On September 20, the The New York Times reported on Barrick’s announcement it would offer “a $10 million prize on Wednesday to any scientist, researcher or inventor who can increase the amount of silver the company recovers from a mine in Argentina.” The rules for the prize are set out here: http://www.unlockthevalue.com/
“A significant portion of silver at Veladero exists as silica-encapsulated silver sulphide. Traditional mining, mineral processing, and extractive metallurgy have succeeded in recovering only 6.7% of the silver. Barrick seeks technologies or methods that will significantly and economically increase silver recovery from this type of ore. . . . Barrick’s Unlock the Value program invites silver recovery concepts and proposals to improve silver recovery from all levels and disciplines of the worldwide scientific, engineering and inventor community. We encourage non-traditional approaches. Experience in the mining industry is not a prerequisite. The program provides a testing ground for new methods and new ways of thinking about silver and gold recovery.”