mining For centuries, the world’s fortune-hunting geologists or mining engineers would strike upon a potentially lucrative place to dig a hole, then come to London to find the finance. The capital of the British empire teemed with financiers ready to roll the dice on often speculative, far-flung mining prospects. Its status survived the imperial twilight: even a decade ago, miners were still routinely roadshowing their wares to the City. But the sun now seems to be setting on London’s role at the cent ...