OUR RESOURCES

Is modern mining sustainable? How does mining interact with our world? This podcast explores the complexity of our highly needed but finite mineral resources. Each month we invite thoughtful experts from diverse fields to passionately discuss mineral resourcing and modernity. The host, Caelen Burand, aims to critically examine big-picture topics and provide listeners with insight that will help them improve the status quo.

THE HOST

Caelen Burand

As a passionate mining enthusiast earning his ME in mining engineering at the University of Arizona, he is the founder and director of Young Mining Professionals Arizona. He has a background in geology and metallurgy with a current emphasis on mining sustainability. In addition to Our Resources, Caelen works as a mining researcher for Mercury Free Mining and Research Coordinator.

Our Journey So Far

40,000 YEARS AGO

FIRST UNDERGROUND MINING

Miners in Swaziland develop underground shafts to mine ochre, a pigment that is used as a body coloring within their burial ceremonies.

3000 BCE

EGYPTIANS MINE FIRST METALS

In the Sinai Peninsula, ancient Egyptians mine gold, silver, and copper. They also mined 33,000 pound limestone and red granite blocks to create the pyramids.

1465

MEDIVAL EUROPE HAS A SILVER CRISIS

Mines in medieval Europe reach the depth of the water table. Primitive pumps were unable to keep up and silver output plummeted causing the "silver crisis."

1556

DE RE METALLICA IS PUBLISHED

German scholar Georgius Agricola creates his De re Metallica (1556). In this he describes detailed methods of underground mining in hard and soft rock using fire setting to expand rock and break it into pieces.

1906

BINGHAM CANYON IS FOUNDED

Under the Utah Copper Company, the Bingham Canyon Mine was founded in 1906. The Rio Tinto-Kennecott smelter at Bingham Canyon helped power mining throughout the west, processing ores from throughout the basin and range region. In it's 100+ years of operation it has produced 20 Mt of copper, helping power electrification for over a century.

2022

Our Resources is Founded

As YMP AZ grew, it became clear that the mineral resources are evermore important but there is poor communication with the outside world. We want to understand why and what we can do to improve. Our Resources is our solution.

OUR RESOURCES

THE HOST

Our Journey So Far

SUPPORTING A BETTER FUTURE

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