In Micon’s Opinion…
Open Source AI and Junior Mineral Exploration
The modern-day geologist deals with large amounts of data: remote sensing data (satellite image, airborne geophysics, drone surveys), traditional geochemical, lithological and structural data. Advancements in computer science allowed the creation of artificial...
Understanding When Costs Associated with Overburden and Waste Removal are Capital Expenditures
Most open-cast mines require the removal of overburden and waste material to access the underlying orebody. This activity is known as ‘stripping’. By their nature, all open pits become narrower with depth, and consequently the volume of waste to be stripped is largest...
Journey to a Mineral Resource Estimate: Data
Intro As promised in our published article “TOP 10 TIPS FOR MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATION” This is the first of a series of articles named Journey to a Mineral Resource Estimate. All the materials intend to discuss the various aspects of the multiple tasks typically...
Navigating the Environmental, Social and Governance Landscape
So, what exactly is ESG? We are becoming used to hearing a range of terms gathered under the banner of ‘Environmental, Social and Governance’ (ESG), including not only the more obvious elements, but also sustainable development, responsible mining, social licence to...
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Worldwide Pandemic and Site Visits
A key part of the Qualified Person’s (QP’s) review of mineral properties under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101) is the site visit. Indeed, it is usually the site visit that allows a QP to acquire the key data, information and knowledge about a mineral project...
Specialty Mineral Resource Estimates
Originally published on the M.Plan International Limited website on March 16, 2020. In general, mineral resource estimates for specialty minerals such as quartz, kaolin, diatomite, graphite and limestone, etc. are both similar to and very different from...
Navigating the ESG Landscape Part 2 – Responsible Mining
In a previous article published in June, 2020 (link), we set out key elements of the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) landscape, and how Micon can support mining companies at all phases and all scales to engage with sustainable approaches to addressing ESG...
Fast, Detailed and Practical Estimation of External Dilution for Open Pits
Micon has successfully evaluated the effect of minimum mining dimensions on operational dilution for an open pit mine, narrow-vein deposit. This study involved generating and analyzing 24 different minimum mining dimension scenarios. The expected operational dilution...
Top 10 Tips for Mineral Resource Estimation
Every mineral deposit is unique and requires a large number of items to consider when conducting a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) with some items more important than others. While Micon’s Competent/Qualified Persons may approach and conduct an MRE from a variety of...
Improve the Economics of Your Orebody by Ensuring it is Developed at its Optimum Production Rate
Micon recently completed a very successful scoping-level trade-off study to determine the optimum rate of production of a mineral deposit based upon orebody configuration, types of plant feed available, recovery options, infrastructure requirements, capital, and...
The CIM Code and Best Practices – Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction
On 29 November, 2019, the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) published an updated version of its Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines. The update provides additional guidance on the reporting of a...
From Metal to Money: The Importance of Reliable Metallurgical Accounting on the Entire Mining Operation
Synopsis This article condenses an earlier paper coauthored by Derick de Wit and Garth Marshall, Metal accounting: the new focus area (Part 1), previously published by Venmyn Deloitte on 26 January, 2017. A metallurgical accounting system is the key tool to assess a...
Facts and Features
Karen Nash joins Micon as Senior Environmental and Social Specialist
Micon Promotes Nigel Fung to Vice President of Mining
Micon is proud to announce the …
Case Studies
Timmins Gold Corporation
Micon has worked with Timmins Gold …
Dalradian Resources Inc.
The Curraghinalt gold deposit is located …