Dig Deep

In today’s episode, we're joined by Cobus Loots, CEO of Pan African Resources, a company that has grown into a multi-asset, mid-tier gold producer with a market cap of over two billion dollars. Under Cobus’ leadership, Pan African has built a strong reputation for operational excellence, innovation in tailings retreatment, and a forward-looking approach to sustainability and energy security.

We’ll be exploring the company’s journey from its roots to where it is today, its recent move to the Main Board, and its strategy for growth both in South Africa and abroad. We’ll also discuss Pan African’s financial performance, its view on the gold market, and how it envisions the future of mining in southern Africa.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

BEST MOMENTS

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        ⁠[email protected]⁠

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pan-african-resources-plc/

https://x.com/PanAfricanPLC 

CONTACT METHOD

⁠[email protected]⁠

⁠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 Ryan Mee, CEO of Fulcrum Metals, who is an exploration company but has since repositioned itself as a tailings processor, an evolution summed up by its strapline: turning waste into gold.

In our conversation, Ryan shares how Fulcrum is seizing this opportunity, not only to unlock value from historic mine waste but also to deliver real environmental and ESG benefits through remediation. We’ll explore the company’s projects in Canada, the opportunities and challenges of operating there, its partnership with Extrakt (extract) and their unique processing technology, and where Ryan sees the future of tailings reprocessing, whether as a niche or a mainstream part of the mining industry. Finally, we’ll touch on what milestones investors and industry watchers should be looking out for as Fulcrum builds momentum in this exciting space.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

BEST MOMENTS

"We want to get into a production scenario... tailings, it's already mined material and it's sat at surface. We could literally walk onto the property and understand the properties of the asset a lot quicker."

"This is real ESG in practice. It's new, innovative technologies... and you don't know what you're finding in those tailings because no one's ever tested those tailings for anything other than gold before."

"We're not creating any more practices which are detrimental to the environment, but actually will help restore the environment. I see it as a bit of a no-brainer."

"We're entering a really exciting time for Fulcrum... we've got a huge six months ahead of us, really excited, a lot of really important work and milestones that are going on for the company."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        ⁠[email protected]⁠

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

●      Social Media Links

○      LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fulcrum-metals-plc/posts/?feedView=all

○      X - https://x.com/fulcrummetals?lang=en 

●      Website: https://fulcrummetals.com/

●      Email addresses

○      Investors: [email protected]  

○      General Enquires: [email protected]

CONTACT METHOD

⁠[email protected]⁠

⁠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 Paul Bennett, Managing Director of Medallion Metals, who are on a pathway to transforming the landscape for gold and copper mining in Western Australia with its flagship Ravensthorpe Gold Project.

They have been making headlines with a major upgrade at Ravensthorpe, a feasibility study on the horizon, and a transformational deal to acquire the Forrestania operation. We’ll be talking with Paul about how the upgraded resource reshapes the mine plan, the path to a final investment decision, and how existing infrastructure at Forrestania could accelerate the company’s journey to production.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Medallion Metals is a pre-production gold and copper producer in Western Australia, with a market capitalization of approximately $230 million and $25 million in cash reserves.

The company is focused on advancing its flagship Ravensthorpe Gold Project and aims to produce 70,000 to 80,000 ounces of gold per annum.

The recent upgrade of the sulfide resource to nearly one million ounces has reshaped Medallion's development strategy, allowing for a more focused approach on the underground sulfide component

A feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of October, with key work streams including mining study optimisations and metallurgical test work

BEST MOMENTS

"The Sulfide Development Strategy has been transformational... it’s all about compressing time, compressing capital to get to first production."

"We expect that mine life will continue from there... we’ve unlocked the code now and we're getting closer and closer to production."

"The cash balance is well and truly funds us through to final investment decision... we’re really well placed in that sense."

"We think there's a lot of upside... the deposit's relatively shallowly drilled. It's only drilled to an average depth of 100 metres."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

X: https://x.com/MM8_Medallion

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medallion-metals-limited/

Website: https://medallionmetals.com.au/

Contact: [email protected]

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

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 speak to Paul Weibel, CEO of 5E Advanced Materials, the company advancing the Fort Cady boron project in California.

We’ll explore Paul’s path into mining and the leadership lessons he’s carried to the C-suite; get a clear update on Fort Cady’s status and key takeaways from the recent Preliminary Feasibility Study; and dig into why boron matters, its market size, the industries driving demand, and what that means for U.S. supply.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

5E Advanced Materials focuses on boron extraction from a unique culminate deposit in California, which is the only one of its kind in the U.S. The company has been mining at a pilot scale for 20 months and is preparing for commercial production.

Boron is critical for various applications, including glass production, ceramics, and advanced materials like boron carbide used in armour. The market for boron is expected to grow at an average rate of 5-6% annually

The company is pursuing project debt financing as a primary means to fund its operations, targeting a $285 million facility from the U.S. Export-Import Bank

The U.S. boron supply chain faces challenges due to tariffs and geopolitical dynamics, which have affected pricing and availability

BEST MOMENTS

"Boron is the fifth element on the periodic table. It has very unique chemical properties... it basically is critical to life as we know it."

"This market is growing... on a weighted average basis, that market's growing at about 8%. This diversification is a bit of an insulator to low growth."

"There's a ton of upside in this market. It's an oligopoly structure... the second largest producer is not around forever. They have a very defined mine life."

"We want to get that agency debt... the USGS critical mineral list is basically the main policy form that gets cheaper agency financing available."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

https://www.5eadvancedmaterials.com/⁠

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/5e-advanced-materials-inc

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

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 to Simon Finnis, Managing Director of McLaren Minerals, a company that’s been making waves in the critical minerals space since its recent listing. McLaren is advancing its titanium project in Western Australia, a region well known for its supportive mining environment.

Titanium isn’t always the first mineral that comes to mind in conversations around critical resources, but its applications and strategic importance are growing rapidly. With McLaren positioned right in the middle of that evolution, Simon is here to share insights into the company’s progress, the broader titanium market, and how technology, community engagement, and smart strategy are shaping their journey.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

While titanium is not often the first mineral associated with critical resources, its applications in industries such as aerospace, medical, and pigments for paints are expanding rapidly, highlighting its strategic significance in the market.

McLaren Minerals is advancing a sulphate ilmenite project in Western Australia, with a substantial inferred resource of 280 million tonnes at a grade of 4.8% heavy mineral.

The market for sulphate ilmenite has seen a significant price increase, from $75-$85 per ton to $320-$350 per ton, driven by demand from smelters in the Middle East and China, which utilise the product for both titanium and iron production.

McLaren is committed to conducting thorough environmental studies and community engagement as part of the permitting process

BEST MOMENTS

"Titanium metal is light, it's non-corrosive, so it's fantastic for replacement of body parts, but it's also fantastic for aerospace and other applications where you need light, strong metal."

"The current market for sulphate ilmenite is between $320 and $350 a ton, so it's a huge change."

"If your head grade of your mineral sand is say 6% and you take 25% slimes out, the grade of your ore going into your plant increases."

"You've actually just got to do the work. You can't not do the test work that we've done and then expect things to work."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

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

[email protected]

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 Dave Mitchell and David Van Kleeck of PJKT72, who are transforming the mining industry through blockchain tokenization and redefining resource ownership through blockchain tokenization.

We’re diving into a conversation at the intersection of blockchain and the natural world where two pioneers are aiming to reshape how we value, protect, and access the planet’s raw materials.

We discuss:

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The MetWave Green token provides a mechanism for environmental protection by allowing stakeholders to invest in keeping coal in the ground

The use of blockchain technology and smart contracts enables verifiable and instantaneous transactions, improving traceability and efficiency in the coal supply chain

While the current focus is on coal, the tokenisation model has the potential to be applied to other natural resources, such as graphite, graphene, and possibly rare earth elements

BEST MOMENTS

"The green token is an opportunity to leave the coal in place, providing a voice that hasn't existed before in how carbon is emitted into the atmosphere."

"By tokenising it, what it's doing is opening up opportunities that had not been available to both public and private investors."

"The smart contracts in the blockchain would enforce that, providing a transparent, permanent record of the transactions that are done."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

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 Artem Volynets, Founder, Chairman and CEO of ACG Metals Ltd whose vision is to consolidate the copper industry through a series of roll-up acquisitions targeting copper producers with best-in-class environmental, social, and governance (ESG) characteristics.

Artem’s career spans major leadership roles across the international mining sector, from steering large-scale M&A to developing assets in complex jurisdictions. Under his leadership, ACG Metals has been building a portfolio that blends strategic acquisitions with disciplined project execution.

In this conversation, we’ll dig into how Artem navigates competitive copper acquisitions without overpaying, approaches technical challenges with fresh thinking, and adapts plans based on community input. We’ll also hear his take on jurisdictional surprises, the realities of operating in high-inflation environments, and the strategic moves he believes will set ACG Metals apart in the years ahead.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

ACG Metals is a relatively new player in the mining sector, having achieved substantial milestones within its first year

ACG Metals differentiates itself in a competitive market by avoiding traditional auction processes and leveraging a strong network for deal sourcing.

The company focuses on creating value through innovative transaction structures that include cash, shares, and milestone payments, fostering partnerships with sellers.

ACG Metals'  proactive approach has helped the company integrate into the local fabric, contributing to job creation and local budgets, which mitigates potential conflicts.

BEST MOMENTS

"We don't get our investment ideas from investment banks. We have a relatively large network of connections where we can source the deal ideas." 

"I like to think of mining assets as a big cash printing machine, and that gets me excited as a CEO of a public company." 

"The biggest risk in Turkey is to your waistline. The food is too good. Otherwise, I don't see any other operating risks."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

https://acgmetals.com/

https://x.com/ACGMetals

https://www.linkedin.com/company/acgmetals/

https://www.youtube.com/@ACGMetals

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

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 Michael Zolotov, co-founder and CTO of Razor Labs, who are a leading mining technology provider that delivers advanced predictive maintenance with its flagship product, DataMind AI™️. Razor Labs’ AI  Sensor Fusion technology provides real-time condition monitoring, root cause analysis, and prescriptive actions to prevent failures before they happen.

Michael’s a serial entrepreneur, an expert in AI, radar, and advanced analytics. He’s built and led companies through IPOs and acquisitions, and helped scale Razor Labs globally. Most importantly, he pioneered AI Sensor fusion in mining and he’s on the podcast today to discuss Razor Labs’ origins, how DataMind AI uses Sensor Fusion to cut costly mining downtime through real-time monitoring, examples of fast ROI, its impact on maintenance practices, the transition to trusted AI systems, and future directions for AI in mining.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Unplanned downtime in mining can lead to significant financial losses, often amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars per failure. 

The use of sensor fusion, akin to how doctors diagnose illnesses using multiple data sources, allows DataMind AI to identify failures that traditional sensors might miss. 

Clients have reported rapid returns on investment, with some achieving full payback within three months of implementing DataMind AI. This is largely due to the prevention of costly failures and reduced maintenance expenses.

The transition to AI-driven systems in mining requires building trust among teams. DataMind AI provides evidence-based diagnostics, allowing maintenance teams to understand the rationale behind recommendations

BEST MOMENTS

"We identified the mining sector as a very high potential for AI disruption... essentially like an automated doctor for machines." 

"The uniqueness here is that it was a bootstrap company, and we actually reinvested the profits into the R&D of that product." 

"Traditional AI systems are black box... you cannot trust the model." 

"By monitoring continuously, you make sure that no matter whether it's deteriorating over three weeks or two weeks, you will be able to capture it."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

Website: https://www.razor-labs.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/razor-technologies-inc/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RazorLabsAI

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

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 have a returning guest who appeared back in Jan 2023 (Episode 307). Stefan Bernstein, CEO of GreenRoc Mining, a company focused on unlocking critical mineral resources in Greenland, with a particular spotlight on graphite at the Amitsoq project in South Greenland.

We discuss the upcoming bulk sample program at the Amitsoq graphite project, progress on the Environmental Impact Assessment, and what’s next for the AAM pilot plant. Stefan also shares an update on their Exploitation Licence application, community engagement in South Greenland, and his perspective on the region’s evolving political landscape.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Greenroc Mining, led by CEO Stefan, is dedicated to unlocking critical mineral resources in Greenland, particularly focusing on the Amitsoq Graphite Project

A bulk sample collection is scheduled to take place soon, which will provide essential data for the pre-feasibility study and supply material for a pilot plant

Ongoing baseline studies are crucial for obtaining a mining permit. The company is nearing completion of this year's studies, which are necessary to demonstrate background environmental conditions before mining operations commence.

Greenroc is actively engaging with local communities and government entities in southern Greenland, fostering positive relationships and interest in the project

BEST MOMENTS

"We have defined a very large resource at Emitsog. It's a very rich deposit. We have more than 23 million tons of graphite or more than 20% graphite." 

"The reason we're collecting this bulk sample is really twofold. It's going to provide us with a lot of useful information about the crushing, grinding, flotation stages." 

"There's definitely a very positive attitude to the minerals industry in general and to the Amitok project specifically." 

"The exploitation license is really the political approval of the project. Then comes the mining permit, but that's more technical."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/

X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepThe

GUEST SOCIALS 

https://greenrocmining.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenroc-mining-plc/

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

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 Patrick Thévoz, the co-founder and CEO of Flyability, and Michael Blake is the Product Manager at the company, who are a Swiss company dedicated to making the world's infrastructure safer and more efficient through innovative drone technology. The company has developed cutting-edge solutions that enable safe and efficient data collection in inaccessible and dangerous environments, serving over 1500 customers worldwide.

In today’s episode, we dive into the cutting-edge world of drone technology in mining with the team from Flyability. We’re joined by Patrick and Mike, who bring technical depth and real-world experience to the table. From the capabilities and limitations of Flyability’s Elios 3 drone to its growing adoption across mines worldwide, we unpack how this tech is transforming underground inspections. We’ll explore what it's like to deploy the drone on-site, the kind of data it delivers, and how it fits into existing mining workflows. Plus, we tackle the bigger picture of what drives mines to adopt these solutions, and where this technology is heading next, including the role of AI and autonomy in mining’s digital future.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

The use of drones in mining significantly enhances safety by reducing the need for human inspections in dangerous areas. 

The Elios 3 drone is equipped with various sensors, including LiDAR, thermal cameras, and ultrasonic thickness sensors, allowing for comprehensive data collection.

It can create high-density point clouds and perform detailed inspections, which are crucial for mining operations.

Flyability's technology is already being utilised by numerous mining companies worldwide, with a significant presence in regions like Canada, South Africa, and Latin America

BEST MOMENTS

"We started the business as a pure robotics play, pure hardware play, and gradually we started adding more and more sensors on board the machine."

"The drone itself takes around five minutes to set up. It's very, very fast."

"We estimate we're probably 1% of what could be done with this technology that is done currently. So, you know, growth, growth, growth."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        [email protected]

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

GUEST SOCIALS 

https://www.flyability.com/

https://www.facebook.com/flyability.elios/#

https://www.linkedin.com/company/flyability/

https://www.instagram.com/fly_ability/

CONTACT METHOD

[email protected]

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.