MineWarp

Digital mining transformation starts with connectivity—and few understand this better than Dr. Jeannette McGill.From LTE networks in mines to summiting Mount Everest, this is a story of technology, leadership, and resilience.
Jeannette’s career spans underground gold mines in South Africa, digital transformation roles in global mining companies, and the deployment of LTE networks enabling autonomous mining operations.
In this conversation we explore:
Why connectivity is the hidden backbone of digital mining
What it was like to be among the first women working underground in South African mines
How boards should think about technology risk and value
And some bonus material about the leadership lessons learned from climbing Mount Everest! Don't miss this fascinating discussion about technology, resilience, and long-term ambition in the mining industry.#MineWarp #mininginnovation #LTE in Mining

In this episode of MineWarp, we explore one of the most extraordinary mining regions on Earth — the Talnakh ore cluster near Norilsk in the Russian Arctic.Our guest Andrei Gritesenko explains why these deposits are among the richest nickel-copper-platinum group metal resources ever discovered — and why that richness creates its own operational challenge.We discuss:
The geology of the Siberian Traps that formed these massive sulfide deposits
The Talnakh, Oktyabrsky, Taymyrsky and Skalisty mines, extending more than 2 km underground
Why grade control becomes extremely difficult in high-grade, highly variable ore bodies
How small mistakes in ore/waste boundaries can destroy value
The unique challenge of mining complex orebodies deep inside the Arctic Circle
This episode highlights how geology, data, and operational discipline intersect in one of the most strategically important mining districts in the world.

Mechanical engineer turned global mining technology leader, David Dickson traces the journey from aerospace engineering to industrial automation and quantum research.We unpack:- OT/IT convergence- The future of autonomous decision layers- The physics behind quantum computing- Why metallurgy may be one of quantum’s first industrial use cases

In this episode of MineWarp, Empie Strydom speaks with Edward Murray, CEO of iGlobe, about how spatial data has evolved from maps and CAD into a core decision-making platform for modern mining.Edward shares his entrepreneurial journey, from early GIS and surveying work through building, selling, and rebuilding technology businesses, and explains why bespoke mining solutions eventually fail at scale. The conversation dives into platform thinking, drones and sensors, real-time data, AI, and why spatial context is essential for turning disconnected datasets into trusted, living assets.Challenging the idea that mining is slow to adopt technology, Edward argues that the industry is now one of the most advanced digital adopters—and offers a forward-looking view on AI, connectivity in Africa, and what the next decade of mining technology could look like.

In this episode of MineWarp, Gary Lane (President of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, SAIMM) unpacks what it takes to build and attract the skills and talent needed for a strong and resilient Southern African Mining industry.Drawing on decades of entrepreneurship and systems-thinking experience, he discusses the need for stewardship, governance and "making mining sexy" again to professionals both young and old.Also under the spotlight is the up and coming role of AI, and what kinds of changes mining should prepare for to remain a valuable contributor to the economy.Don't miss this insightful episode with a highly respected voice in South African mining.