Mining and mineral processing (M&MP) operations are really exercises in bulks solids handling. No matter what the grade or efficacy of the flowsheet, if the rock doesn't flow, neither does the revenue. There have been many catastrophic financial failures(sadly many in Australia) attributable to detailed designers and owners teams who failed to grasp this reality. Unfortunately, it is the investment community who suffer the most. So how can you tell if a M&MP development team are aware of the lessons of history and are on track to deliver the performance they promises??
As is so often the case, it all starts with knowing the right probing questions to ask during your due diligence.
These 22 Darn good questions have been prepared for this purpose and hopefully they will give you an edge and help you separate the wheat from the chaff (ps the references regarding historical performance of M&MP projects makes for sobering reading but the science to make a positive difference exists, it's just not being utilised).
"My greatest strength as a consultant is to be ignorant and ask a few questions." - Peter Drucker
