assessment focussed. Simplify your process into four steps: Understand what the context is and how it’s changing together with your objectives. Identify those risks. Put in place the controls to manage those risks. Monitor, review, and report. .BEST MOMENTS ‘Within the world of geology you’re typically focussed upon what’s going on beneath the surface of the earth’ ‘When you’re trying to stand out, making sure everything is right helps’ ‘Make sure you hook into their memory’ ‘Risk management is that mechanism through which people can truly understand what the objectives are that they’re trying to achieve’ ‘Risk is being pushed into the management space instead of the assessment space' VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes Satarla - https://www.satarla.com Sarah Gordon LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-gordon-a618821a/?originalSubdomain=uk ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3

Today’s podcast is with a very special guest: Owen Hegarty, a well renowned mining legend of the industry with over 40 years industry experience, who has managed and been involved with many mining companies and operations in Australia and Asia during his career.  Owen is Executive Chairman of EMR Capital who are a specialist resources private equity company with over 300 years combined mining operational and investment experience. They own and operate 9 mining operations and projects in 7 countries globally, across 4 core commodities, with a proven track record in the three dimensions critical to achieving superior investment returns. In this episode we talk about his early days with Rio Tinto, how he then branched out on his own and what challenges he faced from a corporate role to the start of his entrepreneur journey. We also discuss how EMR Capital has developed as a company and what their future plans are. This is an interesting, informal and enjoyable podcast in the company of Owen, a man who has achieved much in the industry, and which is well worth a listen. KEY TAKEAWAYS Owen’s experience in the industry has stretched north of forty years. He joined Rio Tinto after leaving university, during a time in which graduates were highly sought after. Owen helped to grow the Mighty Ox from a few million dollars to a few billion dollars. It was an “overnight success” that took fifteen years.  If you are confident in your experience, and if you have faith in the team you have assembled, then you will be able to grow your business and scale effectively. Owen states that initial choices of focus are key. The key areas in which to focus your attention when scaling are:  Your team Your chosen commodities Project selection Investors The mining industry needs to remember that we are all guests in someone else’s land, and we should treat them with the according respect.  EMR are very proud of their portfolio of projects, and are the result of extensive preparation and ongoing successful relationships built over many years. Potential projects need to be acceptable on several different criteria: They must have the potential scale Grade - The quality Conventional process - The project must not require operational advancements in order to make it work Low cost, long life and lots of upside benefits The regime must be stable and secure There must be a clear exit plan for the future .BEST MOMENTS ‘I was really very lucky to be involved in all commodities and all countries’ ‘I went from the big end of town to the small end of town’ ‘Choose your people well. Choose your commodities well. Choose your projects well. Choose your investors well. And then get on with it as though your life depends on it’ ‘You’re testing yourself all the time’ ‘We need to work with them and engender trust’ ‘It must have the scale and it must have the grade' VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes EMR Capital - https://www.emrcapital.com/en-us Owen Hegarty - https://www.owenhegarty.com ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3

In today’s podcast we interview Ricus Grimbeek, President and CEO at Trevali Mining Corporation, a base metals company with four mines in Peru, Canada, Namibia and Burkina Faso.  Ricus is an experienced mining executive with nearly 30 years experience in the resource sector working in Australia, South Africa and Canada during his career. During this interview we chat how Trevali Mining is developing as a company and whats happening in the zinc market with the price of zinc decreasing. We also cover how technology is playing its part in the company and the realities of climate change on the industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ricus began as a coal miner before breaking away to study mining in South Africa. He also spent a few years in corporate functions. This varied background has given him a rare insight into the many facets of the mining industry. Safety, health and sustainability are of paramount importance to Ricus and Trevali. In his opinion, safety should be guaranteed for all employees and the communities in 3which they operate. Ricus recommends a full practical knowledge of the mining business from the ground up, to anyone who wishes to enter the industry, including aspiring executives. The best advice Ricus offers to those wishing to jump from operations to corporate, is not to do it too early. Not only will the personal upheaval be too much, but it’s good to get as much on-the-job knowledge as possible. Trevali is one of the top zinc producers in the world. Ricus classifies this as one of the greenest metals, and one that will be more important in the future. Climate change has had long and short term impacts around the world. Places that are seeing water supply under threat are no longer as attractive to the industry, as it is such a key component in operations. Mining needs to lead by example, and show that good can come from their operations, whereas public perception may lead many to believe that it is environmentally detrimental. Processes such as underground mining can be beneficial. .BEST MOMENTS ‘From a young age I’ve been passionate about sustainability’ ‘You can’t tell governments and communities what to do. You have to be really good at listening’ ‘Don’t progress too early in your career’ ‘We’re not starting from ground zero’ ‘As an industry we need to take a step back’ ‘I’m very excited about what’s possible' VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes Ricus Grimbeek LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricus-grimbeek-41a916b/?originalSubdomain=ca Ricus is going to be speaking at the upcoming Mines and Money Conference from 25th -27th November and as Dig Deep The Mining Podcast is a partner to this event, then as a subscriber, you can take advantage of 25% discount by using the code DIG25 at check out. Mines and Money London is the world’s largest mining and investment show, bringing together over 2000 mining and investment professionals. With ever more volatility in the markets, M&M London is looking at a record year’s attendance. Evidenced by their headline attendees and speakers including Robert Friedland, and Black Rock's Evy Hambro.  If you are interested in attending this year's event, with over 150 exhibiting mining companies, 600+ investors, leading tech contributors and expert facilitators, then take advantage of 25% discount by using code DIG25 at check out. Book your tickets now and hope to see you there. London Mines And Money - https://london.minesandmoney.com ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, 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 organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3

In this podcast, we interview Mike Jones, MD of Impact Minerals, an exploration company listed on the ASX with four extensive tenement holdings within Australia, (NSW, QLD & WA) featuring significant potential for high-grade mineral deposits of gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper and nickel. We discuss the Australian mining market and what challenges it faces as the market is buoyant, and the progress of Impact Minerals and what they are looking to achieve. KEY TAKEAWAYS The mining industry in Australia is extremely busy today. This is mainly due to a huge surge in gold and lithium, which led to money being poured into producers.  A few huge discoveries in Victoria and in Western Australia, have led to the mining industry there turning a corner, and becoming sought after by investors. With the five-year downturn, mining in Australia has seen a large downturn in new recruits, especially amongst young people. Technology is fine, but there’s no substitute for human instinct. Blackridge is the main focus for Impact Minerals right now. It is the conglomerate host of gold projects and so acts as the epicentre of activity. Aside from normal operation challenges, the main issues affecting Impact are around technology. Advancements have meant huge challenges in data and applications, but also have increased productivity immensely. Over the next decade, Mike wants Impact to attract more value, which will allow the company to expand and to seek out wealthier resources. Persistence is the key in exploration. .BEST MOMENTS ‘It was a big step to take’ ‘I could probably run a mining company as badly as these people can!’ ‘Each of the cycles is different’ ‘It takes time, and time is money’ ’The amount of data generated is extraordinary’ ‘Hopefully I’ll be a yacht in the Mediterranean!' VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes Impact Minerals - https://impactminerals.com.au Mike Jones LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jones-48831615/?originalSubdomain=au info@impactminerals.com.au ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3

Todays guest is Patrick Cheetham, Chairman and MD of Sunrise Resources, a mining company who acquire, explore and develop mineral projects, and who are currently developing a project to mine natural pozzolan and perlite in Nevada, USA.  We talk about the uses of natural pozzolan and perlite and how Sunrise Resources are developing the project in the US. KEY TAKEAWAYS Patrick’s background is in geology, and always found the subject fascinating. This stood him in good stead when he went to college, and subsequently was recruited by Western Mining in Australia. Sunrise began as a diamond exploration concern. After working in this market, Sunrise realised that raising capital was difficult, and so broadened its focus. Pozzolan is one of the most important deposits in the world and acts as a naturally occurring cement, and has numerous invaluable uses throughout the industrial world. Perlite has the additional property of popping when heated to high temperatures. This is used in horticulture to aerate soil, and is also used in insulation. Sunrise’s main consumers are ready-mix companies, who use pozzolan in concrete, which is a vital ingredient in fly ash. Pozzolan has a value similar to cement in terms of money. It doesn’t stand huge transport differences, and is mainly used in the USA. Mine permitting is key for Sunrise in the future, which will allow for production to begin in earnest when 2020 arrives. Agreements with utility providers, and sourcing water for projects are also high on the agenda. .BEST MOMENTS ‘It’s not as easy when you don’t have the money behind you!’ ‘Perlite pops like popcorn’ ’The Pantheon dome is still the world’s largest expanse of concrete’ ’There’s no natural pozzolan produced in the UK’ VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes Sunrise Resources - https://www.sunriseresourcesplc.com Patrick Cheetham LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-cheetham-444a782/?originalSubdomain=uk https://www.mining-international.org/#one ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, 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 organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3    

Today’s podcast is with Andrew Reid, COO of Hastings Technology Metals, an ASX-listed leading Australian rare earths company with two rare earths projects in Western Australia. Rare earths are critical in the manufacture of a wide variety of new consumer and industrial technologies and these range from flat-screen TVs and energy-efficient light bulbs to hybrid cars, wind turbines and military hardware. In this episode, we talk their Yangibana Project and what they have achieved so far and what part this mine will play in the rare earth’s space which is significant outside of China.     KEY TAKEAWAYS  I spent my first ten years working in mining in Australia and then spent time in Africa.  You need a diverse range of skills to work as an expat. You will work alongside others with both low and high-level skill sets and need to understand that for some education may be lower.  Working as an expat is not for everyone the conditions can be difficult but I developed into the person I am with the skills I have as a result of my experiences.  Hastings Technology was kickstarted in earnest in 2014 with an exploration program and the technical staff realised early on that the initial investigations were coming back with rare earth and in particular neodymium and praseodymium resources at Yangibana.  Rare earths are on the periodic table and they always appear together.  When you mine rare earths, you get them together and as a result, you need a complex processing plant.  We are designing a processing plant that will nominally take about million tonnes of ore feed a year.  You have to extract from the ground and then concentrate the elements to an economic level, separate them into a powdered oxide and further down the line into forms that can be turned into the final products.  Powered magnets are a major component in the tsunami of electric vehicles we are seeing coming onto the market and Hasting Technology is now very well placed to meet the needs of a growing marketplace.  When we are producing 3,400 tonnes this will be 6-7% of the world’s supply. The project will be in a very good position to be on the leading edge for receiving finance  The rare earths mining market is unique mainly because its dominated and controlled so closely by China and a lot of the market is under long term contracts. The growing electric car sector is a continuing factor in the importance of rare earths as a commodity.  There needs to be better awareness and education for people around rare earths.  We are in very exciting times and Hastings Technology is at the forefront of new relationships. It takes its responsibilities and the opportunities that come with being involved in the technology of electric vehicles very seriously and as the use of permanent magnets globally in technology continues to grow the possible applications are increasing.     BEST MOMENTS  ‘There are many processes that are undertaken before you get to the end product’  ‘We have already received our early works permit and so have been able to build the infrastructure required for the project’  ‘The stamp of approval from the highest environmental group, the EPA is vital to allow the permits to be granted’     VALUABLE RESOURCES  The Dig Deep Mining Podcast  Hastings Technology Metals website     ABOUT THE HOST  Rob Tyson  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 insight to people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  Rob 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 the first world to third world countries from Africa, Europe, 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’ organisation 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  Email Rob at rob@mining-international.org   Rob’s LinkedIn            Mining InternationalOfficial Website           Mining International’sTwitter       Mining International’sFacebook   

Mental health is a topic that features heavily in the news these days. In this podcast we interview Michael Weston, an advocate & keynote speaker around mental health providing both the public and workplaces with an insight into his personal life experience, whilst highlighting the importance of mental health and wellbeing. Michael worked in the Western Australian mining industry for twenty years, when one day back in 2013 (ready for work), he was found by his neighbour, unconscious and not breathing.  Whilst Michael survived, he spent the next two years searching for a diagnosis and answers to why he couldn't function as well as he had prior to the incident. As doctors and specialists began investigating further, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an acquired brain injury (ABI) were diagnosed. The conclusion they came to was that work and a stressful work environment had contributed to his collapse, and so this episode may resonate with many of those who might be suffering similar conditions in the workplace. KEY TAKEAWAYS Michael spent many years working in the mining industry in Australia, in some of the most high-pressured and diverse sectors. But although the stress was high, Michael loved the job. One of the first signs that Michael was not doing well, was the change in his personality. His wife noticed to begin with, and commented that he wasn’t acting like himself. Soon afterwards, Michael was found collapsed, face-down on his driveway. The problem is that many people don’t receive physical warning signs when a collapse is imminent. Lack of concentration, and mindfulness, is often put down to simple fatigue, instead of being treated as a major warning beacon. Ultimately, Michael’s body refused to cooperate with his mind and shut itself down. Michael’s state of mind was seriously deteriorating, and had taken far too much on in the workplace. Anxiety and depression manifest early, and should always be discussed. Treatment should be sought as soon as possible, in order to prevent collapse and subsequent health issues. The first place to admit you’re feeling overwhelmed is at work. Tell your workplace that you are feeling consumed, and be honest.  Finding a work life balance is as essential to lasting happiness as an efficient and healthy workplace. Allowing flexibility, and listening to our staff when they are troubled will save many issues down the line. .BEST MOMENTS ’There was a bit of gold at the end of the tunnel’ ‘Red isn’t always bad’ ‘I need to get to work. I’m going to be late for a meeting…' ‘We were all under the pump’ ‘You’ve got to put your hand up for help’ VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes www.michaelweston.com.au Michael Weston LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelweston1/?originalSubdomain=au Michael Weston Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MichaelWestonBrainInjury Michael Weston Twitter - https://twitter.com/michaelweston26 ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3

In this episode we chat to John Lewins, CEO of K92 Mining Inc, a gold mining producer with an operating mine in Papua New Guinea. We talk about how the company has progressed, how it has achieved its incredible results, and what plans they have for the future.  We discuss what opportunity challenges and opportunity lie within Papua New Guinea, and how the mining industry can develop in the country. KEY TAKEAWAYS With the low, sustaining costs they have, K92 are generating good cash flow, and next year is predicting cashflow in excess of eighteen million US dollars. K92 have exploration on their mining lease, including five diamond drilling rigs; two from the surface and three underground. This allows three thousand a month in diamond drilling from the combined five rigs. Papua New Guinea has some of the best geology in the world, but there are three fundamental challenges there: Climate - Very high rainfall area. Geography/Topography - Many mines are in the highlands or on islands, which makes building mining infrastructure difficult. Community - Eight million people speaking eight hundred languages. PNG has less than two hundred thousand taxpayers out of eight million people, which means that many people there are subsitence farmers. Land is incredibly important, therefore, and so mining can prove very challenging. Jobs are very important. The future is also crucial. Education is highly desirable, and so can prove an effective tool in getting communities on side. .BEST MOMENTS ‘All of the exploration work we want to do is funded from our own cashflow’ ‘We’re looking to take that to five million ounces by Q1’ ’We get about eight to ten metres of rainfall per year’ ‘Land is incredibly important' VALUABLE RESOURCES   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes John will also be speaking at the upcoming IMARC Conference in Melbourne from 29-31st October where he will be giving a ‘Mining Spotlight’ project update on K92 Mining Inc. Dig Deep has partnered with the International Mining and Resources Conference event in Melbourne where global mining leaders connect with technology, finance and the future.  Now in its 6th year, it is Australia’s largest mining event bringing together over 7000 decision makers, mining leaders, policy makers, investors, commodity buyers, technical experts, innovators and educators from over 100 countries to Melbourne for four days of learning, deal-making and unparalleled networking. All Dig Deep listeners can receive 10% off tickets when you register with the discount code DIGDEEP. Visit the website to purchase your ticket: https://imarcmelbourne.com/ ABOUT THE HOST 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 to peoples experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.   Rob 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, Middle East, Asia and Australia. We source, headhunt and discover new and top talent talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients organisation 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/ www.mining-international.org https://twitter.com/MiningConsult https://www.facebook.com/MiningInternational.org https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69dGPS29lmakv-D7LWJg_Q?guided_help_flow=3