Mining and Exploration

UK-based Sirius Minerals has announced plans for a potash mine in North Yorkshire, following the completion of a detailed scoping study (DSS).

The company said that York Potash has the potential to become one of the world's most important mining and fertilizer projects. Funding options are now being exploredfor the first $2.7 billion development phase.

The project will be sited between Whitby and Scarborough, although Sirius has not yet specified a precise location.

The world wouldn’t be quite as white as it is without an expanding titanium minerals mining operation in the wilds of Mozambique, as Alan Swaby learns from managing director Michael Carvill.

Anglo American has announced the sale of Scaw South Africa, completing its divestment of the Scaw Metals Group.

The company has sold Scaw South Africa to an investment consortium led by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa, Izingwe Holdings, Shanduka Resources and the Southern Palace Group of Companies.

Planetary Resources, Inc has announced a spectacular plan to mine near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) for raw materials, ranging from water to precious metals.

The newly formed company has the financial backing of industry-launching visionaries including Google CEO Larry Page and Ross Perot, Jr, chairman of Hillwood and The Perot Group.

After a significant gold discovery at Hope Brook in Newfoundland, Castillian Resources is forging ahead with an aggressive drilling programme to extend the resource and take the project forward to the preliminary economic assessment stage. CEO Dr Bill Pearson talks to Gay Sutton about the project’s prospects.

In minerals exploration, some people seem to have a knack for spotting huge potential where others see nothing. Dr Bill Pearson, CEO and president of junior exploration company Castillian Resources, has the knack.

Adansi Gold Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of PMI Gold Corporation, is one of the most exciting gold mining companies in Ghana. With resources that are causing investors’ hearts to race, it is set to become a very important mid-tier producer in just a couple of years, as Thomas Amoah explains to Jane McCallion.

South Kazakhstan boasts one of the biggest phosphate deposits in the world. General director Mukash Iskandirov explains to Gay Sutton how the phosphate mining and manufacturing company Kazphosphate is introducing the latest technology to take advantage of the growing market for high quality phosphate products.

Lithium Exploration Group has begun the initial testing of its ultrasonic generator in Pennsylvania, United States.

The testing begins today and will run for ten days. The purpose of the test is to operate all of the componentry together, bring the generator to optimal speed and pressure to harness the cavitation and produce steam, and identify the optimal settings for all of the stages of the unit.

Even at today’s prices, the economics of opening a new gold mine need careful attention, as Alan Swaby learns while talking with Carrick Gold.

Just like rare book collectors, gold exploration companies are always on the lookout for the big find—the one that will make their name, not to mention their fortune. Not surprisingly, both professions tend to attract more than their share of dreamers.