My “wired” fox terrier howled at 4.00am this morning. There was nothing afoot except maybe that he had an incandescent urge to look at the stars. Or maybe he too was having nightmares about shrinking global zinc inventories. I was up and about and thought maybe I should just write a few lines. It has … Read more
Ireland is basking in brilliant sunshine. Above are blue skies. A blocking high pressure system is squeezing heavy rainclouds over Paris. Dublin is warmer than London! Jaypers, the patrons are squinting in the rays and drinking outside on the footpath. Sunshine is not good for Guinness. The black pint is better in dark musty pubs. … Read more
There was hail today and this morning it was three degrees Celsius. It is almost the end of April. Even though days get longer as the sun rises higher above the horizon I am now convinced that Ireland does not have a climate. This little island, adrift on the north Atlantic edge of Europe, has just … Read more
The iron ore price had its biggest single one-day price gain in history on Monday. What happened over the weekend? A sudden supply shortage? More likely irrational exuberance in response to an aspirational plan for the Chinese economy? Gold is back above $1,250, the zinc price has gained 20 per cent and copper 15 per … Read more
The Kerry Slug is rare – an endangered species. I know because I came across a paper of 101 pages about the slimy invertebrate[1]. The slug is also protected under the Wildlife Act 1976 under Statutory Instrument No. 112 of 1990. Rhododendron ponticus is a major threat to this slimy speckled creature. That is apart from … Read more
Ground control to Major Tom. You’ve really made the grade. Globally, how long does an average buyer hold his stock? Circuit breakers kicked in to stop the avalanche of selling on the Chinese stock market. Traders left with nothing to do just played cards on the trade-floor of the Chinese Stock Exchange. Is this a … Read more
My last blog of 2015! I know it has been a while. It has been a busy time trying to start up a new private zinc company (G11) in the worst of times and the best of times. I have waffled a lot about zinc during 2015 so it seems apt that I end the … Read more
There is a whole industry of research. It is a hive of probing and prediction. It does not produce much except prophesy. It does have entertainment value of sorts. A lot of buzzing prophesies but not much honey. It is a land of hubris and self importance because nobody wants to listen to the meek and … Read more
This grab sample – see blog photo – was taken in 2009 from near the old Annagh lead mine just a kilometre north of Castlemaine in County Kerry. It assayed 51% zinc. We believe that it is not a meteorite. We see it as an eruption of possibility. A clue to what may lie beneath. But zinc … Read more
The market capitalisation of the six biggest gold miners combined is US$32 billion or the same as LinkedIn. The market capitalisations of BHP, Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Glencore and Vale combined is now only US$211 billion. The market capitalisation of Facebook is a cool US$308 billion. Commodities have a finite supply which should support price. But … Read more