Episode 16: Placer Gold Puzzles
Listen now
Description
Placer Gold Puzzles starts with the Witwatersrand, South Africa and  the long debate over the model for gold formation.  After that, we head to Brazil to see how quality geochemical data analysis assisted by machine learning helped decipher a Proterozoic paleo placer.  Lastly we consider changing mindsets about legacy mining through a new model that aims to create net benefit from the mining of placer gold.   Professor Hartwig Frimmel , University of Wuerzburg takes us through the history and the science of ore deposit models for the Witwatersrand,  providing insights into what makes our work relevant and how do we can do our best work.   From the Archaean in South Africa we go to Tristar Gold's Castelo de Sonhos Project to find out how Britt Bluemel at Goldspot Discoveries used geochemical analysis of large data sets helped create a geologic model for exploration. We finish up with Stephen D'Esposito, President and CEO of  Resolve NGO.  Steve  spearheaded, Salmon Gold, a new venture that works with placer gold miners to rehabilitate streams in Alaska, the Yukon and British Columbia.  Can we do more than just the minimum and create net-benefit for biodiversity? He suggests a change in mindset, where we start looking at legacy of mining as an opportunity. Theme music is Confluence by Eastwinds eastwindsmusic.com
More Episodes
Namibia is a country of diverse geology and mineral deposits that is also embracing the green energy transition.  The diversity of critical minerals and metals and the expansion of green energy sources for mining are all exciting for the future of Namibia.  Namibia is 'elephant country' in more...
Published 02/26/24
Published 02/26/24
Understanding the earth processes that control lithium is key to exploration and developing the resources needed for society and the energy transition.   The lightest of the metals, lithium moves easily in fluids and is found in a variety of geologic environments from brines to pegmatites to...
Published 02/19/24