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PODCAST

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro

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

science natural sciences

All Episodes

10:32

EP 154 | Part 1 of 7: Foundations of Modern Resource...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/04/04

Episode 154 of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro kicks off a 7-part series on modern resource estimation. In this episode, we cover the fundamentals of ordinary kriging, its strengths and limitations, and introduce key concepts like grade smoothing, SMU, and recoverable resources. Featuring Ian Glacken and Susan Havlin.

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11:38

EP 153: The Genesis of Australia's Nickel Industry

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/04/04

Discover the fascinating origins of Australia's nickel industry in this episode of Fresh Thinking by ‪@SnowdenOptiro‬. Principal Consultant, Jan Graham, sits down with Executive Consultant, Ian Glacken, to explore the pivotal moment that sparked it all—the discovery of nickel at Kambalda in 1966. From early prospecting and geological insight to rapid development and industry-wide impact, this story highlights the role of luck, lateral thinking, and persistence in shaping one of Australia's most

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17:03

Ep 152: If You Sign It, You Own It: The Reality of...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/03/18

What does it really mean to sign off on a mineral reserve? In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Tarrant Elkington (General Manager, Snowden Optiro) is joined by Allan Earl (Executive Consultant Mining) to discuss the real responsibility behind reserve sign-off and what it takes to stand behind it with confidence. From understanding the full value chain to applying critical review across technical inputs, this conversation explores where things can go wrong, and how to avoid it. If you're working

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26:08

Ep 151: When Bigger Isn't Better: Rethinking Resource...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/03/10

In this episode of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro, Jamie Oppelaar (Senior Consultant) and Tarrant Elkington (General Manager) discuss a growing challenge in mining: resource models are getting bigger and bigger. More blocks, more attributes, more simulations. While this can improve geological representation, it can also slow down optimisation, scheduling and everyday planning decisions. So how do we strike the right balance between detail and usability? Jamie and Tarrant explore why models are

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28:44

Ep150: Mineral Resource Estimation: What Really Is...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/03/04

In this episode of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro, our General Manager Dr Tarrant Elkington speaks with Senior Consultant Dr Gregory (Greg) Zhang about a common question in the mining industry: what is the real industry standard in mineral resource estimation? Drawing on experience reviewing projects across a range of commodities and deposit types, Greg discusses current practices in data management, QAQC, geological domaining, estimation methods such as kriging, and resource reporting. The

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15:42

Ep 149: Building Resource Estimation Logic in Excel

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/02/25

In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Susan Havlin (Managing Consultant APAC) speaks with Dr Gregory Zhang (Senior Consultant APAC) about using Excel as a transparent learning environment for geostatistics. Rather than relying on black-box software, they explore how building the logic step by step in a spreadsheet can strengthen intuition, improve data discipline and deepen technical confidence. Whether you are a geologist, resource modeller or mining professional wanting to better understand what sits

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15:30

EP 148: Simulation Is Not Estimation - rethinking...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/02/18

In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Ian Glacken (Executive Consultant) and Dr Gregory Zhang (Senior Consultant) discuss one of the most important topics in modern resource modelling: uncertainty. From the long-standing debate of simulation vs estimation, to the growing focus on geological uncertainty and hierarchical truncated plurigaussian simulation, this episode explores where the mining industry stands — and where it still needs to improve. ⏱ Key Topics 00:00 – Introduction: Simulation in mining

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12:52

Ep 147: Raising the Bar: AI-Driven Innovation in Mine...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/02/11

In this episode of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro, Susan Havlin (Managing Consultant) speaks with Dr Tarrant Elkington (Snowden Optiro General Manager) about extending generative AI into coding practical engineering solutions. They discuss how mining engineers and scientists can use AI tools to prototype bespoke solutions, automate niche problems, and build simple applications without being expert programmers. If you've ever thought about using AI, but didn't know where to start, this conversation

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12:41

Ep 145: Convolution is not what happens to your...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/01/28

Gregory Zhang (Senior Geology Consultant) to talk about what convolution actually means in a geostatistical and geological context, and how it shows up in tools ranging from moving averages to convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Building on part one of the conversation, they focus on practical use, common pitfalls, and how to combine modern machine learning approaches with classic geostatistics without losing geological control. Key moments 00:02 – What convolution means in day-to-day geology and

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13:14

Ep 144: When Resource Models Get It Wrong: Can CNNs...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/01/21

In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Ian Glacken and Dr Gregory Zhang explore why mineral resource models and grade control models often fail to reconcile and how convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can help bridge that gap. This is Part 1 of a 2 part series. The discussion focuses on early-stage resource estimation, sparse drilling data, and how machine learning can learn from dense grade control information to improve confidence, reduce bias, and support better decision-making. Importantly, this

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12:56

Ep 146: How Machine Learning Can Close the Gap...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/01/21

Ian Glacken (Executive Consultant geology) and Dr Gregory Zhang (Senior Consultant Geology) explore how machine learning and convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can be used to bridge the gap between grade control data and resource estimation, and why treating resource models as static can hold operations back. Key discussion points: ⏱ 00:00 Introduction and context for using CNNs with grade control data ⏱ 00:55 Why machine learning must be an ongoing, iterative process ⏱ 03:18 Handling multivariate

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14:44

Ep 143 Convolution Without the Maths: a practical...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/01/14

In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Senior Consultant Jamie Oppelaar is joined by Dr Gregory Zhang, Senior Consultant at Snowden Optiro, to explore what convolution really means in a geostatistical and mine planning context. Jamie and Greg walk through how it already shows up in everyday resource estimation workflows. From moving averages and detrending through to kriging residuals and convolutional neural networks, this episode focuses on practical application, not theory for theory's sake. This is

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22:54

Ep 142: Mining's Blind Spot - when Geology and...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2026/01/06

In this episode of the Fresh Thinking podcast, Dr Gregory Zhang (Senior Geology Consultant) is joined by Dr Leon Lorenzen (Executive Consultant Metallurgy) to talk about the practical realities of geometallurgy and why linking geology, mineralogy and processing really matters. The conversation draws on real project experience, highlighting the risks of disconnects between resource models and plant performance, especially for complex ore bodies. A thoughtful discussion for geologists, metallurgists

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44:57

Ep 140: Sandwich Conveyors Explained: high-angle...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2025/12/11

In this episode of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro, Tarrant Elkington (General Manager, Snowden Optiro) is joined by Joseph A. Dos Santos (Joe) (Dos Santos International, Marietta, Georgia) to explore high-angle conveying and the sandwich conveyor. They break down how sandwich conveyors "hug" the material between two belts to move bulk solids up steep inclines, where conventional conveying or trucking can become impractical. The discussion covers how this technology is applied in mining, what it

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11:01

Ep 137: From Tea Bags to Ore Bodies: Ian Glacken's...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2025/11/19

In this episode of the Fresh Thinking Podcast, Principal Consultant Matt Walker (now Senior Resource Geologist with Genesis Minerals) sat down with Snowden Optiro's Executive Consultant Ian Glacken to explore the value of mentoring in geoscience. Ian reflects on the mentors who shaped his long career, the soft and technical skills geologists need today, and his advice for those aspiring to move into resource geology. Whether you're early in your career or guiding the next generation, this

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16:45

Ep 141: Mineable Shape Optimisation (MSO) - where...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2025/10/29

Mineable Shape Optimisation (MSO) sits at the intersection of geology, mining engineering, and economics. Used well, it helps teams move beyond theoretical resources and towards designs that reflect what will actually be mined. In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Dr Gregory Zhang (Senior Resource Geologist) and Hamish Guthrie (Managing Consultant - Mining) discuss how MSO works, why it matters, and where it can add real value. They discuss the economic logic behind MSO, the importance of geological

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30:34

Ep 139: IPCC or Strategic Conveying – what are we...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2025/10/29

In this episode of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro, Tarrant Elkington (General Manager, Snowden Optiro) is joined by Markus Dammers (Director, IPCC & Conveyors, Metso) to talk about what IPCC really means in practice, and whether "strategic conveying" is a more useful way to frame the conversation. They explore the spectrum of IPCC options (fixed, semi-mobile and fully mobile), where value is actually created (and lost) in mine planning, what people often miss when they consider in-pit systems, and

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10:58

EP 136: Why Smart Geologists Script Their Way to...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2025/10/29

In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Dr Gregory (Greg) Zhang and Jenny Dalrymple, both Senior Consultants at Snowden Optiro, share how automation and scripting can transform the mineral resource estimation process - saving time, improving accuracy, and creating an auditable, repeatable workflow. From Python scripting and macros to block model estimation and LUC workflows, Greg and Jenny explain how practical automation can make complex resource estimation tasks far more efficient. ⏱️ This podcast at

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20:07

Ep 134: The Interface Challenge - bridging the gap...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2025/10/29

In this episode of Fresh Thinking, Tarrant Elkington (Snowden Optiro General Manager) joins Susan Havlin (Managing Consultant APAC) to explore the all-too-common disconnect between geologists and mining engineers. Tarrant talks about the results from the more than 100 professionals that generously responded to his survey - helping geologists and engineers understand how differences in approach, communication, and expectations can impact project success. Tune in to hear what both sides really think -

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08:05

Ep 138: From Scoping to Feasibility: How to nail cost...

Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro ·

2025/10/29

In this episode of Fresh Thinking by Snowden Optiro, Hamish Guthrie (Managing Consultant – Mining) joins Dr Gregory Zhang (Senior Consultant – Geology) to explore the fundamentals of cost estimation across the mining study pipeline. Hamish shares practical insights from his more than 30 years in the industry, including the importance of understanding project scale and matching the level of effort to the study stage. If you're involved in study work, project evaluation, cost modelling or operational

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155 results

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