On the contrary, I've found that stuff in the mining industry is actually well published, to the point of replicability (one of our projects is essentially copy

On the contrary, I've found that stuff in the mining industry is actually well published, to the point of replicability (one of our projects is essentially copying the patented design of a well known mining technology company, albeit with some modifications, as the patent will expire next month). Perhaps because the real moat in the industry isn't the technology per se, but the concessions.