On The Rocks Emily King

In this episode of On the Rocks, we are joined by Libby Sharman, BHP Xplor Technical Lead, and Samuel Robb, Vice President of Bronzite Exploration Corp.! Dig into how the BHP Xplor program is transforming mineral exploration through its unique accelerator model, collaboration, and new approaches. 

Bronzite Exploration was part of the inaugural cohort of the BHP Xplor program. Sam and Libby provide valuable insights into how the program helped advance exploration companies, and how this might signal positive changes underway in the sector. 

Historically, junior exploration companies have been wary of sharing too much information, both with other explorers and with major mining corporations, fearing their ideas or districts might be taken. However, the BHP Xplor program fostered openness and collaboration between the cohort companies. 

Despite being competitors, the members of the cohort were willing to discuss challenges and exchange knowledge. 

"There is this degree of openness that [BHP] Xplor fostered, which is not very common in the Juniors industry, but it's extremely helpful." Sam noted. 

This helped dispel misconceptions about major miners always wanting to scoop up explorers. Libby explained that BHP aims to create partnerships, not conflict. The key is communicating early and recognizing everyone ultimately wants to see new discoveries being made. 

Another area where BHP Xplor had significant impact was emphasizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in exploration. The program framed ESG issues like community engagement as non-technical risks that can make or break projects regardless of geology.

Promoting community engagement and public education in the early stages of mineral exploration could drastically change the outcome of a project. Libby points out that building trust and understanding local priorities is crucial. 

BHP Xplor exemplifies positive changes that are happening all around the mining industry, especially in mineral exploration. There is greater recognition that including diverse perspectives makes for better science and business. The old models of operating in secrecy and isolation are slowly transitioning!

"I hope we're changing the way people think about how to do exploration," Libby says. Judging by the success of the previous BHP Xplor cohort, it seems that change is already underway! 

BHP Xplor sets an optimistic tone for the future of responsible and innovative mineral exploration. With industry leaders like these paving the way, the prospects look bright! 

If you have an exciting exploration opportunity and are ready to fast-track your path to discovery, BHP Xplor wants to hear from you! You can click here to learn more about the program, or click here to apply!  

This episode of On the Rocks has been brought to you in partnership with BHP Xplor. 

On this episode of On the Rocks, host Emily King chats with Charlee Johnson, the BHP Xplor Program Lead!

The mining industry is not typically known for being fast-moving or innovative. However, BHP's Xplor program is looking to change that, disrupting how major mining companies interact with junior explorers and startups.

BHP Xplor is a unique, six-month accelerator program for early-stage explorers looking to fast-track their geologic concepts and become investment ready. But what sets it apart in the mining industry?
Learn more in this episode of OTR! Pour a drink and let's dig in!

How can mining projects gain community support? Listen to industry experts tackle the complex issue of NIMBYism.

In this Prospector Monthly Mining Roundup, Emily King, Jon Godbout, and Ryan Sistad from Better In Our Back Yard dive into the causes of NIMBYism and discuss strategies to transform opposition into collaboration.

Learn how better communication, education, transparency, and proactive local engagement can shift perceptions and pave the way for responsible resource development.

The panel analyzes revealing data on global mining project stages, finding NIMBYism stalls advancement from exploration to production. With the average mine taking 15.7 years to develop, do we have enough support to meet future supply needs?

Gain insight from these industry leaders on overcoming the NIMBY challenge. The conversation may surprise you and spark ideas for your own community!

Tune in to the latest Monthly Mining Roundup livestream replay! This month we dug into Critical Minerals, as well as their importance and uses! Alessandra also gives us a great overview of her time at MINPRO! Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn to keep an eye on upcoming livestreams and events!

Resources:
- Critical Minerals 101: thenugget.prospectorportal.com/what-are-critical-minerals-mining
- Free Lithium Report Download: https://www.prospectorportal.com/lith...
- Free Cobalt Report Download: https://www.prospectorportal.com/coba...
- Free Uranium Report Download: https://www.prospectorportal.com/uran...
- Uranium Information: https://thenugget.prospectorportal.co...

In this episode of the On the Rocks Podcast, host Emily King chats with Alicia Eastman, the president of InterContintental Energy and host of the Everything About Hydrogen podcast! 

Emily and Alicia dive right in on discussing the origin of InterContinental Energy, and "Green Hydrogen" - that is hydrogen that is made from renewable energy sources. We get to learn about what this process looks like, as well as infrastructure needs, and obstacles to overcome. 

So how does this all fit into the mining industry? Renewable energy sources rely heavily on the global supply chain of mined materials. Without these mined materials there would be no way to create green energy sources such as wind turbines, and the recent disruptions to the global supply chain have proven the need for reliable sources of these materials. 

Emily and Alicia also dig into how incorporating renewable resources and hydrogen directly into the mine site infrastructure could not only benefit the mines by providing clean, reliable energy to reduce their carbon footprint, but it could also benefit the surrounding communities by providing a lasting economic source after the mine has ceased operations. 

Be sure to tune in to the full episode to learn more!

Have you ever stopped to think about the roads, sidewalks, and houses that make up your daily surroundings? These structures are an essential part of our society, but would not exist without aggregates! Aggregates are crushed stone, sand, and gravel that are used in many construction and infrastructure projects, but they are often overlooked or forgotten when discussing the mining industry. 

In this week's episode of On the Rocks, we chat with Chris Summers, CEO of Burgex Mining Consultants, about the importance of aggregates and the mining industry! 

Chris and Emily dig into the importance of getting younger people involved in mining and geology, and expressing the importance of mined materials in our everyday lives. We learn a little about Aggregate 101, and discuss Mineralocity, an online tool Chris and his team created that has over 7300 aggregate mining projects mapped across the USA! 

While aggregate projects might be often overlooked, many still face the same challenges as metal mines, including NIMBYism and permitting. Chris shares his thoughts on what "right" can look like for an aggregate mine, and what technology and equipment can be put into place to help mitigate these problems. As we move forward with the future of mining, many new and exciting tools are coming around to help make mining cleaner, safer, and more efficient, which could help mining projects and societies co-exist better. 

Be sure to tune into the full episode to learn more, and leave us a comment on what you thought!