Azure allure for OZ
March 9 - 15, 2010
OZ MINERALS has proven itself happy to again step offshore with the joint venture deal it announced this week for ground in Mexico held by ASX junior Azure Minerals. It would also suggest the possibility of a significant M&A deal elsewhere in South America has increased.
Andean resource boost imminent
March 2 - 8, 2010
ONGOING exploration success continues to highlight Andean Resources’ Cerro Negro project in Argentina as one of the highest quality gold-silver projects on the world gold map.
Queries over Andean mine approach
February 2 - 8, 2010
INSIGHTS into boom Argentina gold explorer Andean Resources are undoubtedly keenly sought by investors given claims the stock is already trading at a “gold premium” despite being some 2-3 years away from first production.
Chile project draws blue-sky Laguna
December 7 - 13, 2009
AFTER many years of working in Chile, Laguna Resources managing director Nick Lindsay believes he’s got the contacts and experience to build a significant resource business for the lowly capitalised junior he heads. And it seems he’s off to a promising start with an advanced gold-silver project optioned from Anglo American.
New La Tortuga drilling underway
September 21 - 27, 2009
BIG target drilling has begun at Azure Minerals’ La Tortuga project in Mexico’s state of Sonora.
Second Santa Rita monster lurks
September 21 - 27, 2009
THE business end of the development of Mirabela Nickel’s Santa Rita project in Brazil is imminent, with contruction to finish and commissioning to begin at the end of the month.
Carpathian targets 100,000ozpa Riacho Dos Machos
August 31 - September 6, 2009
IN ONE sense it seems like only yesterday that Carpathian Gold’s proposed acquisition of the Riacho Dos Machos project was announced, and put to a shareholder vote.
Plant could power faster Casposo start
July 27 - August 2, 2009
DON’T be surprised to see Troy Resources’ recently acquired Casposo gold-silver project in Argentina get into production more quickly and cheaply than expected, with the company also recently boosting resources at the project after taking into account drilling undertaken last year.
Andean rising to new plane
June 15 - 21, 2009
WITH some three million ounces of high grade ore and counting, Andean Resources continues to standout as the sort of company that would be coveted by many in the gold space. But it’s not dirt cheap unless you’re confident the blue sky can turn golden which, judging by the ongoing successes, doesn’t require any great leap of faith.
Mundo Minerals has plenty of projects, not enough cash
December 15 - 21, 2008
AT Mundo Mineral’s recent AGM, CEO John Langford expressed the company’s need to conserve the last of its remaining cash. With just $A1.3 million left, there is understandably an impetus on ensuring the Engenho project in Brazil delivers positive cash flow.
A tough year for Colombia gold exploration
December 8 - 14, 2008
DEC 1: THIS YEAR promised a great deal for Colombia’s nascent gold sector, with $US147.6 million budgeted for exploration by 18 companies, according to mining association Asomineros, but the financial crisis has brought a frustrating year end for junior explorers.
Andean unveils promise of quick returns
November 3 - 9, 2008
ANALYSTS may scratch their heads because they can’t tick one of the key boxes they normally require for their modelling, but that can’t hide the fact that one of the most promising new gold mines in quite some years was unveiled last week.
Corriente ready for production move
August 18 - 24, 2008
WHEN money talks, politicians listen... in the end. This is borne out by taking a look at the way successive UK political parties have given honours to donors to party funds.
Ecuador gold intrigue mounts
July 28 - August 3, 2008
SURELY one the world’s gold majors will swing into action following Canadian gold company Kinross Gold Corp’s bid to acquire the best gold find made in the past decade or two.
Greystar to refine processing
July 21 - 27, 2008
CANADA'S Greystar Resources (GSL) is looking at all possible alternatives and refinements to the processing method it has outlined and tested to process the sulphide ore at its Angostura gold project in Colombia’s Santander department before starting a feasibility study on the project.
Pacific Rim scales back as anti-mining campaign grows
July 14 - 20, 2008
CANADA’S Pacific Rim Mining is scaling back its workforce in El Salvador as it slows down exploration on its El Dorado, Santa Rita and Zamora-Cerro Colorado gold projects until it receives a mining permit for El Dorado as anti-mining campaigning increases in the run up to presidential elections in 2009.
Atacama to grow Aguas Blancas nitrate output
June 16 - 22, 2008
CANADA'S Atacama Minerals is to expand production from its Aguas Blancas mine in Chile’s Region II by producing nitrate fertilisers in addition to iodine.
Mountain of drilling ahead
May 12 - 18, 2008
COLOMBIA Goldfields is confident of expanding the resource at its Marmato gold project in Colombia’s Caldas department and could triple the amount of drilling completed at the property by the end of this year, according to company president Ian Park.
Five key tests for AngloGold at La Colosa
May 5 - 11, 2008
ANGLOGOLD Ashanti has released a JORC-compliant reserve estimate of 12.9 million oz of gold at its La Colosa gold discovery near Cajamarca in Tolima, however the company faces a number of challenges to bring the deposit into production.
Apoquindo on consolidation course
April 28 - May 4, 2008
APOQUINDO Minerals is to produce an initial NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate in August for its Apoquindo copper oxide project in Chile’s Region II as it looks to the possibility of developing an SX-EW operation that could potentially be capable of producing 20,000-25,000 tonnes a year of cathodes.
Polar Star increases Chile footprint
April 28 - May 4, 2008
POLAR Star Mining Corp president and CEO Douglas Willcock has described the Canadian company’s $US5.1 million acquisition of 85% of the Chepica copper-gold mine, mill and 1440 hectares of ground in Chile’s Region VII as an “accretive” deal likely to deliver new copper production as early as July this year.
Cerro Negro has universal appeal
April 21 - 27, 2008
SUCCESSFUL gold explorer Andean Resources will next month be again showing off its growing Cerro Negro gold project in southern Argentina, with analysts visiting site as speculation simmers that third parties will be taking a very close look at the emerging gold growth story.
Candente to produce Canariaco feasibility in early 2009
April 14 - 20, 2008
CANDENTE Resources expects to receive and publish a feasibility study for its Canariaco copper project near Chiclayo in Peru’s Lambayeque department in early 2009, according to CEO Joanne Freeze.
Nova Ventura to boost copper production
April 14 - 20, 2008
CHILEAN miner Nova Ventura has reached full processing capacity of 130,000 tonnes a month at its Montecristo copper mine in Region II and expects to produce 70,000t of copper concentrate this year containing about 20,000t of fine copper.
Red letter days
April 7 - 13, 2008
SENSATIONAL days ahead have been forecast in the copper heartland of Chile, with producers of the red metal worldwide set to enjoy very strong prices into the foreseeable future. How developers fare given current structural constraints is less assured, but the high copper price of recent times is undoubtedly a huge encouragement.
Freeport-McMoRan chief outlines growth potential
April 7 - 13, 2008
FREEPORT-McMoRan Copper & Gold sees significant brownfield expansion potential in its portfolio of copper mines around the world, following a project-by-project review, president and chief executive Richard Adkerson told HighGrade on the sidelines of the CRU copper conference in Santiago this week.
Japan’s Latin copper search grows
April 7 - 13, 2008
JAPAN'S Pan Pacific Copper (PPC) is advancing an aggressive exploration program to find copper deposits in Chile's Region's I through V.
Pelusa next for Centenario
March 10 - 16, 2008
CENTENARIO Copper is planning the development of its Pelusa copper project near Diego de Almagro in Chile’s Region III with the aim of producing 15,000-20,000 tonnes per annum of copper from 2009.
Marmato consolidation nearer
February 25 - March 2, 2008
CANADA’S Colombia Goldfields will spend up to $US60 million on its Marmato gold property in Colombia’s Caldas department in 2008 through subsidiary Compania Minera de Caldas as momentum continues to build in the country’s gold sector.
Cerro Negro shadow grows
February 4 - 10, 2008
A HIGHLY profitable development of Andean Resources’ Cerro Negro project in Argentina could see more than 300,000 ounces of gold and 2.8 million ounces of silver produced in 2013, with first gold and silver output beginning at a lesser rate two years earlier.
Chile aims to fire exploration
January 28 - February 3, 2008
CHILE may be about to welcome a further $US17 billion in mining investment over the next five years, consolidating its position as the world’s leading copper producer, but its mineral exploration sector has stagnated. Now its national government is seeking to reverse the laissez-faire approach that has seen the country fall outside the world’s 10 mining exploration destinations.
Apogee happy with new Bolivia
January 21 - 27, 2008
Apogee Minerals hopes to take the Pulacayo-Paca silver-lead-zinc project in Bolivia’s Oruro department to feasibility study stage by the end of 2008, chief executive David Gower has told HighGrade.
Andina not wasting time at Volcan
January 14 - 20, 2008
ANDINA Minerals hopes to begin an economic appraisal of its Volcan gold property in Chile’s Region III mid-year with a view to the development of a mine capable of producing at least 200,000 ounces of gold a year, says company president Carl Hansen.
Zincore shapes Peru zinc devt plan
December 17 - 23, 2007
Canada’s Zincore Metals is advancing the development of its Accha zinc deposit in south central Peru with the aim of using it as the first step to becoming a mid-tier zinc producer, a strategy that could include the development of a low-cost zinc refinery in the country.
Ready to advance
December 17 - 23, 2007
INVESTORS evidently like very much what they see with brand new Brazilian-focused and engineer-heavy Avanco Resources, with shares immediately trading at three times the level they were priced at in the $A4 million IPO.
Yamana to become señor gold producer
December 10 - 16, 2007
CANADA’S Yamana Gold became the talk of the gold mining industry earlier this year when it emerged from relative obscurity to complete a $US4.4 billion merger with Northern Orion Resources and Meridian Gold to become one of the world’s leading mid-tier gold producers.
Panama's copper dawn nearer
November 26 - December 2, 2007
THE JUNIOR party in a proposed $US1.7 billion copper-gold project in Panama has put its go-ahead card “on the table”, leaving Canadian major Teck Cominco with a decision on participation to be made by the end of March next year.
Bradken keen to speak CVRD's language
November 12 - 18, 2007
PORTUGUESE language courses may be proving popular for the new business development divisions of Australian suppliers and contractors going by the interest being expressed lately in winning contracts with Brazilian major CVRD.
Bolivian minister on the attack
October 29 - November 4, 2007
THE dust is settling after the first 20 months in power of the government of Bolivia’s President Evo Morales. In an exclusive interview with HighGrade's Paul Harris, mining and metallurgy minister Alberto Echazú defends the government's efforts to reactivate the sector and bring it under greater state control.
Big find; bigger target?
October 15 - 21, 2007
SEVENTEEN months of work have delivered Aurelian Resources nearly 14 million ounces of gold and a potential 700,000oz-per-annum mining operation in Ecuador that is a “must own” for majors. However, it is the fiscal regime drawn up by the Ecuadorian Government over the next six months or so that will truly show the project’s value.
Greystar finds rich local skills base
October 15 - 21, 2007
WATER wheels turn under the flow from the La Baja river near a small community some 50km from Bucaramanga in Colombia’s Santander department, providing the power for dozens of small-scale gold mining operations in the valley below Angostura, the mountain where Canada’s Greystar Resources is hoping to develop a $300 million mine capable of producing 414,000 ounces per annum of gold and 1.2 million ozpa of silver from the third quarter of 2010.
Colombia re-casts mining law
October 8 - 14, 2007
COLOMBIA’S ministry of energy and mining has submitted a bill to congress to optimise elements of the country’s mining code and make it even more competitive within the region as the government continues with an aggressive push to develop a modern mining sector.
Colombia to speed Marmato drilling
October 8 - 14, 2007
COLOMBIA Goldfields has hopes to publish an inferred resource figure and scoping study by the end of the year for its 5.3 million oz Marmato gold project in Colombia's Caldas department, president Ian Park said at the III international mining show in Medellin.
Biting the bullet
September 24 - 30, 2007
A CANADIAN company will take to the Toronto market in the first quarter of next year a prized portfolio of Colombian gold and polymetallic properties assembled by American entrepreneur Rob Allen and his Grupo de Bullet.
Brazil new Coffey ground
September 24 - 30, 2007
THE COFFEY group’s plan to replicate its African growth model in South America – and ultimately North America and other regions – is in motion with an $A8 million deal to acquire Brazilian consulting firm Geoexplore Consultoria e Serviços Ltda expected to be consummated within three months.
Metal potential lends weight to White Mountain story
September 17 - 23, 2007
WHITE MOUNTAIN Titanium Corporation is pursuing the titanium metal production possibility of its Cerro Blanco deposit in Chile’s Region III as it prepares to begin a pre-feasibility study on the project.
Constancia study due next month
September 10 - 16, 2007
CANADA’S Norsemont Mining is hoping to complete the scoping study on its Constancia copper-moly-silver project in central Peru in early October, HighGrade has learned.
Frankenstein set to come to life
September 3 - 9, 2007
CONSTRUCTION of the Frankenstein copper mine in Chile’s Region III will begin in September, HighGrade has been advised.
Colombia braces for gold rush
August 20 - 26, 2007
SWEAT POURS off the back of Luis Villegas as he shovels mineral-rich ore into a sluice where another man pans for gold and a third pours mercury from a yoghurt carton into his pan to separate the gold from the ore. Behind them three wooden poles, thick as telegraph posts, that form part of an old-fashioned stamp mill perform their ceaseless dance and pound the gray, gold-bearing rock into a fine grit.
Colombia braces for gold rush (Part II)
August 20 - 26, 2007
ONE OF the challenges facing the development of the mining sector in Colombia is posed by the country’s incumbent small-scale miners.
Narrow focus widens
August 13 - 19, 2007
MUNDO Minerals Ltd will look to retain and engage an engineering team assembled to fast-track feasibility and design work on its small starter gold project in south-eastern Brazil by putting acquisitions and/or further advanced property earn-ins immediately on its growth path in South America.
Garcia lays down the gauntlet
August 6 - 12, 2007
PRESIDENT Alan Garcia challenged the mining industry to make Peru the most important mining country in the world, as he opened the Cerro Lindo operation of Compañia Minero Milpo at the end of July. But he faces some significant hurdles in the path of the vision he obviously has for mining in the poor country.
Fortuna to raise new flagship
July 23 - 29, 2007
FORTUNA Silver Mines is looking to fast track the development of its San Jose silver-gold project in Mexico’s Oaxaca state with $US14 million to be spent on exploration this year, company president Jorge Ganoza has told HighGrade.
Gas cuts Chile power
July 9 - 15, 2007
COPPER miners in northern Chile are contemplating several projects to ensure power supplies and prevent any production curtailment.