MINING.COM

CTV: Strategic education planning and aboriginal engagement needed for mining growth in Saskatchewan

Leanne Bellegarde, lawyer, member of the Kawacatoose First Nation in Saskatchewan, and director of aboriginal strategy for Potash Corp of Saskatchewan Ltd., argues that in order to take advantage of the large aboriginal population in Saskatchewan looking for work, mining companies must recognize the needs of their potential employees and engage them in such a way that they develop into suitable workers.

“It would be really easy to say that we have hundreds of jobs, please apply, and walk away,” says Ms. Bellegarde. “It’s another to ask, ‘How many people do you have in your communities . . . and what do we need to work with you to ensure that they will be qualified applicants?’ ... That’s the conversation we get into.”

Joanna Gaskell - Education Editor | May 18, 2011 | 2:55 pm

Filter cleaning machine could dust thousands off maintenance bill

The movement of ore, either through surface or underground operations, generates a tremendous amount of dust. The tiny dust particles must be run through filters to avoid damaging, or impeding the performance, of moving parts located in key pieces of mining equipment, including trucks, loaders, shovels, and crushing and grinding machinery. Canadian company Diversi-Tech saw the opportunity in the problem, and the result was the “Green Machine.” The machine releases compressed air through a rotating air jet that moves up and down in a spiral motion inside an enclosed chamber. As the filter is cleaned, pollutants are captured and stored in a 55-gallon drum.

MINING.COM Staff Writer | May 18, 2011 | 11:16 am

Silver price: the least you should worry about

I heard some disturbing reports about silver supply last month that I felt every investor should know. And while precious metals are currently in correction mode, the long-term concerns with supply won’t disappear anytime soon. In attempt to get a handle on the bullion market, I spoke to Andy Schectman of Miles Franklin, who has contacts that run deep in the industry. What he sees everyday might just compel you to count how many ounces you own…

Casey Research | May 17, 2011 | 6:33 pm

John Doody: Top 10 gold plays revealed

Production stage, location and dividend possibilities separate top mining and royalty stocks from the rest of the heap. In this exclusive interview with The Gold Report, Gold Stock Analyst (GSA) Newsletter Writer John Doody reveals a few of his top 10 stocks and what diversifying your gold portfolio really means.

The Gold Report | May 17, 2011 | 5:49 pm

ABB $10 million order to supply complete mine hoist to the Dannemora Mine in Sweden

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, recently won an order worth over $10 million from Dannemora Minerals to deliver a complete mine hoist to the newly reopened Dannemora iron ore mine in east central Sweden.

ABB | May 16, 2011 | 10:15 am

The gold-silver ratio – another look

The gold-silver ratio (GSR) measures how many ounces of silver one can purchase for an ounce of gold, on a certain date. Reference to the ratio has a long history. One of the first mentions was that upon the death of Alexander the Great, the ratio was 12.5 to 1. During the Roman Empire, the ratio was set at 12. By the late 19th century, the ratio had risen to 15. Interestingly, these historical ratios roughly reflect geologists’ estimates that silver is 17 times more abundant than gold in the earth’s crust. This gives many investors a reason to believe that 17 is the natural balance between these elements, and that eventually the GSR will return to it.

Casey Research | May 13, 2011 | 10:09 pm

John Kaiser: $1,200+ gold is new normal

What is good for the U.S. economy is good for gold. John Kaiser, editor of Kaiser Research Online, has proposed a graphic model that relates the value of all above-ground gold stock to global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), thereby explaining why higher real gold prices—even with a recovering American economy—will be the new reality. In this exclusive interview with The Gold Report, he shares his projections about where both gold prices and the U.S. economy could be going in the future.

The Gold Report | May 13, 2011 | 9:55 pm

KPMG releases its annual survey of Russia’s M&A market, for 2010 and Q1 2011

KPMG, a global network of firms providing audit, tax and advisory services, has published the results of a survey of Russia's M&A market in 2010 and Q1 2011. After only the first quarter of 2011, significant inbound M&A activity has already been witnessed, accounting for 47% of the total M&A deal volume in Russia, compared to roughly 14% of total investments in 2010.

KPMG | May 12, 2011 | 11:27 pm

The false myths of gold and silver bulls promulgated by gold and silver bears

For those who think gold and silver bulls are perpetually long gold and silver no matter the present condition of the precious metals markets, that is a patently false notion. In light of the recent steep silver correction, an asset that periodically has steep corrections every year (the majority of which are induced and engineered by corrupt bankers), this does not a bursting bubble make.

Seeking Alpha | May 11, 2011 | 2:40 pm

Financial Times: Evraz focusses on comprehensive program to train mining managers

Natalia Ionova, head of human resources at Russian steelmaker Evraz, used the recession of 2008 to focus and unify the training of mine managers in their facilities worldwide. With Moscow School of Management Skolkovo, she developed an executive education programme, vital for giving managers an understanding of the company as a whole.

"The people on the courses know the company from the inside, so they can share experiences, and the programmes give them the tools to develop ideas and implement innovative solutions," says Ionova. "It’s better than hiring MBA graduates from outside."

Joanna Gaskell - Education Editor | May 11, 2011 | 12:44 pm