On The Rocks: Recent Episodes
Presented by Prospector with Host Emily King
Presented by Mining Futurist and Prospector Founder & CEO Emily King, On The Rocks discusses mining insights and innovation through a uniquely lighthearted lens.
To round up our May Mental Health Month, host Emily King was joined by Dr. Haydon Mort and Peggy Bell to talk about Neurodivergence in the mining industry! What is it, how can your team embrace this "different" thinking style, and more! Haydon and Peggy share personal stories and insights, as well as give tips and tricks for incorporating neurodivergent inclusivity into your team.
Be sure to follow us on social media to stay tuned for the next Monthly Mining Roundup, and join us live!
In this episode of the On the Rocks Podcast by Prospector, host Emily King sits down with Alex Michshenko, CEO of Trident Maor, for a deep dive into the world of uranium. As they reflect on the historical origins of uranium mining in the US and its subsequent decline, they uncover the complex web of factors contributing to its resurgence in the present day. From geopolitical tensions to supply chain vulnerabilities, they explore the challenges facing the uranium industry and discuss potential solutions. Throughout the conversation, they shed light on the critical importance of talent cultivation and strategic planning in shaping the future of nuclear energy.
This episode mentions many trigger topics surrounding mental health. Please note this when considering when and how you listen.
Join Emily King and guest Hazel Duffy, founder of EnjoyYourMine, as they delve into the crucial topic of mental health and wellbeing in the global mining industry. May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, so Hazel shares insights into the unique challenges faced by on-site workers and the innovative solutions provided by EnjoyYourMine. From fostering supportive communities to providing vital resources for mental resilience, discover how the mining industry is reshaping its approach to employee wellbeing.
Join Emily King and guest Jon Mortensen, Global Chief Technology Officer for Enterprise Asset Management for IFS, as they explore the intersection of technology and the mining industry. From discussing the crucial role of software solutions in asset management to addressing sustainability challenges, delve into how innovation is reshaping mining operations worldwide.
In this episode of On the Rocks, we catch up again with Tara Christie, President and CEO of Banyan Gold Corp. Emily and Tara delve into the current state of gold prices, market dynamics, and the challenges and opportunities facing junior exploration companies. From analyzing the surge in gold prices to discussing strategies for effective capital management, they provide valuable insights drawn from their experience in the mining industry. The conversation also explores the importance of innovation in mining operations and the complexities of balancing technological advancements with community engagement and job creation. Grab a drink and dig in!
In this episode of On the Rocks, host Emily King is joined by Dr. Steven Schafrik, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, where he intersects the worlds of mining engineering and bourbon production.
Digging into the unexpected synergy between these two fields, Dr. Schafrik shares how mining technologies are being applied to solve unique challenges within the bourbon industry, such as warehouse corrosion and maturation processes.
This episode not only uncovers the scientific crossover but also celebrates the innovative collaboration that drives both industries forward.
Tune in for a deep dive into how the science of mining is enhancing Kentucky's cherished bourbon legacy!
In this episode of On the Rocks, host Emily King welcomes Ira Gostin, a seasoned professional in investor relations and capital markets strategy. Gostin delves into his background in marketing and communications, emphasizing the crucial role of storytelling in connecting mining companies with investors. He discusses the impact of the "Robinhood Era" on retail investment, the significance of understanding audience demographics, and the necessity for mining companies to adapt their communication strategies to reach diverse investor groups effectively. Gostin also provides practical advice for investors new to the mining industry, making this a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of mining and investor relations!
In this transformative episode of the On the Rocks Podcast, hosted by Emily King and sponsored by KPI Mining, experts Benny Cohen, Matheus Faria, and Giovanni Santos dive deep into the world of mining optimization through the lens of stochastic mine planning. They shed light on how traditional challenges of uncertainty in mining operations can be mitigated by embracing stochastic optimization techniques, originally honed in the oil and gas industry. The discussion explores the significant impacts of this approach, including improved Net Present Value (NPV), enhanced recovery rates, and more accurate forecasts, thereby enabling mining companies to make better-informed decisions and optimize their operations for higher efficiency and profitability.
In this enlightening episode of the On the Rocks Podcast, host Emily King chats with Ernest Scheyder, a senior correspondent at Reuters and author of "The War Below: Lithium, copper, and the global battle to power our lives". Scheyder delves into the critical minerals like lithium and copper that underpin the green energy transition. The discussion unfolds the complexities surrounding mining projects, the environmental and indigenous rights considerations, and the geopolitical chess game of mineral supply chains. With personal stories and professional insights, Scheyder highlights the crucial choices facing society in the quest for a sustainable future.
This week on On the Rocks, host Emily King chats with Julia Souder, the CEO of LDES Council! Tune in for the full episode!
The mining industry faced significant challenges in 2023 – fluctuating commodity prices, permitting delays, geopolitical uncertainties. As 2024 begins, inflationary pressures and market volatility persist even as demand rises for minerals essential to the global energy transition.
In a recent panel featuring experts from Prospector and VRIFY, financing trends impacting mining took center stage. While rising costs strain margins industry-wide, promising signals appear on metals integral for clean energy technologies. Government incentives and partnerships across battery/EV supply chains likewise bring new tailwinds.
In this episode, host Emily King explores responsible mining practices through a compelling discussion with Aimee Boulanger, the executive director of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). They trace IRMA’s origins in early multi-stakeholder collaboration efforts beginning around 2006, discuss why credible independent assurance processes matter, and outline the organization’s innovative standards-based approach centered on feasible best practices, continuous improvement pathways tailored to local contexts, and reinventing mining’s value proposition by verifying performance gains. Along the way, they acknowledge lingering tensions around extraction tradeoffs while spotlighting win-win opportunities for communities, companies, customers and investors alike to lift industry standards over time through open dialog and shared value creation.
The mining industry is full of great people from around the globe with different jobs, ideas, and backgrounds. At Prospector, we pride ourselves on helping shine light on many different aspects and opportunities of the industry, and highlighting those that think outside the box.
National Miners Day is recognized each year on December 6th, in an effort to celebrate, recognize and applaud the skill, dedication and hard work miners put into providing many of the products essential to fulfilling America’s most vital needs.
You might not recognize how mining plays a role in your daily life. Most people do not see the raw materials produced by mining, from metals and minerals to coal and stone, sand, and gravel. Instead, we use items every day that come from mined raw materials, never knowing that mining played an integral part in the development of the mobile devices we use, the roads we travel on, the cookware we use to make our meals, and the mined fertilizers that helped grow our food. These products, in addition to countless other necessities and conveniences, start with mining.
Ana Gabriela Juarez is on a mission to change perceptions of the mining industry. Through her new children's book and advocacy work, she's inspiring women and youth to get involved!
On this episode of the On The Rocks, Ana discusses how she's making an impact in mining. Her book "Ana's Adventure at the Mine" aims to get kids excited about geology and mining careers.
"I think there was a need for it," Juarez shares about what motivated her to write the book. She incorporates aspects of growing up in Guatemala and pulls from her experience working in mining and women's empowerment.
On this episode of the On the Rocks Podcast, host Emily King visits with Pete Nowicki, the COO of Arctic Digital Mining. They discuss an innovative new approach to gold mining called digital mining. Developed by Arctic Digital Mining, this model uses blockchain technology to tokenize gold reserves while leaving the gold in the ground.
🚨 Special Episode! 🚨
Check out this special release audio replay of Prospector's October Monthly Mining Roundup where we chat with space mining expert, Daniel Sax, about all things extraterrestrial!
In this audio replay of our September Monthly Mining Roundup we dig into drill results with special guest, Kurt Breede!
Learn about understanding drill results, advice for digging deeper into them, as well as the role technology plays in the future of them!
In this episode of On the Rocks, we are joined by Libby Sharman, BHP Xplor Technical Lead, and Samuel Robb, Vice President of Bronzite Exploration Corp.! Dig into how the BHP Xplor program is transforming mineral exploration through its unique accelerator model, collaboration, and new approaches.
Bronzite Exploration was part of the inaugural cohort of the BHP Xplor program. Sam and Libby provide valuable insights into how the program helped advance exploration companies, and how this might signal positive changes underway in the sector.
Historically, junior exploration companies have been wary of sharing too much information, both with other explorers and with major mining corporations, fearing their ideas or districts might be taken. However, the BHP Xplor program fostered openness and collaboration between the cohort companies.
Despite being competitors, the members of the cohort were willing to discuss challenges and exchange knowledge.
"There is this degree of openness that [BHP] Xplor fostered, which is not very common in the Juniors industry, but it's extremely helpful." Sam noted.
This helped dispel misconceptions about major miners always wanting to scoop up explorers. Libby explained that BHP aims to create partnerships, not conflict. The key is communicating early and recognizing everyone ultimately wants to see new discoveries being made.
Another area where BHP Xplor had significant impact was emphasizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in exploration. The program framed ESG issues like community engagement as non-technical risks that can make or break projects regardless of geology.
Promoting community engagement and public education in the early stages of mineral exploration could drastically change the outcome of a project. Libby points out that building trust and understanding local priorities is crucial.
BHP Xplor exemplifies positive changes that are happening all around the mining industry, especially in mineral exploration. There is greater recognition that including diverse perspectives makes for better science and business. The old models of operating in secrecy and isolation are slowly transitioning!
"I hope we're changing the way people think about how to do exploration," Libby says. Judging by the success of the previous BHP Xplor cohort, it seems that change is already underway!
BHP Xplor sets an optimistic tone for the future of responsible and innovative mineral exploration. With industry leaders like these paving the way, the prospects look bright!
If you have an exciting exploration opportunity and are ready to fast-track your path to discovery, BHP Xplor wants to hear from you! You can click here to learn more about the program, or click here to apply!
This episode of On the Rocks has been brought to you in partnership with BHP Xplor.
On this episode of On the Rocks, host Emily King chats with Charlee Johnson, the BHP Xplor Program Lead!
The mining industry is not typically known for being fast-moving or innovative. However, BHP's Xplor program is looking to change that, disrupting how major mining companies interact with junior explorers and startups.
BHP Xplor is a unique, six-month accelerator program for early-stage explorers looking to fast-track their geologic concepts and become investment ready. But what sets it apart in the mining industry?Learn more in this episode of OTR! Pour a drink and let's dig in!
How can mining projects gain community support? Listen to industry experts tackle the complex issue of NIMBYism.
In this Prospector Monthly Mining Roundup, Emily King, Jon Godbout, and Ryan Sistad from Better In Our Back Yard dive into the causes of NIMBYism and discuss strategies to transform opposition into collaboration.
Learn how better communication, education, transparency, and proactive local engagement can shift perceptions and pave the way for responsible resource development.
The panel analyzes revealing data on global mining project stages, finding NIMBYism stalls advancement from exploration to production. With the average mine taking 15.7 years to develop, do we have enough support to meet future supply needs?
Gain insight from these industry leaders on overcoming the NIMBY challenge. The conversation may surprise you and spark ideas for your own community!
Tune in to the latest Monthly Mining Roundup livestream replay! This month we dug into Critical Minerals, as well as their importance and uses! Alessandra also gives us a great overview of her time at MINPRO! Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep an eye on upcoming livestreams and events!
Resources: - Critical Minerals 101: thenugget.prospectorportal.com/what-are-critical-minerals-mining - Free Lithium Report Download: https://www.prospectorportal.com/lith... - Free Cobalt Report Download: https://www.prospectorportal.com/coba... - Free Uranium Report Download: https://www.prospectorportal.com/uran... - Uranium Information: https://thenugget.prospectorportal.co...
In this episode of the On the Rocks Podcast, host Emily King chats with Alicia Eastman, the president of InterContintental Energy and host of the Everything About Hydrogen podcast!
Emily and Alicia dive right in on discussing the origin of InterContinental Energy, and "Green Hydrogen" - that is hydrogen that is made from renewable energy sources. We get to learn about what this process looks like, as well as infrastructure needs, and obstacles to overcome.
So how does this all fit into the mining industry? Renewable energy sources rely heavily on the global supply chain of mined materials. Without these mined materials there would be no way to create green energy sources such as wind turbines, and the recent disruptions to the global supply chain have proven the need for reliable sources of these materials.
Emily and Alicia also dig into how incorporating renewable resources and hydrogen directly into the mine site infrastructure could not only benefit the mines by providing clean, reliable energy to reduce their carbon footprint, but it could also benefit the surrounding communities by providing a lasting economic source after the mine has ceased operations.
Be sure to tune in to the full episode to learn more!
Have you ever stopped to think about the roads, sidewalks, and houses that make up your daily surroundings? These structures are an essential part of our society, but would not exist without aggregates! Aggregates are crushed stone, sand, and gravel that are used in many construction and infrastructure projects, but they are often overlooked or forgotten when discussing the mining industry.
In this week's episode of On the Rocks, we chat with Chris Summers, CEO of Burgex Mining Consultants, about the importance of aggregates and the mining industry!
Chris and Emily dig into the importance of getting younger people involved in mining and geology, and expressing the importance of mined materials in our everyday lives. We learn a little about Aggregate 101, and discuss Mineralocity, an online tool Chris and his team created that has over 7300 aggregate mining projects mapped across the USA!
While aggregate projects might be often overlooked, many still face the same challenges as metal mines, including NIMBYism and permitting. Chris shares his thoughts on what "right" can look like for an aggregate mine, and what technology and equipment can be put into place to help mitigate these problems. As we move forward with the future of mining, many new and exciting tools are coming around to help make mining cleaner, safer, and more efficient, which could help mining projects and societies co-exist better.
Be sure to tune into the full episode to learn more, and leave us a comment on what you thought!
In this episode of On the Rocks Podcast, host Emily King sits down with Zainab Usman, the Director of the Africa Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of "Economic Diversification in Nigeria: The Politics of Building a Post-Oil Economy". Zainab and Emily dig into the discussion of managing natural resources in different countries and economies, especially those rich in oil and mineral commodities.
One of the key themes discussed in the episode is similarities and differences between countries that are rich in oil and gas versus mined commodities. Examples include:
- Similar - These are all non-renewable, natural resources, and important to many economic and industrial activities.
- Similar - Revenues tend to be quite large, generated by exports, and typically captured by the government. Because of this, there is a strong external dimension, meaning the economies are vulnerable to the volatility to the international pricing of these commodities.
- Different - The process of extraction is very different. The enclave nature of oil extraction and production can be very dissociated from the rest of the economy, and the jobs created can be very minimal. The mining sector also has an enclave nature, but it tends to be more labor intensive and have more people engaged.
- Different - The scale of revenues generated tend to be different, with crude oil the scale of revenues tend to be much larger than the mining sector due to the dynamics of the global market.
Zainab also challenges the idea of the "resource curse", due to many countries that have been able to successfully manage their natural resources for economic growth. The key, according to Zainab, is to identify the broader challenges that need to be addressed and get the diagnosis of the problem right.
For this special release episode of On the Rocks Podcast, guest host and Prospector's Head of Corporate Development, Gautam Iyer, sits down for a chat with James Sykes, CEO of Baselode Energy, to discuss all things uranium and nuclear energy! Dig into common misconceptions, exploration opportunities, and the possible future of this industry!
Uranium is an essential element in our everyday lives, serving as a fuel for nuclear energy and powering various industries. It's an attractive alternative to fossil fuels in the clean energy space, due to its almost zero carbon emissions. Unfortunately, common misconceptions about this fuel source have prevented many nations from adopting this vital source of energy in the past. However, recently more nations are embracing this technology as a way to meet their CO2 reduction goals.
Gautam and James also dig into the famous Athabasca Basin in Canada, and what makes it different than other uranium deposits globally. James discusses his Athabasca 2.0 thesis, and how it might be a game changer in the uranium mining industry. He also lets us in on the cool technologies coming into the nuclear energy space!
Be sure to tune into the full episode for a radiating good time, and lodes of great information! Prospector also recently released our 2023 Uranium Resource Report as a Free Download, so be sure to check that out!
Discover Baselode Energy and other great uranium mining projects and companies on Prospector!
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are increasingly becoming an important part of mining investment decisions. For investors, ESG provides a way to understand the degree of uncertainty and to manage and minimize that uncertainty. Meanwhile, for mining companies, it helps them to create value and ensure that their plans to mine, process the metal, and sell the product are accurate.
This week on On the Rocks, host Emily King sits down with Allison Coppel, an ESG in Mining Investments Expert, to discuss the various roles of ESG in the mining industry.
The Environmental factor (E) in mining is mainly about water, climate, air, waste, biodiversity, and tailings. The Social factor (S) covers safety, health, labor relations, supplier relationships, training, human rights, and diversity and inclusion. Governance (G) is about the company's trustworthiness, legal compliance, political contributions, and board of directors. All these factors are essential to manage and minimize uncertainties and create value creation opportunities.
ESG is important to the mining industry because it enables mining companies to protect and enhance the environment, ensure safety for workers and good relationships inside and outside the company, respect human rights, create a business where people and communities grow and are happy to do so, be transparent about how the company is run, and follow the law. These are basic expectations of society, particularly when talking about an investment that is going to be there for 10, 20, or even 100 years. Unfortunately, for years, a number of these concepts have been ignored, misunderstood, and thought of as a mere asterisk to the “real plans,” not core components of investment decisions.
Investment decisions can happen throughout the mine life – in early exploration, each stage of project development, during operations expansions or upgrades, closure. And they can be from an investor, an operating company, and may be an M&A. The key is to disaggregate ESG, define what is material to the investment, and then integrate as it makes sense.
Be sure to tune in to the full episode to learn more!
On the latest episode of the On the Rocks, we had the pleasure of chatting with Doug Wicks, Program Director at ARPA-E, about his rabbit hole interest in geologic hydrogen and its potential as a primary energy source!
In this episode, we delved into geologic hydrogen 101. Doug outlined the different "colors" of hydrogen, and discussed what makes geologic hydrogen so fascinating. It could even be a game-changer in the energy industry.
We also talked about the challenges associated with mining hydrogen, including the energy sources required and the environmental impact. Doug shared his vision for a future where geologic hydrogen could become a primary energy source, and what it would take to get there.
As part of his work at ARPA-E, Doug is reaching out to students to talk about the future of mining and the challenges and opportunities it presents. He emphasized the need to transform the mining industry and bring it into the 21st century. However, he acknowledged the challenge of reaching beyond the "bubble" of those already interested in energy technology.
Overall, it was a fascinating conversation about the potential of geologic hydrogen and the work being done to make it a reality. If you're interested in the future of energy, this episode is definitely worth a listen!
This week on On the Rocks, all that glitters is not gold - it’s diamonds! Host Emily King sits down for a chat with Eira Thomas, the President and CEO of Lucara Diamond to discuss diamond 101, Eira’s journey into the diamond mining industry, and much more!
Diamonds have always been a valuable commodity, not only because of their high monetary value but also because of the sentiment attached to them. Today, there are fewer than 25 active diamond mines in the world, and investing in diamonds can be a great way to get started investing in mining.
What makes a diamond though? Diamonds are made of carbon and formed deep within the earth’s mantle over millions of years. Kimberlite pipes then bring the diamonds to the earth’s surface through volcanic eruptions. Diamonds are the hardest known naturally occurring substance on Earth, with a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale. Fun fact - the word “diamond” comes from the Greek word “adamas”, which means “unconquerable” or “indestructible”!
Eira and Emily discuss industrial versus gem quality diamonds, and how processing and sorting methods are changing and evolving with new technologies. Lucara has been working to create better alignment along the diamond value chain, and providing a secure, online marketplace called Clara for consumers to buy diamonds directly. This innovative approach connects with ESG by providing consumers with assurance of diamond provenance, allowing companies to work directly with communities to understand their needs and ambitions.
“Every mining company wants to do the right thing at the end of the day, and create benefits that are lasting for the communities in which they operate, but the most important thing is to understand what their priorities are and to work with those communities to find ways to meet those needs and priorities.”
Lucara is not only working with their local communities in Botswana, but also recently worked with a woman-led jewelry company, Shiffon, to bring ethically sourced diamonds to their newest jewelry line which celebrates the Women’s Tennis Association and 50 years pay parity in women’s sports!
Dig in to the full episode below to learn more!
VRIFY is changing the way mining companies share their stories by using cutting-edge technology to showcase their projects and communicate their value to different communities. In this episode of On the Rocks, we explore how VRIFY is revolutionizing the mining industry, drawing a clear line between mining and manufacturing, and raising awareness of its critical role in our daily lives. We also delve into the relationship between mining, communication technology, and investing in innovation, and share suggestions for moving the industry forward. Tune in and learn more 👉 https://thenugget.prospectorportal.com/otr-steve-de-jong-vrify
Cyanide is a chemical commonly used in gold mining to extract gold from ore. Although many people are aware of its use, they may not understand how the process works or the risks involved in using it. Proper management and monitoring can help decrease the risk of using cyanide for extraction.
This week on On the Rocks, we are joined by Benedikt Kirchgaessler, the founder and CEO of CyanoGuard, a company that specializes in monitoring and managing cyanide. Through his research and practical experience, he realized the importance of monitoring and managing the use of cyanide in mining. CyanoGuard has a range of customers from different industries, including almond producers and breweries, although most of the customer base is the mining industry.
Despite its widespread use, the way cyanide has been used in mining has not changed in the past 20-30 years. This has had an impact on interactions within the mining industry and the way cyanide is used as a product.
"As we went to the mines, we saw the need is for re-automating [process control] and helping the miners make the right decision"
To adapt to new challenges and become more sustainable and efficient, the mining industry needs to adapt new digital technologies and processes. Digital process control will have a huge impact on All-in Sustaining Costs (AISC) in the future.
Understanding the use of cyanide in mining and the importance of monitoring and sustainability is crucial. By embracing digital technology and investing in digital process control, the mining industry can change for the better!
We hear it repeatedly on the On the Rocks Podcast - people within the mining industry want to improve public perception of how mineral exploration and mining is done. However, very few people are actually successfully improving that perception, especially through social media. So, how can mining companies get the word out of the echo chamber and into the public?
One company leading the charge in this regard is Geologize Ltd. Founded and led by Dr. Haydon Mort, Geologize specializes in teaching communication skills for geoscientists, with a particular focus on using social media platforms to improve public perception of the earth sciences and mining industry. Recently, the company released Practical Geocommunication 3.0, the latest update to its popular series of courses.
In this episode of the On the Rocks Podcast, Emily and Haydon discuss the importance of communicating outside of the mining industry, and how improving mining social media can help improve share price as well as public perception. During the episode, Haydon provides valuable tips for mining companies looking to improve their public perception through social media.
A huge thank you to Ridgeline Minerals, Golden Rim Resources, and Lomiko Metals for volunteering to be examples on the podcast! Check out these companies and more on Prospector!
On this episode of OTR, we chat with Michael Konnert on key decision points for investing in mining companies and the role of mining in decarbonization.
On this week's "On the Rocks" episode, host Emily King interviews Ewan Downie, CEO of i-80 Gold Corp., about Nevada's mining industry and the importance of critical minerals and the supply chain. They also discuss i-80's current projects and the enduring value of gold.
What is IOT, and what can data and digitization bring to the mining industry? Find out on this week's episode of On the Rocks, featuring Joe Quinn!
This week on On the Rocks, Prospector founder and podcast host Emily King celebrates the 50th episode with Candace MacGibbon!
The goal of Prospector's On the Rocks Podcast is to talk about the mining industry in an interesting, fun, and non-traditional way. To celebrate the 50th episode, Emily and Candace dig into the narrative of mining, and how the industry relates to every day life.
"What needs to happen is that people need to understand that there is a cost to believing everything they read, and our industry just hasn't been there... present to tell our story"
Raise a glass of bourbon or vodka, and give a cheers to the mining industry with us! Listen to the full 50th episode below, or on your favorite podcast platforms!
This week on On the Rocks, we are excited to chat with Archie Hunter, a commodities reporter covering trading houses for Bloomberg London. In honor of LME (London Metals Exchange) Week, Archie talks us through Traders 101.
Traders are a valuable part of the mining industry, but are often forgotten when mining and metals are discussed. Archie and Emily discuss risks that financial institutions and traders take on when investing in miners, and how transparency and data can help de-risk opportunities.
Grab a coffee or cider, and let's dig in!
One of the mining industry's favorite sayings is "If it can't be grown, it must be mined". However, mining plays an important role in agriculture too! For this special release episode of On the Rocks, Prospector founder Emily King chats with Bram Govaerts, Director General a.i. of CIMMYT.
This conversation began during a panel discussion about the Russia & Ukraine War, and how it affected the supply chain of many industries. In this episode we dive deeper into how the conflict is still affecting the mining and agriculture industries, as well as CIMMYT's work to help those caught up in conflicts, natural disasters, and more.
Mining and agriculture currently seem to work in parallels, following similar paths but not quite meeting up. Emily and Bram chat about ideas to bring the two natural resource sectors together, and how doing so could help ESG commitments.
It might be time for a new saying as mining and agriculture continue to grow together! Listen to the full episode below or on your favorite podcast platforms!
Many minerals and metals are needed in the agriculture industry, including iron for equipment and phosphate for fertilizer. Find mining projects around the world with Prospector!
Mining is an industry that has been around for thousands of years. The process of extracting ore has changed a bit from the days of the pickaxe, but people are often surprised at just how much of the industry stays the same, especially when compared to other natural resource peers.
This week on On the Rocks, host Emily King chats with Sonia Scarselli, Vice President of the BHP Xplor program. BHP Xplor is taking a page from the technology industry and bringing in a new type of "incubator" to mining. Sonia explains to us about the importance of brining new, disruptive thinking to the industry, and how the BHP Xplor program is working with new projects, companies, and individuals.
Listen to the full episode to learn more, and if you'd like to learn more or apply to the BHP Xplor program find that information here!
This week on On the Rocks, host and Prospector's founder Emily King chats with Ryan Sistad, the Executive Director of Better In Our Back Yard.
Better In Our Back Yard's mission is to provide educational resources and advocacy to support responsible industrial development projects and companies in Northern Minnesota and regions surrounding the Upper Midwest. Emily and Ryan dig into how social media can help change perceptions of the mining industry and address concerns the public may have, how mining and tourism can coexist, and the difference the mining industry can make economically.
Looking for mining projects in your area? Find those and more with Prospector!
On this weeks episode, host Emily King chats with Gerard Barron, CEO of The Metals Company, about all things Deep Sea Mining. What are nodules, how are they recovered, and could this be the future of the mining industry? Learn all this and more - grab your Jefferson’s Ocean or Bundaberg Rum, and let’s dive in!
On this episode of On the Rocks, host Emily King chats with Alex Michshenko, the Head of US Operations of Kazatomprom. Alex and Emily chat about all things uranium! Alex kindly assures us he does not glow in the dark, as well as debunks some other uranium myths!
The discussion starts with the importance of mining in central Asia, and the growing presence of mining in the area.
“I think central Asia holds the key to unlocking many challenging situations arising before western producers these days. It is a very vast region with an absolutely extraordinary list of geological richness in mineral resources to offer to the global community.”
Uranium is often regarded as a government commodity that isn’t always well understood. Alex talks us through some uranium myths, as well as some uses and different stages of uranium as a mineral commodity.
“Perhaps uranium is the most misunderstood and under-represented in terms of publicly covered commodity elements out there … for a number of decades this has been exclusively a government centered element that played a pivotal role in defense, countries energy policies, but also policies that spilled over into the military use.”
“I don’t think we as an industry are talking enough about these exciting and invigorating stages.”
What is some uranium information you’d like to know? Let us know in the comments! Grab your Taliskers Distillers Edition or Blantons and let’s jump in!
Landscapes have been aspiring artists since the beginning of time and even to this day in our digital age. This week's guest was so inspired by the terrain he travelled he wanted to map it using the latest in digital technologies.
Jarrett “Fish” Heavenston! Jarrett is a 25-year veteran and the CEO of Tough Stump Technologies, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB). When visiting the Lava Beds National Monument in California on a family road trip, he stumbled upon “Captain Jack’s Stronghold”, a natural fortress used during the Modoc War of 1872/1873. This inspired Jarrett to create a movie combining his UAV skills and “OCOKA” principles learned in his military experience.
These technologies can be used for more than terrain analysis and movies though! UAVs and UGVs have extensive potential to be used in the mining industry as well. Jarrett walks us through some UAV benefits, debunks some myths, and walks us through what the future of this technology may look like for mining! Grab your IW Harper 15 or Big Horn Bourbon, and let’s “fly” into the podcast!
For this episode, we have two special guests - Leanne Kemp and Rakalene Condon, CEO and Head of Product respectively for Everledger, where their team works to increase transparency and trust with technology - blockchain specifically - in close collaboration with industry partners.
On today’s episode we start with one of my personal favorite topics - gemstones - and how important provenance is to the industry and what lessons have been learned from the issue of “blood diamonds” that can be applied to batteries. Leanne and Rakalene also educate me in this episode about blockchain terminology and protocols, and how those protocols impact the environmental footprint of Blockchain operations.
We hope you enjoy this week’s episode, pour a glass of something and let’s jump in!
This week we have a very special guest joining us, Lyle Trytten, the Manager of Development for Giga Metals. Lyle has over 25 years’ of experience in the nickel industry as well as other base metals projects on five continents, including cobalt, copper, and zinc.
Currently, Lyle is overseeing all aspects of the development of Giga Metals’ Turnagain nickel-cobalt sulphide deposit in northern British Columbia, working to turn a world-class deposit into a major long-life mine, responsibly supplying battery metals to the world.
On this podcast, Lyle and I cover Nickel 101 - how is it used and why do we care? Lyle takes us through the two types of nickel deposits, how nickel is used in the rapidly expanding Electric vehicle battery space, and my favorite part of this episode - how does carbon sequestration work in nickel mining - and why does it seem it’s gone from science fiction to reality in such a short period of time? I learned a ton doing this episode, so I’m excited to share it with you and hear what you think if you leave us a review!
The US government is making a big push to support domestic production of minerals in order to secure stable supply chains and a new generation of mining in America is beginning. In this week's On the Rock's Podcast, Prospector founder Emily King sits down with American Rare Earth's CEO Marty Weems to discuss the global scramble over rare earth elements and the domestic resources the US has in its own backyard.
Today we have a chance to discuss gold and its role in financial markets with Marco Roque of Cassiar Gold. Mr. Roque started his career in private banking with Millennium BCP, a large Portuguese bank, and joined Barclays Capital in 2`007, where for several years he spearheaded the Portuguese derivatives and structured products team with a focus on commodities. He holds a CFA charter, an MBA from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and London Business School, a Masters of Finance from the Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon. He is currently exploring for gold in British Columbia’s Cassiar Gold District. So let’s get to it, grab a drink and enjoy the show.
On this week's On the Rocks podcast, Prospector's founder Emily King sat down with Hugh Brown, a best-selling author and photographer, to discuss artisanal miners in the developing world, and how the future of the mining industry may effect them.
In 2007, Hugh started photographing the work and lives of artisanal miners around the world. This project quickly turned into a passion, and he started beginning to encourage people to think about how process driven large scale mining will effect small scale miners.
Prospector's own Emily King sits down with Belinda Labatte of Lomiko Metals to discuss about the optimistic prospects for critical minerals and supporting domestic production.
Stephen Flood, CEO of GoldCore, joins Emily King for a drink and conversation about the intricacies of the physical gold market.
A discussion with blockchain tech expert Tanya Matveeva about the difference between crypto currency and enterprise blockchain, using blockchain to track commodities and much more!
Full video of the Virtual Reality experience now live on our Prospector YouTube channel.
On this episode of On the Rocks, our host Emily King chats with Beatrice Opoku-Asare, Director, Talent Management and Global Inclusion & Diversity at Newmont. She has been instrumental in refreshing the company’s Global Inclusion and Diversity Strategy and in establishing Newmont as a thought leader in inclusion and diversity within the mining industry. She lives in Colorado with her husband and 2 young kids.
Emily & Beatrice talk about accelerating the progress of diversity in mining, recruitment and reshaping the perception around mining. The conversation also focuses on intentional disruption and secret bootcamps.
Host Emily King and guest Chad Peters talk about starting a company during the pandemic, the importance of being transparent with shareholders, and more.
On this episode, Frank and Emily chat about mining investment in politically insecure climates, Frank's journey into mining law, and the biggest mining scandal in history - Bre-X.
Host Emily King and her good friend Daniele Spethmann share stories from their time in frontier markets, discuss the importance of valuing every single person throughout the exploration process, and answer some questions from young mining industry professionals.
This week's guest is Miranda Werstiuk. Miranda, the Director of Corporate Development at OCIM Precious Metals SA, is a corporate finance and investment banking professional with 25 years of global experience in the resource finance sector. She has been involved in transactions with junior, mid-tier, and senior exploration, development, and producing natural resources, as well as technology companies, totaling over C$165 million.
Miranda discusses her unique path to enter the industry, making the financing structure of mining projects work… and getting muted by a helicopter pilot on one of her mining adventures!
A self-described ‘mining guy’ with 40 years of industry experience, including about 10 years as CEO of leading Miners, Tom is a long proponent of disruptive innovation. Tom was deeply involved in the pioneering years for autonomous trucks and now has turned his focus to a topic that was once science fiction, but now a reality: seabed mining. Very much a part of the long-running debate in society between the benefits vs the downsides of mining, Tom was a truly fascinating guest to have On The Rocks.
Tom and host Emily King chat about mining in the movies, innovation in the industry, and mining’s complicated PR problem.
For the first episode of On The Rocks, host Emily King is joined by Former Deloitte global mining expert, Phil Hopwood. Phil is currently the founder and principal at KWR Capital and the Former Leader of Global Mining and Metals at Deloitte.