Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro

Due Diligence is an important process to undertake when acquiring a mineral asset, but how do you know if you're getting it right and if it's protecting you from issues down the line? In this episode, part three of a four part series, Managing Director of Optiro Mark Warren explores the Due Diligence process and how to keep it swift. In this episode: 0:52 What are the steps in the due diligence pr...

Due Diligence is an important process to undertake when acquiring a mineral asset, but how do you know if you're getting it right and if it's protecting you from issues down the line? In this episode, part two of a four part series, Managing Director of Optiro Mark Warren explores the scoping of Due Diligence, ensuring you have all the right people in the room to get a good result. In this episode...

Due Diligence is an important process to undertake when acquiring a mineral asset, but how do you know if you're getting it right and if it's protecting you from issues down the line? In this episode, part one of a four part series, Managing Director of Optiro Mark Warren explores some fundamental questions around Due Diligence. In this episode: 1:01 Give us some background - how long have you bee...

Seeing all the information you need to make a decision on one screen can be a powerful tool for management. Reconciliation dashboards are becoming more popular with miners who want to have all the information available for each stakeholder in the process. Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken boils down the essence of these dashboards in this episode and explains the good practices he has seen...

It's time to go deeper on accuracy and precision in the context of quality control of geological data. In the second half of this two-part series, we explore precision: Optiro's Principal Consultant Paul Blackney goes into detail on precision and why it matters when sampling. In this episode: 0:56 What is an acceptable level of precision for sample grade data? 5:33 What happens when your grade pre...

It's time to go deeper on accuracy and precision in the context of quality control of geological data. In the first half of this two-part series, we explore the subject of accuracy: Optiro's Principal Consultant Paul Blackney explains the difference between the two concepts and then illustrates what accuracy means in practice in mining. In this episode: 0:54 What's the difference between accuracy...

Reports are one of the most important methods of communication in the world of geology. Writing well means your findings will be well understood and interpreted correctly the day you deliver them and years down the track. Optiro's Director of Geology and report editor in chief Ian Glacken has summarised his advice on report writing down to seven key points. In this episode: 0:40 What sort of repor...

Most important decisions in mining are in some shape or form dependent on the accuracy of sampling. There are many ways to introduce errors and its important to eliminate as many as possible. Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken explains why sampling is so important, the sorts of errors that can be introduced during sampling and how to avoid them. In this episode: 0:36 Why is sampling importan...

Quality Assurance and Quality Control, or QAQC, encompasses a range of controls that ensure accurate results in sampling. In this part 2 of the two-part series on QAQC, Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken and Principal Paul Blackney discuss precision, contamination and best practice. In this episode: 1:02 How do we measure precision and why is it important? 3:12 What are the properties of a d...

Quality Assurance and Quality Control, or QAQC, encompasses a range of controls that ensure accurate results in sampling. In this part 1 of the two-part series on QAQC, Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken and Principal Paul Blackney discuss the difference between QA and QC and how accuracy is determined. In this episode: 0:56 What is QAQC? 2:10 What are the limits of QAQC in the mining cycle?...

Declustering is a critical technique to understand and use when estimating a resource. It helps you get a more accurate picture of the whole ore body, but why is it controversial in parts of the industry? Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken and Principal Paul Blackney discuss the technique and where to use it.    In this episode: 0:51 What is declustering and why is mining data clustered? 1:4...

Getting reconciliation wrong can lead to dire consequences for miners. Mine reconciliation is the practice of comparing the tonnage and grade of material processed by the mill with the tonnage and grade of ore in the reserve model of a deposit and with the tonnage and grade in the grade control models used to define ore in mining. Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken explains what can go wrong...

Mineral resource estimation produces a model of deposits for extraction and is made up of various complex processes. In part two of this two-part series, Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken discusses how the various methods used for estimation can be controversial and takes a look towards the future.   In this episode: 0:50 What is the issue and what are the differences between global estimat...

Mineral resource estimation produces a model of deposits for extraction and is made up of various complex processes. In part one of this two-part series, Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken discusses the history and common practices of resource estimation.   In this episode: 0:42 What are the main estimation methods used in mineral estimation worldwide? 1:33 What is the origin of the term 'Kr...

Reporting the right information to investors is critical. The three main codes around the world that govern resource estimation and reporting to the market all contain references to RPEEE, or Reasonable Prospects of Eventual Economic Extraction. Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken explains why the principle is critical to reporting resources. In this episode: 0:48 What is RPEEE? 1:33 Why do w...

When you're creating a resource estimate you need to be sure that you haven't relied on outlier samples. Top cutting (or capping) is a method you can use to reduce the impact of individual samples and produce a more accurate picture of what's in the ground. Optiro's Director of Geology Ian Glacken explains the method, when it is appropriate and what happens when it's not used correctly. In this ep...