第2797期:The emerging science of finding critical metals(4)

Once again, there are many possibilities, all consistent with the data. Some with a lot more metal, some with less. And the difference is a measure of uncertainties. This enables us to know where we should collect information next, where we should drill the next hole, and when we can stop drilling and actually start building a mine.再一次，我们面对的是许多种可能性，而这些可能性都与现有数据相符。有些含有更多金属，有些则更少。而这种差异，正是我们对不确定性的衡量。这让我们能够判断下一步该在哪里收集信息、在哪里钻下一个孔，以及什么时候可以停止钻探，转而真正开始建矿。

To build the mine of the future, we continue to contend with this uncertainty. The industry designs an entire mine based on a single model. We're developing KoBold mine, a mine-design optimization tool that looks at the many possible mine designs against the many possible ore body geometries that we talked about earlier. This enables the best decisions about how much ore we're going to mine, how much waste we're going to produce, how much water we'll use, the cash flows, and so on.为了建造未来的矿山，我们必须继续应对这种不确定性。矿业行业往往是基于单一模型去设计整个矿山。而我们正在开发 KoBold Mine——一种矿山设计优化工具，它会结合我们之前提到的各种可能的矿体几何结构，来对比和评估多种矿山设计方案。这使我们能够做出最优决策，比如将开采多少矿石、会产生多少废料、需要多少用水、现金流如何等等。

This enables the best mine planning decisions about where to put permanent infrastructure, like a shaft. Where the traffic and the tunnels will be placed so we can make efficient decisions, and also how we can maximize the ore and the metal we get and minimize the waste. This technology will move into mine operations to help guide day-to-day decisions for efficiencies.这还使我们能在矿山规划中做出最佳决策，例如永久性基础设施（如竖井）应该放在哪里，交通路线和隧道应该如何布局，以便做出高效的选择。同时还能帮助我们最大化矿石和金属的产出，并将废料最小化。这项技术最终会被应用到矿山运营中，用来指导日常决策，提升效率。

Better predictions don't just mean profitability. It means a safer mine, knowing where the rocks are weaker. It means an environmentally sustainable mine so we can lessen our impact on the environment. And it also means a resilient mine with cash flows to support local communities and businesses through different commodity pricing cycles.更好的预测不仅仅意味着更高的盈利，它还意味着矿山的安全性更高，因为我们能知道哪些地方的岩石更脆弱。它意味着更具环境可持续性的矿山，从而减少对环境的影响。它也意味着矿山具备更强的韧性，能够在不同商品价格周期中，依然保持现金流，进而支持当地社区和企业的发展。

Our Mingomba project in Zambia will be the mine of the future. It's being designed and developed by amazing talent from around the world, including Zambians and Africans like myself. We face the reality that our need for these materials will continue to grow because our lifestyles are going to advance and they're going to demand for it. So the mining industry must ensure they transform so we can become responsible miners and build better mines with better technology. Asante and thank you.我们在赞比亚的明贡巴（Mingomba）项目将成为未来的矿山。它正在由来自世界各地的杰出人才设计和开发，其中也包括像我这样的赞比亚人和非洲人。我们必须面对一个现实：对这些资源的需求将会持续增长，因为我们的生活方式在不断进步，而进步本身就会带来需求。因此，矿业必须确保自身实现转型，让我们能够成为负责任的矿工，利用更先进的技术去建设更好的矿山。Asante！（谢谢）非常感谢大家。