Michael Bennell BSc, MSc, MAusIMM

Vice President Exploration

Michael, a graduate of the University of Tasmania (Australia), with a M.Sc. from the Cambourne School of Mines (UK), was until June 2006 Exploration Manager at the Crixás Gold Mine in Goiás State for AngloGold Ashanti Brasil Ltda. Mr. Bennell has a track record of exploration success for both gold and base metals in Australia, Brazil and West Africa. In Brazil he made the initial discovery of the Boa Vista nickel deposit in Goiás. In West Africa, working for BHP between 1988 and 1999, he was directly involved in the discovery of five gold deposits: Belahouro and Essakan in Burkina Faso, Kubi and Mampon-Aboronye in Ghana and Tongon in the Ivory Coast and worked on many other deposits in West Africa including the gold deposits of Morila and Syama (both in Mali), Fayalala in Guinea and the Syola laterite nickel deposit (Ivory Coast).