All articles by Daniel Garrun
Daniel Garrun
Talking collision avoidance and advanced mining vehicle technology with Hexagon
Hexagon Mining’s new vehicle intervention system (VIS) adds a powerful layer of protection to its well-established SAFEmine collision avoidance solution. Julian Turner talks to product manager Fabien Kritter about collision mitigation, mining digitalisation and changing the mentality of an embattled industry.
Striking it lucky: what’s behind the growth of Canada’s junior mining industry?
Canada’s junior miners have seen a recent surge in market value, but can the sector’s recovery be sustained?
Black lung is back and Australia’s lax mining dust rules are to blame
The Australian mining industry has been hit by scandal, registering its first cases of black lung disease in 30 years. With prevalence increasing across the world, it seems that safety standards have declined. Abi Millar explores the scale of the problem in Australia and the US and asks what is being done to reverse the trend.
Bringing the heat: thermal fragmentation comes of age
Canada-based junior gold miner Nippon Dragon Resources has developed a new, environmentally friendly mining method called thermal fragmentation, which uses heat to ‘spall’ high-grade mineral veins. But what’s the real potential of this technology, and the challenges to instigating change in an industry struggling with profitability? Rod James finds out.
Bulking up: inside the growth of the global bulk material handling market
The global bulk material handling products and technologies market is expected to grow by almost $5bn by 2020, according to a new report by Transparency Market Research. With technological advancement in the mining industry identified as a key driver, Ross Davies talks to the report’s authorKunalMajumder about what innovations are likely to drive this market over the coming years.
The future for nickel: slow and steady or battery boom?
Higher than expected supply and a drop-off in demand have conspired to keep the nickel market weak in 2015, but could a boom in electric vehicle output signal things are about to change? Elly Earls meets IHS’s Jason Kaplan and Wood Mackenzie’s Sean Mulshaw to find out.
Infographic: Mining vs Minecraft – how do the real and virtual world’s compare?
At first glance any similarities between the virtual build-your-own world of Minecraft and the real world dust and dirt of diamond mining may seem superficial, but look closer and you may find many of the market defining principles of value vs availability hold true across the digital divide. Click on this infographic by NeoMan studios to delve deeper into the oddly parallel worlds of mining and minecraft.
Assessing fragile mining environments with consultancy ecologia Environment
Western Australia based ecologia Environment provides environmental consulting services to mining operators and has worked amongst some of the most delicate ecosystems on the planet. We speak to the company’s general manager Dr Lazaro Roque-Albelo about driving sustainability in mining and how ecologia hopes to progress in the next five years.
Waratah’s Galilee Coal Project: economic boost or environmental disaster?
Waratah Coal’s recently approved $6.4bn coal and rail project in Queensland’s Galilee Basin will create thousands of jobs but could also endanger bird species by destroying parts of the Bimblebox Nature Refuge. Elly Earls spoke to Waratah Coal’s Nui Harris, Queensland Government’s Jeff Seeney and the Australia Institute’s Roderick Campbell to find out if the Galilee Coal Project has got the balance right between its environmental impact and potential economic benefits.
Plasma power: increasing precious metal yields from complex ores
Plasma technology capable of increasing precious metal yields from complex ores by over 1,000% could change the face of the mining industry. Elly Earls spoke to the managing director of Toss Plasma Technologies, the company behind the innovation, to find out more.