Dig Deep

In this episode, we chat with Andy Dennan, CEO of Halo Minerals to explore the story behind their Playa Verde copper project in Chile and what sets it apart in today’s evolving mining landscape. We start with an overview of Halo Minerals and what drew the team to Playa Verde, before diving into why this tailings project could represent a more sustainable approach to copper development. Andy shares insights on the environmental advantages, as well as the key challenges the project faces as it moves forward. We also discuss the growing importance of copper in the global energy transition, and how projects like Playa Verde fit into the broader conversation around critical minerals, supply chains, and resource security. Finally, we touch on Chile’s role as a mining jurisdiction, common pitfalls around permitting and community engagement, Halo’s recent IPO in London, and what success looks like for the next 12 months. KEY TAKEAWAYS Halo Minerals focuses on ESG metals by reprocessing surface-accumulated legacy mining waste, effectively turning environmental liabilities into critical resource assets. Beyond copper recovery, the Playa Verde project includes a commitment to reduce arsenic concentrations to 47 parts per million or less, eventually returning the beach to the local community for recreational use. With copper demand driven by AI data centres, renewable energy, and EVs, projects in stable jurisdictions like Chile are becoming essential for global supply chain security. By processing pre-crushed tailings at the surface rather than traditional hard-rock mining, the project avoids the high energy costs, blasting, and long lead times associated with greenfield developments. BEST MOMENTS "It feels a lot less lonely being in the mining industry than the oil and gas industry... in the wake of that sort of ESG movement, people were really focused on the footprint globally of these heavy industries." "We get to make money while doing good for the world or operating with a lower environmental footprint than new greenfield mines." "We’re sort of one supply disruption away from $20,000 a ton copper price." "The value of a copper deposit today is more weighted by where it is and who it can be sold to without a 50% penalty... jurisdictions with free trade agreements with the US, like Chile, have become the most valuable real estate in the mining world." GUEST RESOURCES https://halominerals.co.uk/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/halominerals/ https://x.com/HaloMinerals VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, we chat with Mostafa Taalat, CEO of Ankh Resources, a company gaining attention for its exploration success at the Wadi Dara project in Egypt. With recent drilling and trenching delivering encouraging gold-copper results, Ankh Resources is positioning itself at the forefront of Egypt’s re-emerging mining sector. Mostafa brings extensive experience in the region, combining strong technical expertise with a clear vision for building a modern exploration company. In this conversation, we’ll explore the potential of Wadi Dara, the broader opportunity in Egypt, and how exploration companies like Ankh are navigating the path from discovery to development. KEY TAKEAWAYS Ankh Resources is leveraging a homegrown expert team to navigate Egypt’s new mining code and accelerate the transition from discovery to development. The Wadi Dara project has yielded significant high-grade gold and copper results, including a recent drill hole showing 102 meters of continuous mineralization. Egypt’s strategic location and established oil and gas infrastructure provide unique logistical advantages, such as the 7-to-7 to Dara accessibility from Cairo. The Egyptian government is actively working to increase the mining sector's contribution to the GDP from 1% to 5% through improved fiscal terms and international promotion. BEST MOMENTS "I was lucky to join the industry at that exciting time for Egypt's first gold mining history... in the modern history." "We are lucky that so far our drill rate success is like almost 100%... the results are bringing back better than what we expect them to find." "Egypt offers a North Africa stable region with a fresh mining code built for attracting investments and serious mining investors." "You can’t complete the AI technology required, you can’t go into the green energy transformation required, all this without having enough copper supply." GUEST RESOURCES https://ankhresources.net/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ankhresourcesltd/ https://x.com/Project_Ankh VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, we chat with Alan Carter, CEO of Cabral Gold, to discuss the company’s flagship Cuiu Cuiu gold project in Brazil and the strategy driving its development. With a strong background in geology and extensive experience operating in Brazil, Alan brings deep insight into both the technical and commercial aspects of advancing gold projects in the region. In this conversation, we’ll cover Cabral’s two-stage development approach, what differentiates Cuiu Cuiu from other gold projects, and the recent share price momentum. We’ll also explore why Alan believes Cabral represents a compelling investment opportunity at current levels, and what investors can expect in terms of upcoming news flow and key catalysts over the months ahead. KEY TAKEAWAYS Cabral Gold is implementing a unique two-stage approach at Cuiú Cuiú. Phase 1 focuses on mining the weathered saprolitic soil (mud) layer, Because the initial phase targets soft mud material, it eliminates the need for expensive drilling, blasting, or crushing. Mother Nature has effectively pre-processed the rock over millions of years Cuiú Cuiú is located in the Tapajós region, home to one of the world's largest historical gold rushes. The project has a vast footprint with a 7km gold-in-soil anomaly The project recently yielded one of the most impressive drill holes in the industry. Remarkably, this discovery was made 3km away from the nearest known gold deposit, highlighting the district-scale potential. BEST MOMENTS "We want to get off that what I call hamster wheel [of share dilution] and start self-funding all of our exploration work going forward." "We're not crushing and grinding rock because Mother Nature's done all the work for us over a millions of years." "The gold rush that happened in the Tapajós in the 1980s was ten times larger than the California Gold Rush." "I've put $2 million of my own money into the company... so I am very, very heavily invested. I'm aligned with my shareholders and we’re on a mission." GUEST RESOURCES https://cabralgold.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/cabral-gold/ VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Bridget Hunter, Group Manager Shared Services at Ivanhoe Mines with two decades in mining HR; Paul Eagle, VP People & Culture at Evolution Mining with cross-industry HR leadership; Leanne Holmes, Head of People at Central Asia Metals focused on recruitment and development. They discuss common candidate mistakes, how tailored CVs and curiosity make applicants stand out, and the key qualities employers seek in site and corporate roles.

Chris Hopkins, CEO of Canadian Energy Metals and seasoned mining and energy executive with environmental science roots. He discusses the surprising scale of the Thor deposit and its potential to reshape North American aluminium supply. He covers cleaner, lower-energy processing, the advantage of local rail and hydro infrastructure, and plans for scaling, testing, and commercial demonstration.

In this episode, we chat with Janina Elliot, Segment Director of Mining at Seequent, a global leader in subsurface software that supports the mining and mineral exploration industry. Seequent’s technology helps geoscientists and engineers better understand the earth beneath our feet, enabling smarter decisions around resource discovery, development, and management. In this episode, we’ll discuss some of the innovative work Seequent is doing across the sector, including insights from their recently released Geoprofessionals Data Management Report. We explore the challenges the industry faces in managing and integrating geological data, where technology is creating new opportunities for exploration and production, and how digital innovation is shaping the future of mining. Janina will also share Seequent’s perspective on the emerging ideas and technologies that could define the next chapter of the industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS More than one-third of geoscientists struggle with "data wrangling," spending significant time managing data rather than performing expert analysis. Seequent emphasises an open ecosystem approach, partnering with other technology providers to ensure seamless data integration across the entire mining lifecycle. New cloud platforms like Seequent allow for faster feedback loops, enabling explorers to adjust drilling patterns and targets in real-time based on live data. The ultimate goal of emerging mining technology is to automate mundane tasks, freeing geoscientists to be the "creative thinkers" the industry needs to solve complex problems. BEST MOMENTS "What we’re trying to do is to bring clarity to the complexity that is the underground." "A lot of our geoscientists in the field really struggle with the idea of having to spend a predominant amount of their time with data management and not being able to think about the problem." "Geoscientists truly are creative individuals... the idea is to provide technology that supports them every step of the way." "We’re all under a lot of pressure these days... to be able to open a conversation and to be open to the idea of integrating new technologies, new ideas, into existing systems." GUEST RESOURCES Website - https://www.seequent.com/ LinkedIn –               https://www.linkedin.com/in/janina-elliott-a0679212/               https://www.linkedin.com/company/seequent/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Seequent X - https://x.com/seequentglobal Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/seequent.software/ VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, we chat with Jorgen Evjen, CEO of Akobo Minerals, a Scandinavian-based gold producer and exploration company with operations in Ethiopia. They have quietly taken one of the most unconventional paths in modern gold mining, from years of uncertainty and capital pressure to the high-grade Segele discovery. This story is as much about judgment, discipline and trust as it is about geology. We talk about the moment the project became real, what “responsible mining” actually means when decisions have consequences on the ground, and why Ethiopia’s perceived risk often differs from reality. We’ll also explore execution where plans met friction and how leadership assumptions had to change when operating far from a typical Nordic environment. Finally, we look forward: investor pressure, maintaining integrity under acceleration and what Akobo’s next phase truly depends on over the coming 12-24 months. KEY TAKEAWAYS Akobo Minerals has taken an unconventional path in gold mining, transitioning from years of uncertainty and capital pressure to achieving significant discoveries, particularly the high-grade Segele discovery in Ethiopia. Building strong relationships with local authorities and understanding the cultural context are crucial for navigating the regulatory landscape. The company's approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has shifted from a theoretical framework to practical, on-the-ground actions. Akobo Minerals faced significant operational challenges, including delays due to external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and local conflicts. BEST MOMENTS "In 2015, we did an RC drilling campaign. It didn't come up with much. At that point, we were a bit like, okay, this is hard, this is difficult. But we kept on going." "Trust is undervalued or underestimated. It's number one in my book. I cannot compromise, even though I'm being told to compromise." "You have to work within the local framework. In Norway, we have an extremely flat management structure. In Ethiopia, you have an extremely silo-based management system." "We’re cash flow positive, we can finally lift site from the mine and back on to exploration. The mine will produce, we’re doing a new vertical shaft that will close to 10 double the output by the end of the year." GUEST RESOURCES Website: https://www.akobominerals.com Email: jorgen@akobominerals.com  LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/akobominerals/ LinkedIn (Personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgen-evjen X - https://x.com/akobominerals VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, we chat with Dominic Duggan, CEO of Patriot Resources, a junior miner exploring for precious metals, copper and lithium across South America (Tassa), Zambia, Africa (Kitumba project) and in Canada. Dom has moved from the technical and operational side of mining into the CEO role, so we talk about how that changes the way you think from evaluating rocks to allocating capital and prioritising projects across multiple jurisdictions. We also get into what actually needs to be proven early to turn a project into a real development opportunity, the technical signals that justify expanding a drilling program, and why time on site often tells you more than a presentation ever can. We also discuss permitting, community engagement, capital discipline, and the kind of leader he’s consciously trying to be and much more.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Engaging meaningfully with communities can facilitate permitting processes and create mutual benefits, rather than viewing community engagement as a hurdle. Patriot Resources is prioritising its Tassa project in Peru, which has shown promising results with a maiden resource of 31 million ounces of silver equivalent Before committing to larger drill programs, the company looks for specific technical signals, such as consistent mineralization and the presence of sulfides Dom aims to be an authentic and approachable leader, focusing on understanding the operations and engaging with the investor community BEST MOMENTS "We're fortunate that there's been a relationship there for a number of years with the local community, but it's certainly something that we're looking to build on and get right from the outset." "The silver price has been really well supported. We certainly share a long-term view around a new price equilibrium or floor, away from the historical lows." "There are some technical signals that the team are seeing there, like the presence of sulfides in multiple locations, sort of consistent mineralization." "I certainly want to live the experience and spend as much time with the teams and in the assets as possible." GUEST RESOURCES Website:https://www.patriotresources.com.au Email (general enquiries):info@patriotresources.com.au Email (CEO)dduggan@patriotresources.com.au LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/patriot-resources-limited/ X (Twitter):https://x.com/Patriot_ASX VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, we chat with Rob Crayfourd and Keith Watson, Co-Fund Managers for CQS Natural Resources Growth and Income, the Geiger Counter Funds and Golden Prospect Precious Metals, where all funds provide shareholders with exposure to a broad portfolio of mining and resource-focused equities, aiming to deliver both steady dividend income and capital growth. We are discussing their Geiger Counter fund, which focuses on the uranium market and the investment case behind it. We discuss the fund and mandate, where they’re currently seeing opportunities across the sector, and what’s been driving the recent momentum in the uranium price. We also explore whether that momentum is sustainable, the fundamentals supporting uranium long-term, and how a potential supply deficit could shape global nuclear ambitions. Finally, we look at policy and regulatory shifts, and the thinking behind some of their key portfolio holdings. KEY TAKEAWAYS The uranium market is currently experiencing a supply deficit, driven by low inventory levels and increasing demand from nuclear reactors The funds focus on undervalued uranium assets, particularly in North America, with a significant emphasis on companies like NextGen and Denison There is a strong belief that the momentum in the uranium market will continue, driven by structural demand growth and the need for new uranium mines to come online Recent policy shifts in the U.S. and other Western countries are increasingly supportive of nuclear energy, which is seen as a critical component of energy security BEST MOMENTS "Nuclear power is now very strategic in that there is a clear shortage of base-load capacity in most regions around the world." "We want to be in those names that have full participation into a rising price environment... if the uranium price goes to 150, 200, 250, then they get full participation in that." "In western markets, the established nuclear markets, nuclear represents something like 20% of electricity capacity... that makes it all the more strategic." "We're seeing reactor lives being extended. There's a real shift to a much more positive political support backdrop for nuclear." GUEST RESOURCES Geiger Counter: https://www.linkedin.com/company/geiger-counter/ https://ncim.co.uk/geiger-counter-ltd/ CQS Natural Resources Growth and Income Plc https://www.linkedin.com/company/cqs-natural-resources-growth-and-income-plc/ https://ncim.co.uk/cqs-natural-resources-growth-and-income-plc/ Golden Prospect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/golden-prospect-precious-metals-investment-fund/ https://ncim.co.uk/golden-prospect-precious-metals-ltd/ VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode, we chat with Mark Sumner, CEO and Chairman of Daura Gold, a TSX-listed junior miner, advancing high-impact exploration projects in Peru’s renowned Ancash region. We discuss what attracted the team to the country, how a re-evaluation of historic drilling at Antonella significantly upgraded the dataset without drilling a single new hole, and what that means for confidence in the scale of the system. We also talk about district context, upcoming drilling plans at Antonella, the discovery potential behind the first systematic drill program at Cerro Bayo, and what Peru is like as a mining jurisdiction.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Daura Gold achieved a 51% increase in gold equivalent gram meters at their Antonella project without drilling a single new hole Despite political shifts, Peru remains a premier mining destination because of its world-class mineral endowment (Top 3 in copper and silver) and its proactive stance on promoting foreign investment  The Antonella project is located in the prolific Ancash Department, immediately adjacent to Highlander Silver’s Bonita project and near the legendary San Luis deposit While focusing on Peru, Daura is also actively exploring the Cerro Bayo project in Argentina. This represents the first systematic drill testing of 15 priority targets in the Deseado Massif BEST MOMENTS "Peru has that really exciting combination of incredibly prospective geology... yet so much of the country is still under-explored."  "We managed to materially enhance the data set without drilling a single hole... it’s completely changed the profile of the project for us."  "The mineral endowment of the Ancash is incredible... we’re surrounded by these incredibly rich, high-grade epithermal vein systems." "We think there’s potential for a multi-million ounce deposit at Antonella... that’s really what the next 12 to 18 months looks like for us." GUEST RESOURCES Website: https://www.dauragold.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/daura-gold-corp/  X: https://x.com/DauraGold VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/