Category: Explorers On The Move

March 2015 JUNIOR explorer Platypus Minerals is focused on prospective copper-gold and base metals projects in the East Pilbara and Peru’s San Mateo mining district. Managing director Tom Dukovcic spoke to Jane Goldsmith about the company’s success. Q. What is your educational background? I’m a geologist, having gained my BSc (Hons) degree from the University of Melbourne. I grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne where my Croatian parents, brother and I settled after emigrating from the old Yugoslavia in 1969. I initially studied computer science at university, very much a ‘sunrise’ industry in 1979, and only took a few units in geology through general interest. I soon grew bored and disenchanted with computer science whereas I readily took…

CHINA accounts for more than 95 per cent of the world’s output of rare earths, but its increasingly strict controls on output and exports have caused international apprehension as demand for the 17 elements that comprise the rare earth spectrum increases in the face of diminishing supply. Continuing its mining reputation as ‘the lucky country’, Australia is one of the few areas outside China that has large supplies of rare earth elements. A number of ASX-listed companies have sizable, world-class rare earths deposits, including Lynas Corporation, which is set to commence production from its Mt Weld project in WA this year, and Northern Minerals. Rare earths are broken down into three categories – light, medium and heavy – and play…