With Bolivian President Evo Morales forced from office in November, could government policy over the country’s massive lithium reserves at the Salar de Uyuni salt flats be about to change? We profile the Bolivian mining sector post-Morales and ask if change is on the horizon. 

We also investigate the ICA's new global standard for copper production, and look at some of the potential mining hubs in Asia other than China. 

Plus, we examine ZImbabwe's 'use it or lose it' policy for mining assets, explore mining mysteries yet to be resolved, and see what lessons can be learnt from the Burkina Faso attack.

Finally, we discover the potential of block caving, and consider the impact of the US House's vote to ban all uranium mining near the Grand Canyon. 

Callum Tyndall, editor