Some cave men evolving faster than others
March 2 - 8, 2010
NEWCREST Mining has leapfrogged the likes of Rio Tinto, Codelco and Freeport to be the world’s pre-eminent ‘cave miner’, or so says Newcrest CEO (and former Rio executive) Ian Smith. We called in two knowledgeable, independent outsiders to throw some light on the veracity of this claim.
Chinese takeaway hot in Chile
March 2 - 8, 2010
PANAUST has matched its M&A rhetoric by transacting a significant deal in Chile to add to development success at Phu Kham in Laos. At just about the same time another ASX-listed, Chinese-backed junior has also touched down in the slivered country of copper. Coincidences, cohorts, or conspiracies? We ask The Outsider.
New life, and times, in a once Modular world
October 26 - November 1, 2009
MODULAR Mining Systems, mining industry pioneer in the world of mine production management (MPM) and reporting systems, is celebrating its 30th birthday this month. We asked The Outsider for an assessment of some of the key figures – invited and uninvited – at the big party held in its honour.
Life after phosphate fatigue
September 21 - 27, 2009
A FORMER British paratrooper who used to run his own diamond dredging business in Guyana, and an experienced oil and gas geologist walk into the phosphate business. No, it’s not quite some lame joke, it’s two of the three main players at ASX-listed Phosphate Australia, and if those in the sector are on the ball, they’ll be taking notice of this company – at least that’s the assessment of The Outsider.
Toro to charge at BFS
September 7 - 13, 2009
AUGUST 31: TORO Energy has, like others in the uranium sector, had an up-and-down few years since an $A18 million IPO back in March 2006. Latest news is its Wiluna uranium project is reportedly looking a much better development proposition following an optimistation study, with the company hopeful of becoming a producer in 2012.
Inspecting Rex
August 24 - 30, 2009
TRADERS and investors have got hold of Rex Minerals and made the South Australia-focused IOCG explorer the latest flavour of the moment in the resources sector, with the company’s shares doubling in value in a week and rising around four-fold over the past month. We asked our resident geological expert to take a closer look.
Reserve judgment on CuDeco
August 17 - 23, 2009
CUDECO released further promising news last week from its Rocklands copper project in Queensland, with investors and/or traders duly impressed and shares rising more than 20%. We sought out the appropriate authority to tell us how impressed we should be.
Early Doolgunna call is tough to make
August 10 - 16, 2009
KARL Simich and the boys at Sandfire Resources could be onto a very big copper find at Doolgunna, north of Meekatharra in Western Australia. Just how big is the multi-billion dollar question, and to get an answer HighGrade this week called in our resident geologist and mineral economist.
No Tropicana paradise ... yet
July 27 - August 2, 2009
ROUTINELY lauded as the best new gold discovery in Australia for many years, the Tropicana find owned by AngloGold Ashanti (70%) and Independence (30%) took another step towards development this week with confirmation a feasibility study would be carried out. HighGrade decided to bring in a very experienced operative for questioning.
