Bob has a strong technical background and over 40 years of practical experience in underground and open pit mining for zinc, lead, silver, copper, gold and diamonds. After 19 years with Cominco working in Canada, Spain and South Africa and 4 years with Geevor and CMD, Bob chose to become an independent consultant in 1991. His specialities combine technical and financial training. He has been a technical director of several companies.

Strategic mine planning, including mining method selection, assessment of cost effective mining methods, analysis of capital infrastructure and major mine expansion projects, operating costs etc.

• Project evaluation through financial evaluations, cash flows. Strategic planning of different operating scenarios to select optimum case.
• Due diligence and feasibility studies. Looking for innovative solutions to mining problems.
• Spanish speaking

In recent years the focus of Bob's work has been in South America, as well as the reopening of the famous Black Angel Mine in Greenland.

• Arbiodo Project, Chile. (2012) Arbiodo is an iodine/sodium nitrate project in the Atacama desert. During 2011 it was extensively drilled to develop measured and indicated resources. Called in to prepare a pre-feasibility study and financial analysis. This project is currently "for sale" as it is not a core business for the present owner. If interested, please contact me for details.
• Great Panther Silver, Guanajuato, Mexico (2011 to date) Retained to provide underground mine planning services/supervision. See www.greatpanther.com
• Orvana Minerals Corp, Asturias, Spain. (2010) Orvana recently acquired 100% of the El Valle-Boinás/Carlés gold mine, which was formerly operated by Rio Narcea Gold Mines. Retained, along with Adam Wheeler, consulting mining engineer, to complete a mining plan and calculate the mining reserves for a bankable 43-101. Work in progress. www.orvana.com
• Alluvial Gold. Ghana (2008 and 2009). Ongoing assignment to advise a private client for alluvial gold mining operations in Ghana.
• Black Angel Mining Ltd, Greenland (2005 to date) Director and consulting mining engineer. 100% owned by Angel Mining plc. The company intends to re-open the former lead-zinc mine, extract high grade pillars and access the extensions to the high grade Deep Ice Zone area. Worked with Golders to design a safe pillar extraction method. The mine will have a new cable car access in 2010 and it is planned to mill the ore in the mine, so tailings can be used for backfill stabilisation. See www.angelmining.com
  Recently (2009) the company purchased the Nalunaq gold mine in southern Greenland. This mine has been re-opened on a modest scale by building a gravity mill circuit inside the mine allowing a dore to be made on site. (previous operators incurred high costs by shipping ore to Europe/Canada for processing).
• Volcan Compañia Minera S.A.A., Peru (1997 to date) In 1997 advised the Volcan board of directors in their successful purchase from Centromin of the San Cristobal and Andaychagua lead-zinc-silver mines for $127M. Again in 1999, Volcan successfully acquired the Cerro de Pasco lead-zinc mines for $ 62M. Formed a small group of engineers and geologists to undertake the internal 'due diligence' studies and subsequently to assist Volcan in the management and planning of these operations. In year 2000, Volcan privately acquired Chungar's Animon mine, and consequently became one of the largest zinc mining companies in the world. Volcan has 7 underground mines and 1 open pit (at Cerro de Pasco). Total ore treated is about 450,000 tonnes per month. Underground mining is mainly by mechanised cut-and-fill, over and underhand, in narrow vein and wider orebodies. For details on Volcan see www.volcan.com.pe About 6 months a year were spent with Volcan, mainly advising on planning, but also as a general consultant. Since 2007, occasional technical visits have been made to advise on major projects.
• Atacama Minerals Chile (2005 to date) Atacama mines caliche in the Atacama desert to produce Iodine. Together with Adam Wheeler, consulting mining engineer, completed resource and reserve statements conforming to NI 43-101 standards for 2005, 2006 and 2007. Also prepared financial models incorporating future sodium sulphate and potassium nitrate production, which was used for bank presentations. Recently, a more efficient agitation leach plant has been built to replace heap leaching. Undertaking financial assessment (2009 and 2010) of the many operating alternatives. See www.atacama.com
• Alexander Mining plc. Argentina (2007 and 2008) Completed open pit mine planning and detailed cash flow analyses at their Leon Project in Salta Province, Argentina. Analysis of feasibility studies to find the optimum throughput for various CapEx investments. The Leon Project is a copper oxide open pit and heap leach to produce copper cathodes via an SX-EW plant. The unusual aspect of this project is the use of ammonia as the leaching agent. www.alexandermining.com
• North Atlantic Natural Resources, Sweden (2004 to 2006), subsequently Lundin Mining. Prepared detailed "life-of-mine" plans and production schedules for NAN's underground copper-zinc Storliden Mine in Northern Sweden. The mine planning studies were completed in Datamine with the assistance of Adam Wheeler, consulting mining engineer. The Storliden mine was small but high grade, and was mined by different variations of cut and fill mining. For details on Lundin see www.lundinmining.com In January 2005 a valuation of both the Zinkgruvan and Storliden mines was completed for stockbrokers who were retained to give a 'fairness opinion' for the independent shareholders of NAN.
• Compañia Minera Atacocha S.A., Peru (1997, 2000, 2004 and 2007) Retained on four occasions to give advice on the mining operations, mine planning and other matters relating to the Atacocha lead-zinc-silver mine in Peru. Atacocha produces about 120,000 tonnes per month of copper-lead-zinc-silver ores from one underground mine.
• Hambledon Mining Limited, Kazakhstan (2003) Together with Adam Wheeler, consulting mining engineer, designed and planned a new mine at Sekisovskoye. This comprised detailed mine planning and costing for a 500,000 tonne per year underground gold mine using cut-and-fill and skrinkage stoping.
• Picobello, Spain (1998). Designed and calculated costs for open pit mining at this andalucite deposit. Included selection of suitable tailings disposal sites.
• ZCCM, Zambia (1997). Worked with MRDI in the valuation of the Nchanga and Nkana Divisions, comprising open pit and underground mining of copper-cobalt ores. Represented ZCCM in discussions with various parties to privatise these operations.
• Bougrine Mine, Tunisia (1997). Completed a valuation of this mothballed lead-zinc mine, however, the client failed to achieve a successful purchase.
• Nelson Gold Corp, Tajikistan (1995-1996). Manager, Taror Gold Project. Verification of Soviet geological data for a bankable feasibility study, requiring underground development and sampling. Underground and open pit mine planning, using Datamine. Later, represented Nelson Gold in the technical assessment of a bankable feasibility study undertaken by Bateman, for the Jilau gold heap leach project.
• Lonrho Plc, former USSR. (1994). Valuation, with a view to purchase, of a producing antimony mine in Tajikistan, and evaluation of potential gold mines in Kirgizstan and Tajikistan.
• ZCCM, Zambia (1993-1994). Year long assignment for consultants MRDI (on behalf of the World Bank) in Zambia to plan the future of the Mufulira copper mine, which recommended a major change of mining methods from open stoping to mining with backfill. This was expected to solve the geotechnical problems at depth.
• Glencar Explorations Ltd, Hungary (1991). Pre-investment financial evaluation and technical review of the Hungarian State Uranium Mining Company. The underground mines at Pecs required modernising and the assignment involved calculating the financial restructuring capital needed.
• Renasa Exploration, Spain (1992). Evaluation and financial presentation of plans for the development of a new underground lead-zinc mine. In connection with this project, visited the Ukraine to evaluate the use of Russian shaft sinking contractors.
• PT Panen Antam Emas, Indonesia (1991-1992). Relief General Manager of the Chikandong underground gold mine which was under development on the Island of Java.

Responsible for the technical management of the company's various metalliferous mining projects.  These included

• Re-opening the Geevor tin mine in Cornwall, UK, which operated successfully for two years from Jan 1988 to Feb 1990, producing approx. 60 tonnes tin per month at the lowest costs ever achieved.  Eventually, closure of the mine was inevitable, in the face of continuing low tin prices, and the dewatering pumps were turned off in May 1990.
• Construction of a gold treatment plant in Ecuador to treat run-of-mine ores and mill tailings. This project was later sold as part of the Geevor plan for survival in 1990.
• Norquest Resources (VSE), had acquired various properties in Canada, USA, and Costa Rica, and Geevor was appointed as operator. As technical director, became responsible for these projects, including the Crown gold mine in Arizona, which produced for about a year before closing due to a lack of economic reserves. The Canadian properties were all gold prospects, some of which were drilled but without a major success. Geevor bought into the Costa Rican venture, through funding expenditures on exploration.
• Exploration drilling of the San Martin open pit gold deposit in Costa Rica. This property was an exploration success and was subsequently acquired by Ariel Resources.

Resigned from Geevor to pursue a career as an independent consultant.

Managing Director, CAMBRIAN MINERAL DEVELOPMENTS LTD 1987 - 1988
Established this newly formed joint venture, between the Robertson Group of the UK and SNC Engineering of Montreal, to provide mining / processing consultancy and plant construction services. Major projects included

• A potash - gypsum reaction process to make potassium sulphate and barium chloride on behalf of the New Brunswick government.  Laboratory scale trials were successful and pilot trials were pending.
• Plans to build a concentrator for New Butte Mining Plc, who were at the time planning to re-open the old copper-lead-zinc-silver mines in Butte, Montana.
• Advising Geevor plc in its plans to re-open the Geevor tin mine in Cornwall.

Resigned from Cambrian to join Geevor.

COMINCO LTD 1968 - 1987
In London 1980 - 1987
Cominco, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, managed its international businesses through main subsidiary offices. London was one such office.

• As Technical Director, Cominco Europe Limited, was mainly responsible for the operational planning of the two mines in Spain, Rubiales and Troya (lead-zinc), the Black Angel mine in Greenland (lead-zinc) and the Hondeklip Bay alluvial mine in South Africa (diamonds), including the preparation of one, five and ten year business plans, forecasts and budgets.
• Negotiated the technical details of a $25 million non-recourse, project loan for the Troya mine. Also co-ordinated a $40 million guaranteed loan for the Rubiales mine. These were with Canadian banks.
• In conjunction with our joint venture partners, Trans Hex of Cape Town, planned and designed the successful South African alluvial diamond mine at Hondeklip Bay. Board Director.
• Deputised as Mine Superintendent of the Black Angel lead-zinc mine in Greenland during 1985. This was an underground trackless room and pillar operation and whilst there, a photometric ore sorter was installed to upgrade mill feed.
• Cominco's technical representative at the Tara lead-zinc mine in Ireland and alternative board director.
• Undertook many technical and financial studies as Cominco Europe looked for new business opportunities.
• Cominco Europe also ran a large exploration group in Belgium and several evaluations were conducted on the more promising projects.

Teck assumed control of Cominco in 1987 and closed the London office as part of the new management regime. Although offered another position in Vancouver, for family reasons it was decided to stay in the UK.

In Spain 1975 - 1979
Cominco Ltd had a controlling ownership of the local Spanish company Exminesa

• Senior Mining Engineer at the Rubiales and Troya lead-zinc mines. Planned the successful introduction of VCR (vertical crater retreat) mining at Rubiales, the first 100% application in the world. Directly responsible for the introduction of the cemented hydraulic backfill system along with the design and installation of the cable bolting support method.  Visited mines in Australia and Canada to become familiar with the latest ground support techniques.
• Supervised the initial feasibility study for the Troya mine, with work at Bechtel's Montreal office.
• Supervised the underground ramp development at Troya, in order to test the ground conditions and obtain operating parameters for the final feasibility study.
• Evaluated several other mining opportunities for various commodities throughout Spain. Including a detailed assessment of the Riocin mine (lead zinc) and other assets held by Real Compañia Asturienne.

In Canada 1968 - 1974

• Mining Analyst (1972-1974) for the exploration division, Vancouver Head Office.  Attended the Colorado School of Mines to learn financial analysis techniques.  Evaluated many possible mining opportunities including the Tara mine in Ireland, which at the time was being delineated by diamond drilling, but Cominco's attempted take-over only resulted in obtaining about 25% of the stock. Among many other interesting evaluations were porphyry copper mining opportunities in Chile and the lead zinc deposits of Bathurst Norse Mines in NWT, Canada.
• Mining Engineer (1971-1972) at the Polaris lead-zinc mine on Little Cornwallis Island in the Canadian arctic. Built the first mining camp and supervised the underground ramp development, contracted to J S Redpath, and diamond drilling etc to assess the practicality of mining in permafrost. The decline established a world record for the rate of advance of a -20% ramp, averaging 44 ft per day for 3 months, without missing a round. A +40% combined lead zinc sample of 5,000 tonnes was shipped to Montreal for metallurgical testing.
• Mining Engineer (1970-1971) at the Pinchi Lake mercury mine near Fort St James, BC, Canada. Open pit and underground trackless mining (cut-and-fill) at 750 tpd, using hydraulic deslimed tailings as backfill. The small open pit only operated in the summer.
• Senior Rock Mechanics Engineer (1968-1970) at the Sullivan lead-zinc mine, Kimberley, BC, Canada. Supervised a 5-man department, measuring pillar stresses to determine the correct sequence of extraction and advising the mine planning department on geotechnical matters.  Member of the national Canadian Advisory Committee on Rock Mechanics.

Job experience while at University included working as a miner at the Groverake fluorspar mine in Weardale, Co Durham, and working as a miner at a highly mechanised underground limestone mine in Norway.  Post-graduate thesis was entitled "Strata Movements Above a Longwall Face in the Vicinity of a Large Fault", and comprised taking many extensometer and stress measurements in old coal seams as a longwall face passed beneath. The site for this work was under the North Sea at the Vane Tempest Colliery, Seaham Harbour, Co Durham and the project lasted 3 years.

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