News and information from the world of geology and mining, Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro provides a new perspective on the mining industry and seeks to educate on best practice.
Snowden Optiro is a resources consulting and advisory group that provides independent advice, consulting and training to mining and exploration companies, their advisors and investors.
We help mine developers to advance their projects, mining companies to improve their operations and their professionals, and investors to derisk their investments by the provision of quality advice, training and software in the field of Mineral Resources and Mineral/Ore Reserves.
contact@snowdenoptiro.com
www.snowdenoptiro.com
Snowden Optiro Mining Advisory Consulting, Software and Training.
EP 180 | Tungsten – Part 2: Key Technical Considerations for Tungsten Projects
In Part 2 of Snowden Optiro's Fresh Thinking tungsten series, Senzeni Mandava Matondi, Laurie Hassall and Melanie Bulley discuss the key technical considerations for tungsten projects from a resource geology perspective.
Building on Part 1's exploration of tungsten markets, pricing and global supply chains, this episode shifts the focus to deposit geology, mineralogy, assaying, metallurgical recovery and geometallurgy.
The discussion explores:
Tungsten deposit types: The geological characteristics of skarn, quartz vein, stockwork, granite-related and stratabound deposits.
Scheelite and wolframite: Why identifying the dominant tungsten mineral is important for exploration, processing and recovery.
Exploration and assaying: The use and limitations of fluorescence, analytical methods, quality control and historical assay data.
Tungsten grade reporting: The distinction between elemental tungsten (W) and tungsten trioxide (WO₃), and why consistent reporting is important.
Metallurgical recovery: How mineralogy, grain size, liberation and ore sorting can influence processing.
Geometallurgy and resource classification: The importance of understanding geological and metallurgical variability when evaluating tungsten projects.
The episode highlights why tungsten grade alone does not provide a complete picture of a project's technical characteristics, and why geology, mineralogy and metallurgical recovery need to be considered together.
14 Oct 2026
EP 179 | Tungsten – Part 1: Understanding the Price Surge and Global Supply Chain
In this episode of Snowden Optiro's Fresh Thinking podcast, Julian Aldridge, Regional Director – EMEAA, is joined by Melanie Bulley, Senior Consultant, and Laurie Hassall, Principal Consultant, for the first discussion in a two-part series on tungsten.
The discussion examines tungsten from a market and supply chain perspective, with particular attention to the recent rise in APT prices and the factors affecting the availability of tungsten products.
Topics discussed include:
Ammonium paratungstate (APT), its role as an intermediate tungsten product and its use as a market price reference.
The relationship between APT prices, tungsten concentrate and mine revenue, including payability considerations.
China's role in tungsten mine production, concentrate consumption and downstream processing.
The effects of Chinese export controls, US tariffs and defence procurement restrictions. Tungsten's strategic applications and the challenges associated with substitution.
Responsible sourcing, conflict minerals requirements and 3TG traceability.
Processing capacity outside China and its importance in developing non-Chinese tungsten supply chains. The contribution and limitations of tungsten recycling.
The implications of recent APT price movements for new tungsten projects and long-term price assumptions.
Part 2 will explore the technical aspects of tungsten projects, including deposit types, geology, mineralogy, assaying, metallurgy and Mineral Resource estimation.
7 Oct 2026
EP 178 | Inferred Resources in Mine Planning: Practice vs Reporting
Inferred Mineral Resources are the lowest-confidence Mineral Resource category, but what role should they play in mine planning?
In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Tarrant Elkington is joined by Allan Earl, Executive Consultant at Snowden Optiro, to discuss the practical and regulatory considerations around including Inferred Resources in mine plans.
Tarrant and Allan explore the distinction between mine plans developed for operational and strategic purposes and those used for public reporting.
They discuss how Inferred Resources are treated under different reporting frameworks, including JORC, NI 43-101 and S-K 1300, and some of the challenges this creates for mine planners.
The discussion also considers the practical implications of including or excluding Inferred Resources, particularly for long-term and underground mine planning, and the potential for companies to maintain different plans for internal, strategic and public reporting purposes.
Subscribe to Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro for more technical discussions from across the mining industry.
Who has been a guest on Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Ian Glacken
Bob Jankovic
Hamish Guthrie
Pedro Ladeira
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
112,777
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
4.7 / 5
13 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
74
Social presence
0
YouTube
86
Engagement
81
Host of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
