The 2019 Brand Finance Mining, Iron & Steel 25 report has once again named BHP as the world’s most valuable mining brand with a value of $6bn and an AA strength rating. Julian Turner talks to Richard Haigh, Brand Finance’s head of mining practice, about why miners now care about branding. Until relatively recently, it is fair to say that mining companies paid little more than cursory attention...

Global gold production hit another record just shy of 109m troy ounces in 2018, up more than 23m ounces since the start of the decade. The ranks of the top producing companies stayed remarkably stable, but last year saw a new company take the top spot – and that's even before the flurry of mergers in the industry's top tier. Long-time leader Barrick Gold produced 4.5m attributable ounces in 2018, ...

Chapitos copper-gold project. Photo by Camino Minerals. The Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines approved a permit related to Camino Minerals’ (TSXV: COR) environmental impact assessment for the Chapitos copper-gold project. The permit allows for the expansion of drilling activities along the Diva Trend at Chapitos. Drilling is expected to commence during the latter half of 2019. In a press relea...

The Idaho-Maryland property includes two parts of fee simple land, the Brunswick Land and the Idaho Land. Pictured here is the former. Photo by Ruse Gold. Rise Gold (CSE: RISE) reported this week that the exploration drill program the company is carrying out at its Idaho-Maryland project intercepted high-grade gold mineralization in multiple vein structures downdip from historic workings. The past...

Stainless steel braids. Photo by w?odi, Wikimedia Commons. China's  Iron and Steel Association said on Sunday the industry faces ongoing risks from excess capacity, as well as sluggish demand and increased raw material costs that could squeeze profits. The country's sprawling steel sector, which has cut 150 million tonnes of steel production over the past three years, was “far from achieving ...

Rio Tinto's iconic Argyle diamond mine has produced one of the largest gem quality white diamonds in its 35 year history. The 28.84 carat gem quality white diamond was recovered from the east Kimberley mine in March 2019. Named Argyle Octavia? in recognition of its beautiful octahedral shape, this rough diamond will be sold by tender in Antwerp later this year. Arnaud Soirat, chief executive of Ri...

The largest autonomous mining truck from Komatsu is now in production in Canada.   In April, SMS Equipment deployed the Komatsu 980E-4AT, which is the largest autonomous Komatsu truck in commercial operations worldwide, to the Canadian oil sands.   “SMS Equipment continues to offer leading technology solutions for the mining industry by working closely with its OEM partners to deploy and...

File: Small-scale miners are lobbying Government to reduce mining levies in order to promote the growth of the sector. Image Martin Addison.   Zimbabwe's Chamber of Mines, which represents most of the mining companies active in the country, wants ownership restrictions on platinum group metals and diamond operations officially scrapped, the group's president, Batirai Manhando, said.   Th...

John Thornton, Barrick Gold chairman with Tanzania president, John Magafuli   Tanzania has relaxed the mining sector regulations that require local companies to own controlling stake in multinationals.   Once seen as too ambitious, the Mining Sector Regulations 2018 required Tanzanian companies to have at least 51 per cent stake in mining firms while multinationals were to partner with t...

Denver, Colorado-based mining company Royal Gold announced this week that is has entered into a life of mine purchase and sale agreement with the Botswana Khoemacau Copper Mining company, a fully-owned subsidiary of Cupric Canyon Capital LP.   The deal will see Royal Gold pay US$212mn in advance for 80% of the silver produced by the Khoemacau Copper Project, with an option to pay $53mn for th...

SL Mining has announced the commencement of commissioning at the Marampa mine in Lunsar, following completion of Phase-I of an investment program designed to rehabilitate and reconfigure operations.   A wholly owned subsidiary of Gerald Group, SL Mining has completed construction ahead of schedule and is now ramping up production of ‘Marampa Blue’, a high-grade iron ore with over 65% Fe conce...

In our first issue of 2019 we profile Banro Corporation and its efforts to rehabilitate its fortunes by redefining operations on a quest to once more take its place among Africa’s premier gold mining companies. We also hear from Infinity Lithium and learn how the Australian junior is poised to ride the wave of ‘white gold’. As the EV revolution takes hold it aims to contribute towards the battery ...