[imagesource:pexels]

‘There’s gold in them thar mine dumps!’

A 26-year-old Zimbabwean geometallurgist, Dr Steve Chingwaru has the mining industry salivating after identifying a massive, previously overlooked gold resource hidden within the country’s ugly mine dumps.

His groundbreaking PhD research, completed at Stellenbosch University, has revealed that we might be sitting on an estimated R450 billion resource.

Chingwaru’s research shows that mine waste from the Witwatersrand holds up to 460 tonnes of gold – worth an estimated R450 billion. This “invisible gold” exists in microscopic particles within other minerals. While low in concentration, dwindling traditional gold reserves make this resource increasingly economically viable.

Historically, gold extraction from these tailings has been inefficient and environmentally damaging. Chingwaru’s PhD research not only identifies large gold reserves but also suggests innovative extraction methods that could remove heavy metal contamination and acid mine drainage, two key environmental problems linked with the dumps.

He proposes treating the pyrite (also known as Fool’s Gold) found in dumps, thus reducing the cause of pollution and releasing other valuable byproducts such as copper, cobalt, and nickel.

Dr Chingwaru’s research has made the mining industry sit up straight after publications in top industry journals and a prominent presentation at a global mining conference was met with praise.

Hailing from Zimbabwe and raised by his aunt in Johannesburg, Chingwaru has mining in his blood. His grandfather, the legendary prospector George Nolan, pioneered lithium discovery in Zimbabwe.

Despite receiving job offers from prestigious research institutes in Australia and Germany, Chingwaru believes Africa needs to lead the way in innovative, responsible resource extraction.

“Africa has brilliant scientists. It’s time we unlock their full potential and harness discoveries for the benefit of our people.”

Indeed, hopefully, this resource can be used to the benefit of the people it belongs to.

[source:bizcommunity]