It is important to understand how the global mining industry works and why mining is important for economic development, says business-intelligence supplier Intierra Raw Materials Group (RMG) editorial director Chris Hinde.

Hinde and Intierra RMG MD Magnus Ericsson will deliver a seminar, titled Mining Insight – An Industry Explained, at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, which will take place in Cape Town from February 4 to 7.

The seminars will provide an overview of the African mining industry and are aimed primarily at professionals within associated sectors, including equipment manufacturers, service organisations, legal firms, finance and nonmining staff in mining companies.

The size and shape of the global mining industry, including a summary of the largest mines and companies, will be discussed, as will the most important commodities, the target minerals and metals, the geological procedure involved, the types of deposits and how to measure them.

“It is important that people understand why mining is so important for economic development and each seminar presented by Intierra RMG is designed as a commodities fundamentals masterclass,” Hinde says.

Intierra RMG MD Peter Rossdeutscher adds that these seminars will deliver a comprehensive explanation of how the global mining industry works and will greatly benefit people on the periphery of mining who want to develop business opportunities in the sector.

Other topics on the agenda include an examination of the main mining methods, the techniques involved and the types of equipment used, as well as a summary of the stages in metals recovery and an explanation of the influences on metals demand and supply, costs and the long-term price behaviour of commodities.