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Perspective

Advisory

#147 — Navigating the Transition: The role of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) in Sustainable Mining Practices

This Perspective provides an insight into the adoption of the IRMA Standard into the mining industry, driven by the increased demand for ethical and sustainable mining practices. 

Perspective

Advisory

#146 — An Update on the Minimum Engineering Study Requirements

This Perspective provides an update to the minimum engineering study requirements, resulting from material changes in the global regulatory environment.

Perspective

Advisory

#145 — Successful Closure of Waste Rock Storage Facilities

This quarter’s Perspective edition outlines a simple approach to closure to lessen future environmental impacts associated with waste rock management.

Perspective

Advisory

#144 — Why Energy-Efficient Operations are Critical to Achieving Decarbonisation of Mining

This quarter’s Perspective edition examines the many steps and opportunities that the mining industry can adopt on their decarbonisation journey.

Perspective

Advisory

#143 — Practical Considerations for the Decarbonisation of Mining

This quarter’s edition examines the many steps and opportunities that the mining industry can adopt on their decarbonisation journey.

Perspective

Advisory

#142 — Carbon’s footprint in relation to the processing of precious and base metal ores

This quarter’s edition investigates the presence of carbon in relation to the processing of primary ores which can be problematical and impact recoveries.

Perspective

Advisory

#141 — Geometallurgy — How to Distinguish the Difference Between a Successful Program and Rabbit Hole

This quarter’s edition investigates the value of a strong Geometallurgy program in reducing the technical risk associated with project evaluation, mine planning and operations.

Perspective

Advisory

#140 — Washing plants and sticky ore — Examining causes, problems and solutions

This quarter's edition examines causes, problems and solutions relating to washing plants and sticky ore.

Perspective

Advisory

#139 — Some thoughts on Semi-Autogenous Grinding (SAG) Mills

This paper explores why SAG mills are an enigma when compared to ball mills, providing an in-depth analysis of how the advantages of SAG milling outweigh the shortcomings.

Perspective

Advisory

#138 — Demystifying Environmental and Social Performance

This quarter's edition investigates Demystifying Environmental and Social Performance.

Perspective

Advisory

#137 — A Framework for Interpreting Geological Uncertainty in Mine Planning

This quarter's edition investigates a Framework for Interpreting Geological Uncertainty in Mine Planning.

Perspective

Advisory

#136 — Geological Uncertainty in Mine Planning

This quarter's edition takes a look at 'Geological Uncertainty in Mine Planning'.

Perspective

Advisory

#135 — Choosing the Appropriate Estimation Method

This quarter's edition takes a look at 'Choosing the Appropriate Estimation Method'.

Perspective

Advisory

#134 — Graphite — Not all Flakes are Equal

Graphite is one of the three common allotropes of carbon (the other two are amorphous and diamond). It forms with a hexagonal crystal structure arranged in layers and is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions.

Perspective

Advisory

#133 — Fatal Flaws in Processing Due Dilligences

A Due Diligence is typically required when funds are sought to develop a new project or expand an existing operation or when there is a proposed merger or acquisition.

Perspective

Advisory

#132 — Project Infrastructure Requirements

When considering a prospective mining operation, much of the focus is naturally on the resource itself and the ability to extract and process the material into a commercial product. However the ability to achieve this is dependent on the infrastructure that is available, or needs to be constructed for the project.

Perspective

Advisory

#131 — Management of Extreme High Grade Assays in Mineral Resource Estimates

The estimation of mineral resources forms the basis for proving the viability of any mining project.

Perspective

Advisory

#130 — Pressure Leaching — Coming of Age or Has it Been Here for a Long Time

RPMGlobal has been recently been involved with several reviews of pressure oxidation facilities including application in gold, silver, copper and aluminum.

Perspective

Advisory

#129 — Cost Overrun Accounts — The Independent Engineering Recommendation

In its role as an independent engineer (IE) on behalf of various lenders, RPMGlobal is asked to perform pre-loan approval due diligence on mining projects in order to identify risks that might affect a borrower’s/sponsor’s ability to repay debt.

Perspective

Advisory

#128 — Minimum Engineering Study Requirement

The evaluation of a mining project from exploration through development and production is a lengthy and complicated process.

Perspective

Advisory

#127 — Are You Ready for Your Next Budget Cycle

Traditional budgeting tools can hinder the budgeting & planning cycle but there is a better way.

Perspective

Advisory

#126 — Selecting a Longwall Panel — An Objective Approach

The trend for longwall operations has been to increase panel widths, lengths and where possible, cutting height.

Perspective

Advisory

#125 — Innovation In Mining — Simulation And Production Planning

Mining companies are familiar with the ups and downs of the mining economy. However, in recent times, the large high and subsequent low fluctuations are hitting the industry hard.

Perspective

Advisory

#124 — An Optimal Model of Global Thermal Coal Trade

While one would be hard pressed to glean positive news regarding the coal industry’s future from the popular media and even from some trade publications, recent research suggests that the future may not be so bleak.

Perspective

Advisory

#123 – Discrete Event Haulage Simulation – Making Better Decisions with Reduced Uncertainty

It is widely understood that mine haulage is one of the highest cost components within the mining process. The current economic climate presents heightened pressure to maximise the value of current haulage systems and drive down costs; doing more, with less.

Perspective

Advisory

#121 — Resource Estimate Review Steps

International codes such as JORC, NI 43-101 and SAMREC are all based on the notion of transparency together with professional aptitude and experience of the competent persons undertaking the work.

Perspective

Advisory

#120 — Surface Mining Technology — Managing the Paradigm Shift

Mining is essentially a materials management process where materials are classified, excavated, moved to a desired location, processed at a cost and sold for a price. ‘How much is that cost and can it be reduced?’ is the age-old question.

Perspective

Advisory

#119 — Optimum Equipment Management Through Life Cycle Costing

Large mining operations need equipment that consistently performs as expected. The most effective way of ensuring this is to have a defined life cycle with an optimized maintenance strategy.

Perspective

Advisory

#118 — The Importance of Economics in Mining

With the mining industry at a point of inflection - or perhaps introspection - many companies are placing a much greater focus on costs.

Perspective

Advisory

#117 — The Five Elements of Project Failure

“There is nothing so useless as do-ing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” Peter Drucker

Perspective

Advisory

#116 — Royalties and Valuation of Mineral Rights

An appraiser of mineral rights or interests in a property is faced with the same three approaches to valuation as with any other real estate appraisal exercise: 1) cost, 2) comparable sales, and 3) the income method.

Perspective

Advisory

#115 — Mineral Project Evaluation

As commodity prices rise, together with restricted labor markets and fluctuating material costs, the role of mineral project evaluation plays a vital role for all mining professionals.

Perspective

Advisory

#114 — Economics of Mine Planning and Equipment Selection — Part 2

In this final part he continues the example of why “optimum” production rates for new mine developments derived from simple discounted cash flow analysis may be wrong … i.e., too high.

Perspective

Advisory

#113 — Economics of Mine Planning and Equipment Selection — Part 1

Ian Runge looks at marginal costs, and suggests that some of our investment choices for startup of new mines might be incorrect – if we apply simple pit optimization criteria, the “optimum” production rates derived from these models may be too high.

Perspective

Advisory

#112 — Phosphates & Your Future

Phosphate is an essential component of the human body and necessary in the human diet. The primary source in the human diet is from plants produced by intensive crop development in favourable agricultural areas around the world.

Perspective

Advisory

#111 — Independent Engineer — Due Diligence Reviews

The majority of Independent Engineer (IE) assignments for due-diligence reviews of mining projects are performed for financial institutions considering the lending of funds for new or expanding mine projects.

Perspective

Advisory

#110 — The Evolution of Mining Trucks is Changing Interactions and Productivity at Mine Sites

The mining industry is constantly developing and introducing new technologies to make operations more efficient, safer and ultimately improve the bottom line.

Perspective

Advisory

#109 — PAH Approach to the Reporting Of NI 43-101 Compliant Minerals

Guidance and clarification on our current approach to the estimation and reporting of Mineral Resources in light of the various international mining codes established by professional organizations such as CIM, SME and JORC and the respective exchange commissions.

Perspective

Advisory

#108 — Electronic Metals and Rare Earth Oxides

Several years ago, the author used a historic 15th century Portuguese bookcover in a college lecture. The picture illustrated the dangers of world exploration with a two mast sailing ship breaking up near shore, and all the crew jumping overboard to swim to safety.

Perspective

Advisory

#107 – Quantitative Risk Analysis of Estimated Resources: An Overview

The dictionary meaning of estimate is “an approximate calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.” Resource estimates are the grades and tonnages calculated from a resource model at a cutoff grade.