Researchers and employers are teaming up to train the next generation of diamond explorers
The interesting facet in searching for diamonds, according to University of Alberta expert Graham Pearson, is you don’t actually look for diamonds, you look for indicator materials that suggest they might be present. The same could be said for how mineral exploration and mining companies use the U of A to top up their workforce.…
Canadian miners don’t venture haphazardly into the wild; they’re known for their careful planning and stable dividend yields
By Paz Gomez Research associate Frontier Centre for Public Policy Canadian mining companies have proved sustainable economic growth is compatible with the safe handling of a pandemic. Their financial acumen and business resilience show the rest of the country the way forward. A PwC report released in June demonstrates Canadian miners are weathering the COVID-19…
Plan requiring projects to describe how they will achieve net-zero emissions may not even be feasible
By Alex Whalen and Elmira Aliakbari The Fraser Institute Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy sector, already struggling from the downturn in world oil markets and the COVID-19 recession, has taken another blow – this time directly from the federal government. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently imposed new rules – known as the…
Zinc is a critical ingredient in a variety of products, including soap. In the midst of a pandemic, we need to ensure supply
Zinc is an important ingredient in disinfectants such as soap, so it plays an important role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. As we know, the twin pillars of COVID-19 prevention are social distancing and washing your hands properly. So mining this bluish-white metal is important to Canada’s strategy for addressing the pandemic at home.…
U of A researcher leads study revealing new insights into Earth’s carbon cycle
In a new study led by a University of Alberta PhD student, researchers used diamonds as breadcrumbs to provide insight into some of Earth’s deepest geologic mechanisms. “Geologists have recently come to the realization that some of the largest, most valuable diamonds are from the deepest portions of our planet,” said Margo Regier, a PhD…
Yellow diamonds with colourless cores provide insight into the origin of their pure-yellow counterparts
A new study by University of Alberta scientists could help guide the search for rare, high-value yellow diamonds in the Canadian North. The researchers, led by PhD student Mei Yan Lai, examined the chemical makeup of stones recovered from the Chidliak and Ekati mines in Northern Canada to get a better understanding of how they formed.…
In the post-COVID-19 era, government needs to invest in game-changing projects. Here are some good places to start
The clamour to reopen the economy has reached a crescendo in many parts of North America. But the global economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be far-reaching for years to come. Canadian historians list 1935 as the year the worst of the Great Depression was over. But the nation really didn’t begin to return…
The COVID-19 crisis has amplified the warning: dependence on Chinese products is a key vulnerability for Western nations
Many key pharmaceutical ingredients used in North America reportedly come from China or, in the case of generics, India. In turn, India imports key ingredients from China. So diverting imports from China to India might not reduce our dependence on Chinese manufacturers. In addition, China reserves the right to provide its citizens with vital drugs before…
Lower tax rates, with more capital investment, are crucial to increasing productivity, wages and living standards – and boosting the loonie
Canadians’ standard of living isn’t growing as quickly as per capita gross domestic product (GDP). The reason: our dollar has been declining against the currency of our biggest trading partner, the United States. While some of that is because the U.S. dollar has risen against most currencies around the world, a lot of it is…
China's fight for cleaner air creates an unparalleled opportunity for investment in Canadian super clean iron ore
China’s war on air pollution will lead to a big win for the high-grade iron ores produced abundantly in Canada’s Labrador Trough region. Chinese President Xi Jinping is pushing to improve air quality. That has created an opportunity for Canadian iron ore projects to enter the market, offering an alternative to lower grade product that…