5 Minutes with… Thea Van Rossum
Thea Van Rossum, chief science officer of Koonkie, explains how the company’s Mining Microbiome Analytics Platform (M‑MAP) is building the first large‑scale, searchable database of microbial DNA from mine sites. A recent partnership with Rio Tinto produced a comprehensive inventory of native microbes that can boost metal recovery, improve reclamation and curb acid generation. Van Rossum highlights that up to 80% of the microbial species at mining operations remain undiscovered, underscoring the need for genomics‑driven insight. She also points to the health sector’s data standards as a model for scaling mining biotech.
Zero Entry: The Next Frontier of Mining Robotics and Automation
Jake Harris’s latest column introduces "zero entry" mining, a vision where underground operations run entirely without human presence. He outlines how advances in autonomous drilling rigs, AI‑driven fleet management, and sensor‑rich environments are converging to make human‑free production zones feasible....
Are Mining Companies Setting Themselves up for Failure in Innovation?
Mining supplies half of the global economy, yet many firms treat innovation as a reactive fix rather than a strategic capability. This short‑term mindset hampers productivity, slows technology adoption, and threatens long‑term resilience. Industry analysts warn that without embedding innovation...
Bridging the Gap: How One Partnership Is Building Research the Mining Industry Needs
Global demand for critical minerals is surging, prompting a need for research that links real‑world mining operations with academic rigor. A new partnership sees a seasoned industry professional return to a university setting, co‑leading studies on tailings management, water use,...
Spotlight: “She’ll Be ‘Right, Mate” – Can Your Robot Pass the Turing Test?
Ben Miller argues that autonomous earth‑moving equipment should be judged by a mining‑industry version of the Turing Test – can seasoned operators tell a machine from a human driver? He notes that even the most mature autonomous haulage systems from...
5 Minutes with… Allison Coppel
Allison Coppel, founder of Pacha Associates and co‑founder of Maven Exploration, discussed the indispensable role of mining in modern economies during a rapid‑fire interview. She emphasized that every facet of daily life—from smartphones to renewable‑energy infrastructure—relies on mineral extraction. Coppel...
5 Minutes with… Brooke Bibeault
In a brief interview, Brooke Bibeault, chief executive of Makor Resources, outlines the company’s growth strategy and its commitment to responsible mining. She stresses the need for greater public awareness of where metals originate and highlights Makor’s upcoming copper project...
Engineering the Next Generation of Mine Sites
TerraAI’s AI‑driven mineral exploration platform is reshaping how mining companies locate ore bodies, delivering a 30 percent cut in drilling costs while boosting discovery rates. By fusing historic drilling data, satellite imagery, and real‑time sensor feeds, the system predicts high‑grade targets...
How to Lead Through Uncertainty: What Mining’s Hardest Decisions Reveal About Leadership
Mining’s inherent volatility forces leaders to prioritize organisational resilience over precise forecasting, according to a recent CIM dialogue. Former Anglo American CEO Mark Cutifani and industry veteran Doris Hiam Galvez emphasized that adaptive structures, safety culture, and rapid decision‑making are essential...
How AI and Advanced Sensing Are Giving Miners X-Ray Vision
A new wave of AI‑driven analytics combined with advanced sensing—such as hyperspectral imaging, LiDAR, and ground‑penetrating radar—is giving mining companies unprecedented visibility into the subsurface. These technologies fuse massive data streams from drones, satellites, and on‑site sensors to predict ore...
