In this issue, a cornerstone of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s tenure has been cutting the red tape that hinders economic exploitation of the Amazon rainforest. As moves to open indigenous lands and conservation areas to mineral exploration draw widespread opposition, we look at Brazil’s push to encourage a wave of mineral exploration in the country.

Also, despite being lauded as key material for a renewables revolution, lithium has also been blamed for speeding up desertification around the salt lakes of Latin America’s ‘lithium triangle’. So does lithium have a water problem, and what is being done?

Elsewhere, while space mining is an attractive financial proposition, technological and logistical challenges remain before the dream of mining asteroids for billions of dollars can be realised. We speak to the University of Edinburgh about research into a new, bacteria-driven mining process that could overcome these challenges.

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In this issue 

Lithium’s water problem 

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Despite being lauded as key material for a renewables revolution, lithium has also been blamed for speeding up desertification around the salt lakes of Latin America’s ‘lithium triangle’. So does lithium have a water problem, and what is being done? Scarlett Evans reports. 

Read more.

Under the sea: could the seabed provide the resources for a green future?

As the demand for ethically sourced battery metals grows faster than supply can keep up, deep-sea mining could potentially unlock scores of unexploited minerals essential to the green transition. Matthew Hall looks at how a new initiative from the World Economic Forum may help.

Read more.

Building on copper in Zambia

As the electric vehicle sector accelerates, commodities such as copper are becoming ever more important. Scarlett Evans speaks with mining company Chillerton Group’s board director Karan Rathi about the copper industry in Zambia, and how the Covid-19 pandemic has made investor support of projects and communities even more important. 

Read more.

Anglo American’s history in South Africa

Despite the impact of Covid-19, Anglo American has upped its investment commitment to South Africa. At the 2020 South African Investment conference, the company increased its total investment commitment to R100bn for the period to 2025. Matthew Hall looks at Anglo American’s mining business in South Africa, past and present. 

Read more.

What’s next for Brazil’s mineral exploration push?

A cornerstone of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s tenure has been cutting the red tape that hinders economic exploitation of the Amazon rainforest. As moves to open indigenous lands and conservation areas to mineral exploration draw widespread opposition, Matthew Hall looks at Brazil’s push to encourage a wave of mineral exploration in the country.

Read more.

How to build a better board: the problems at mining’s top level

The buck stops with the board. Across the mining industry, executive boards make the big decisions guiding their businesses. However, a new report suggests that boards of mining companies are more homogenous, static, and lacking in diverse experience than in most other industries. Matt Farmer learns more.

Read more.

The final frontier: could biomining be the future of resource extraction in space?

While space mining is an attractive financial proposition, technological and logistical challenges remain before the dream of mining asteroids for billions of dollars can be realised. JP Casey speaks to the University of Edinburgh about research into a new, bacteria-driven mining process that could overcome these challenges.

Read more.

From diamond deposits to international investment: four things you should known about Angolan mining

With domestic economic reforms and international financial support, Angola is looking to diversify its economy, and make the most of its strong mineral resources. JP Casey delves into the details. 

Read more.

Preview – MINE Magazine March 

Brexit will bring with it the potential to set up new trade deals for the import and possibly export of raw materials but it could also provide the opportunity to shore up the local supply chain, especially when it comes to metals like lithium, which are so critical to meeting the governments electric car ambitions.  We take a broad look around the industry to understand how the UK mining industry feels about Brexit.

Also in this issue, we talk to Ferrexpo about how automation is changing mining, dive into the state of the diamond market, and hear from the New York Declaration on Forests Assessment Partners about mining’s damage to tropical forests.

Plus, we scour the globe for the best and brightest in automation of drill and blast projects, investigate whether smart mining will require a cultural shift, ask how new laws will affect Indian mining, and examine new uses for old mine shafts.