Blogs

More than a hundred years have passed; much has changed; and yet so much about mining is the same. This thought is prompted by reading Prinsloo of Prinsloosdorp by Douglas Blackburn. read more

At this link is the site for a conference described by its organizers in these words: The Mining for Development Conference 2013 provides an opportunity for governments, communities, companies, industry representatives and civil societies to discuss ways to ensure that mining activity contributes to economic and social development. read more

At this link is a magnificent collection of photos of some of the largest mining open pits and meteorite craters.  The text that accompanies the photos is prejudiced: the message is that mining open pits have forever changed the landscape–although craters have had similar impact. read more

In the post just below this post (at this link), I wrote about a project manager for a consulting company who won’t let the engineers talk to the client. read more

“I have managed projects of 800 people.  I never let the engineers talk to the client.  That is what project managers are for–to talk to the client. read more

I am in Huntington Beach, California and thus California Dreaming.  Or at least living the dream that is Orange County—a bastion of white, Hispanic, and Vietnamese wealth, power, and privilege. read more

It costs between $1 and $40 a ton to build, operate, and close a mine tailings facility.  That is as specific as I was able to be when answering a question today in response to an enquiry from Australia. read more

Yesterday in the post just below this post, I bemoaned the fact that there is no general model or method out there to estimate the cost of mine tailings management. read more

One of the miracles of the free-market system is that when one person sells a share, there is another who is buying.  Who are the current buyers when all are seemingly selling? I chatted today to one buyer. read more

In the heat that now, unseasonably, envelops Vancouver, we rode yesterday some twenty-eight kilometers up the Lower Seymour Reserve.   All the way up to the salmon hatchery and beyond to a new view-point looking over the dam and reservoir. read more