Épisodes

  • Building a Legacy: Elvis Kamba on How Mark Bristow and Randgold Resources Redefined Mining in Africa

    Building a Legacy: Elvis Kamba on How Mark Bristow and Randgold Resources Redefined Mining in Africa
    Dec 15 2025
    In today's episode, we're joined by Elvis Kamba, author of the new book on Mark Bristow and the extraordinary rise of Randgold Resources. Elvis worked inside Randgold and later Barrick under Bristow’s leadership, giving him a unique front-row perspective on one of the most influential mining stories of the last 30 years. In this conversation, we explore what inspired him to capture the Randgold journey, how Bristow’s leadership philosophy shaped the company, and what made Randgold’s approach to Africa so different from everyone else. We’ll dive into the pivotal moments from Morila, the “company maker,” to the hard lessons of Syama, the engineering triumph of Kibali, and ultimately the “merger of the century” with Barrick. Elvis also reflects on Randgold’s culture, its ability to build elite teams, its relationships with governments and communities, and the broader message he wants the industry and young professionals to take from his book. It’s a rare, insider look at one of mining’s most remarkable success stories KEY TAKEAWAYS Unlike many mining companies that view Africa primarily as a source of resources, there were opportunities for investment and community development The challenges faced at Syama Gold Mine served as a crucible for Randgold, leading to the development of better project selection frameworks and enhanced environmental and social capabilities, ultimately strengthening the company's operational discipline. Morila was pivotal for Randgold, transforming it from a small exploration company into a globally respected producer by generating significant cash flows that funded further expansion and exploration. The final chapter of the book emphasises the positive contributions of mining to society, advocating for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach while highlighting the industry's role in technological advancements and community development BEST MOMENTS “Mark Bristow is a leader that represents one of the most transformational leadership... He had an inherent interest for the country and the people that were in the places where he did the business." "Morila was Randgold's first world-class deposit... It transformed what was known as a small exploration company into a globally respected producer." "Syama was like a crucible where Randgold's ability to manage future mines was forged... They developed a smarter project selection framework, which they popularly called our filters GUEST RESOURCES www.linkedin.com/in/elvis-kamba-8897b236 Amazon Link to Book: https://bit.ly/3YhqKzA 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/
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    47 min
  • From Wall Street to Mining: Chris Showalter's Journey and Vision for Sustainable Nickel Production

    From Wall Street to Mining: Chris Showalter's Journey and Vision for Sustainable Nickel Production
    Dec 11 2025
    In today's show, we're joined by Chris Showalter, CEO of Lifezone Metals, the company behind the Kabanga Nickel Project in north‑west Tanzania, one of the world’s highest‑grade, development‑ready nickel sulphide deposits. We discuss how the company fits into the evolving critical minerals landscape, its role in building Western refining capacity, and why its Hydromet Technology could be a game-changer compared to traditional smelting. Chris will also share highlights from the recent Feasibility Study and the key milestones Lifezone is targeting over the next 12–24 months. KEY TAKEAWAYS LifeZone's innovative approach leverages chemistry to process ores, reducing the carbon footprint and operational costs associated with high-temperature smelting. The recent feasibility study for the Kabanga project revealed a net asset value of $1.58 billion and a 23.3% internal rate of return (IRR) at conservative nickel pricing LifeZone is actively seeking partnerships and funding to support the development of the Kabanga project. The company is working with the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and other international entities to secure approximately $700 million in debt financing Over the next 12 to 24 months, LifeZone aims to finalise its equity consortium and advance its project financing. Additionally, the company is exploring other opportunities, such as recycling metals from autocatalytic converters BEST MOMENTS "We are going to be one of the most critical sources of nickel with byproducts of cobalt and copper for the Western nations to wean away from the tightly controlled Indonesian market." "HydroMet is focusing on water-based solutions and really letting the chemistry do the hard work in a much more energy-efficient process." "Our total ore production is 52.2 million tons, creating 1.98% nickel, which is very high... that drives the economics." "Kabanga's time has come. This mine will be built. It's these flagship projects with this kind of grade, and this is the right time for Kabanga." GUEST RESOURCES LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lifezone-metals/ Website: https://lifezonemetals.com/ Email address: info@lifezonemetals.com 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/
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    28 min
  • Unlocking Stranded Assets in Mining - with Alastair Goodship

    Unlocking Stranded Assets in Mining - with Alastair Goodship
    Dec 8 2025
    In today’s episode, we're joined by Alastair Goodship, COO of Mila Resources, a mining company that targets stranded assets with robust geological potential, by leveraging existing infrastructure and geological data, and then applying their team's multi-disciplinary experience, they are able to identify key value opportunities where they can advance to tangible production-stage studies. We discuss Mila’s strategy and portfolio, then zero in on the Yarrol project in Queensland and what exploration has shown so far, what the next phase is targeting, and the key milestones on the horizon. We’ll finish with the outlook for the wider Queensland portfolio and what shareholders should watch next. KEY TAKEAWAYS Mila Resources' strategy is to find de-risked assets that are stranded due to lack of funding or being lost in a larger portfolio, but which possess clear potential for scalability. Personal career development should include gaining broad experience across various disciplines and dedicated time to up-skill in areas like data set management and remote sensing to improve exploration efficiency. The Yarrol project is compelling because it has a historical resource, significant drill intercepts to depth, and satellite targets that all indicate gold mineralisation but has been largely overlooked for 20-30 years. The near-term focus is on aggressively drilling to expand the mineralised footprint, with a key milestone being the announcement of a new, updated resource for Yarrol to drive future development strategy. BEST MOMENTS "Mila’s aim is to find assets that have already been de-risked and progressed along the development curve, but are stranded due to lack of funds or being stuck in a larger portfolio of projects." "I had the space then to actually spend some kind of dedicated time actually getting understanding how the data works, how these processes work... and build my own skill set at the same time." "The first thing for us was to get some validation drilling in there... Every hole we put in hit, which gave us confidence to really move forward and be a bit more aggressive with Yarrol." "We've got a really prospective ground and we feel we're on to something, as do most juniors obviously, but we think we're backing it up with the data we have." GUEST RESOURCES Website - https://milaresources.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mila-resources/ X - https://x.com/MilaResources 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/
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    31 min
  • The Power of Broad Experience in Mining

    The Power of Broad Experience in Mining
    Dec 4 2025
    In today’s episode, we're joined by Brad Valiukas, Managing Director of Kaiser Reef, an Australian gold producer with operations in Victoria and Tasmania. We talk about Brad’s journey from his early days on site to leading Kaiser Reef, what’s driving the company forward, and his views on gold in today’s market. We’ll also discuss how his hands-on experience has shaped his leadership and what advice he’d give to the next generation of mining professionals. KEY TAKEAWAYS Broad, hands-on experience in every part of a mining operation is essential, as it helps professionals apply knowledge and understand the needs of their internal "customers". Working for a mining contractor in Australia is strongly recommended early in a career, as it provides diverse experience and helps disseminate good practices throughout the industry. Career success requires a desire to grow and continuously push forward, with a mindset of never being content because every single operation is depleting a resource. When faced with the global financial and geopolitical issues currently impacting the gold market, Kaiser Reef maintains a conservative view on gold price while aiming for maximum exposure to potential price upside. BEST MOMENTS "I always try and get through to everybody is learn every part of the operation." "The contracting industry in Australia is so strong and it's such a big driver for the success." "We never, never ever sitting back in terms of putting eight operations online, basically in eight years, never ever sitting back and saying, right, that's enough, we're in a comfortable position now." "Think of yourself as a mining professional. So you might have an expertise in geology or engineering or surveying or geotech. You know, try and try and let go of that a little bit." GUEST RESOURCES https://kaiserreef.com.au/ 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/
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    26 min
  • The Mine of the Future: How SiTration's Technology is Transforming Metal Recovery and Sustainability

    The Mine of the Future: How SiTration's Technology is Transforming Metal Recovery and Sustainability
    Dec 1 2025
    This time we talk to Brandon Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of SiTration, a company redefining metal recovery with a chemical-free separation process. Brandon recently presented at the ACG Mine Closure conference, highlighting SiTration’s breakthrough results in recovery yields and purity — achieved without traditional chemical reagents. We discuss how the technology works, what challenges come with scaling innovation in mining, and what the future of resource recovery could look like as SiTration grows. KEY TAKEAWAYS The technology is capable of recovering multiple metals, including copper, cobalt, nickel, and precious metals like gold and platinum, making it applicable across various mining and recycling processes. The company has successfully conducted tests with real-world samples, confirming that their recovery yields of over 90% and purity levels of 99% can be achieved outside of controlled laboratory conditions. While regulatory challenges are minimal due to the chemical-free nature of the process, technical and cultural barriers remain significant. The integration of technology could lead to more sustainable mining practices, enabling the recovery of critical minerals from waste streams and reducing the need for new mining projects BEST MOMENTS "Our main thesis in my PhD and postdoc work was if you could transition a lot of these standard kind of chemical and heat-based separations, you could reduce a lot of that energy consumption and have a major impact." "We can actually recover the copper in a very similar way just by mechanically removing it in a very kind of streamlined process from the electrodes." "The short answer is yes, absolutely. It can offset... we're probably never going to get away entirely from new mining, but we can drastically supplement the supply chain with critical minerals recovered from waste." "We want that to loop back to how we're actually doing the mining and making it much more versatile and nimble." GUEST RESOURCES ● www.sitration.com ● Brendan's email: bsmith@sitration.com ● https://www.linkedin.com/company/sitration-inc ● https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendansmith2/ 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/
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    37 min
  • Understanding the Impact of Gold Prices and Supply Chain Dynamics

    Understanding the Impact of Gold Prices and Supply Chain Dynamics
    Nov 27 2025
    In today’s episode, we're joined by Martin Horgan, a well-known figure in the mining industry with a proven track record in exploration, development, and operations, from leading Toro Gold through to his time as CEO of Centamin. Martin shares his thoughts on what drives him to set up a new mining company, what kind of opportunities he’s targeting next, and how his past experiences have shaped his approach to risk and value creation. We discuss whether gold remains his focus or if other minerals are on the radar, how market factors like high gold prices influence decision-making, and how investor perspectives align with management’s view of risk. Martin also reflects on the lessons learned from Toro and Centamin. Martin is also going to be attending the upcoming Resourcing Tomorrow event - the premier gathering for the world’s mining leaders taking place in London from 2-4 December. What sets this event apart is its unmatched audience: C-level executives from the biggest mining companies worldwide, over 40 government ministers, leading mining technology providers, and many more mining professionals in the industry. Dig Deep The Mining Podcast is proud to partner with Resourcing Tomorrow. To register, go to https://hubs.ly/Q03JvH2K0 and use DIGDEEP10 for 10% off your pass. KEY TAKEAWAYS There is a strong desire to re-enter the mining sector, driven by a combination of personal enjoyment and the current geopolitical landscape, which presents unique opportunities for mineral supply and investment. When evaluating potential projects, the primary focus is on geological potential, followed by the stability and regulatory framework of the jurisdiction. The current high gold prices influence decision-making, particularly in terms of project evaluation and negotiations with local partners. Funding Strategies: The choice between private equity and public markets for funding is crucial. BEST MOMENTS "I think it's a really interesting time within the sector where increasingly people are focusing back on it... where the various basic building blocks of society actually are sourced from." "We feel comfortable working somewhere within that sort of life cycle... there's probably more opportunity in the sort of exploration resource phase than there is maybe in the pre-development development phase." "I think the ideal model would be if you're in a cash flowing business, the listed space is very good... if you're in a pre-development basis, exploration as well, I think the private equity model works." GUEST RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-horgan-038b298/ 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/
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    55 min
  • Gender Based Violence And What It Means For The Mining Industry

    Gender Based Violence And What It Means For The Mining Industry
    Nov 25 2025
    Today we’re taking on a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime: gender-based violence, or GBV, and what it means for mining’s culture, safety, and future. Joining me are three people who’ve helped bring this issue into sharper focus recently and their recent collaboration on The Intelligent Miner opened up a powerful and, at times, uncomfortable conversation about how mining can — and must — do better. Carly Leonida, founder and editor of The Intelligent Miner; Abbi Buxton, an independent consultant who partners with organisations across the resource sector, including mining companies, to tackle GBV and advance equality in workplaces and communities and Mahmood Sonday, Managing Director at Reos Partners, a global advisory firm that helps organisations address systemic challenges. He has worked with numerous mining companies to develop and implement strategies to successfully tackle GBV and harassment. KEY TAKEAWAYS The mining sector has a strong culture that can hinder open discussions about GBV. There is a need for leadership commitment to change this culture, which includes creating an environment where employees feel safe to speak up Tackling GBV requires a collaborative approach that involves not only mining companies but also governments, civil society, and communities Companies must go beyond relying solely on formal grievance mechanisms to understand the prevalence and nature of GBV within their organisations Addressing GBV is not a one-time project but requires sustained effort and commitment BEST MOMENTS "Gender-based violence is a human rights violation and I think often we forget that." "The impacts of violence against women and girls amounts to something like 2% of global GDP every year, which is quite staggering when you think about it." "The road to hell is paved with good intentions and bad incentives." "It's not hard to imagine how these things that we might think are unadministrative or bureaucratic can lead to incidents of violence in the home or at work." 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 ● Intelligent Miner article: https://theintelligentminer.com/2025/07/16/silence-breeds-shame-why-the-mining-industry-needs-to-keep-talking-about-and-acting-upon-gender-based-violence/ ● Intelligent Miner homepage: https://theintelligentminer.com/ ● Carly's LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlyleonida/ ● Abbi's LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/abbi-buxton-67bba433 ● Abbi's Email: abbi@abbibuxtonconsulting.com ● https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/theme ● Abbi's Briefing Paper: https://www.iied.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/2025-03/22610iied.pdf ● Mahmood's LinkedIn profile: http://linkedin.com/in/mahmoodsonday ● https://reospartners.com/ ● Mahmood's Email: sonday@reospartners.com ● https://reospartners.com/blog/gbv-positive-corporate-culture 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/
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    1 h et 8 min
  • Future-Proofing Mining: Supply, Geopolitics, and Innovation - with Mark Cutifani

    Future-Proofing Mining: Supply, Geopolitics, and Innovation - with Mark Cutifani
    Nov 20 2025
    In today’s episode, we're joined by one of the industry’s most respected leaders, Mark Cutifani, former CEO of Anglo American and Chair of the ICMM. We discuss the long-term supply outlook for mining, the risks, opportunities and disruptions shaping the next decade. From critical minerals and geopolitical shifts to innovation and resilience, Mark shares his perspective on what’s coming and how the industry can prepare. Mark is also going to be attending the upcoming Resourcing Tomorrow event - the premier gathering for the world’s mining leaders taking place in London from 2-4 December. What sets this event apart is its unmatched audience: C-level executives from the biggest mining companies worldwide, over 40 government ministers, leading mining technology providers, and many more mining professionals in the industry. Dig Deep The Mining Podcast is proud to partner with Resourcing Tomorrow. To register, go to https://hubs.ly/Q03JvH2K0 and use DIGDEEP10 for 10% off your pass. KEY TAKEAWAYS No single country dominates global mineral supply, meaning the world needs to trade across geopolitical blocks to function effectively. The core challenge to supply is not a lack of resources, but the 20+ year timeframe required to get projects approved and materials to market. Companies that can inherently flex their production volume based on market demand and commodity price cycles significantly outperform their peers. Long-term success is built on pre-planning and quick capital return (3-5 years), excellent technical execution, and securing the right people and talent at every phase. BEST MOMENTS "No one country dominates global minerals and metals supply. And for the world to function, and for individual countries to function effectively, we're going to need to trade." "The bigger risk is one of permitting... a problem with supply not because of exploration, but because of the processes to get those materials to market." "Your ability to average a price 10 to 15 to 20% above the average price through the cycle, puts you in my experience the top quartile performers in the industry." 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/
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    38 min