The Assay Insights

Today, a modern underground mine features extensive ventilation, water drainage systems, high tech communication networks, and computerized machines to reduce the number of humans required below ground. Gone are the days of manually hacking at rock, with underground mining developed to the point where some minerals can be extracted...

Strip mining is a form of surface mining that is employed to strip away a layer or seam of soil, natural vegetation, and rocks (known as overburden) to extract the mineral deposits underneath. Unlike underground mining, it is predominately used to access relatively flat sedimentary mineral reserves that are...

What is iron ore? Iron ore is a mineral substance that generates metallic iron (Fe) when heated with a reductant. Iron ore generally comprises iron oxides, the primary forms of which are magnetite (Fe3O4) and hematite (Fe2O3). Hematite is widely considered one of the most important iron ores due...

Palladium and platinum have historically been favorable among investors as both precious metals are in high demand in the automotive industry. The two metals are part of the platinum group metals (PGMs) family. According to the United States Geological Survey, PGMs comprise:  IridiumOsmiumPalladiumPlatinumRhodiumRuthenium Palladium and platinum are very rare...

What is potash? The name potash originates from the process of leaching tree ashes in metal pots, leaving a white residue referred to as ‘pot ash’. More commonly, potash refers to a group of potassium-rich minerals and chemicals and is the vital ingredient to produce fertilizer. It is widely...

What is surface mining? Surface mining is a popular form of mining that means extracting minerals from near the surface of the Earth. Surface mining accounts for around 90% of the rock and mineral resources mined in the U.S. In fact, more than 60% of the nation’s coal is...