ConnectMining.com is a new (to me at least) website that defines itself thus:
Whether you’re a mining professional or somebody with a general interest in mining, Connect Mining will give you an insight and a connection to the mining world. Think of Connect Mining as your very own communication platform where you can learn about the mining industry, read the latest mining news, read and create your own mining related blogs, leave comments, get involved in mining forums, find new mining businesses, investment opportunities, mining jobs, events, websites and much more. Join us today and become a part of the world mining community!
There is still plenty of room for growth on the site, so we will watch it with interest and hope that they will populate the many sections they have loaded.
By way of full disclosure, I post this piece because I believe in supporting new mining-related sites, blogs, and communication channels. Plus I received the following email–who can resist the kind words about my blog?
Hi Jack, my name is Mark Mayes and I represent www.ConnectMining.com, a social networking website created specifically for people working in the mining industry. We’ve always been huge fans of I THINK MINING and some of the legendary posts and opinions you’ve posted over the years. We would love to include some of your posts on our website. Maybe you’d like to promote your blog with us by posting some of your archives on www.ConnectMining.com or we could add the archives for you if you prefer? We’ve added a link to your blog on our site, which you can see here: http://www.connectmining.com/m/sites/view/I-THINK-MINING How would you feel about reciprocating our link or maybe giving our site a mention in one of your blogs? Take care, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
The only misgiving I have about all this is the seeming proliferation of new sites devoted to the totality of mining. I confess that already there are too many for me to monitor on a daily basis—and write this blog—and do enough work as a consultant to be profitable. There is an explosion taking place now and only the most distinctive and newly populated will survive. So I wish them all luck, but do not promise to read them all or contribute to them all.
Then there is my concern that people in mining do not post on public sites. Take the InfoMine TechnoMine sites: there are plenty of places there to comment, post individual pieces & writings. Yet there are none.
My theory is that people in mining read the sites, probably during work hours, and accordingly do not like to leave a record of this reading by commenting or posting. Plus, why give away trade secrets and advances by writing about them? We all know there is an army of lawyers out there just waiting to sue for trade patent violations. Even BSF is suing the oil sands for using polymer. Imagine that! I would have thought this would be their death in the mining industry.
To conclude on reading and posting on mining-related sites: check them all out. Select those that accord with your interests and taste. And make a conscious decision to ignore the rest. Write & comment if it will not get your boss on your back. Good decision making.
I have already joined on connectmining.com and I believe it will play a huge role in bringing together a group of people who share a common interest.