Konecranes – Retrofits to improve safety

CANADIAN producer Barrick Gold has reached a settlement with Gold Fields Limited for the sale of three WA gold mines, just two months after announcing the assets would go to market. In a deal worth US$270 million, Barrick Gold signed across the three primary mine sites from its Yilgarn South project, 23km south of Laverton, to the major South African gold developer in early October. Inclusive of the prosperous Granny Smith, Lawlers and Darlot mines, the deal added about 400,000oz of gold output to Gold Field’s current Australian portfolio. According to reports, Australia would become Gold Fields’ largest production hub, holding 42 per cent of the company’s total gold output. Barrick chief executive Jamie Sokalsky stated that the assets were…

A new Tsurumi heavy duty dewatering pump that delivers heads of up to 200m will change the way mining engineers, quarry and construction operators carry out dewatering duties. The new LH4110-W was introduced by Australian Pump Industries (Aussie Pumps), the sole Australian distributor for Tsurumi. Aussie Pumps product manager Craig Bridgement said the ability to use one pump to get up to a 200m total head was a huge breakthrough. “To think that Tsurumi have been able to achieve this with a pump that provides a 1000 litre per minute maximum flow, but is only 23 inches (592mm) in diameter, is a revolution,” he said. The Tsurumi LH-W series is a super high-head version of the existing LH range. The…

Recently listed True North Copper (TNC) has encountered large zones of visible copper sulphide mineralisation near its great Australia resource on its Cloncurry project in Queensland. An initial two-hole drilling program (totalling 820m) targeted extensions to the existing great Australia resource and potential continuity to the greater Australian target. Drilling of the two holes identified large zones of visible copper sulphide mineralisation. Hole GAD014 detected about 180 metres of consistent mineralisation and multiple zones of chalcopyrite mineralisation while hole GAD015 encountered multiple zones of chalcopyrite mineralisation. Managing director Marty Costello said drilling was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the greater Australian target. “Our recent great Australia resource drilling program was undertaken to help us understand how we would…

AFTER a poor March 2012 quarter, mineral sands major Iluka Resources has refinanced its debt by entering into $800 million-worth of five-year bilateral revolving credit facilities. The debt restructure replaces a $445 million syndicated term loan facility that was in place. In March 2012, $100 million of that facility had matured, with the remaining $345 million expected to mature next March. “Iluka is pleased to secure expanded debt capacity, with the new facilities recognising Iluka’s enhanced credit quality and favourable growth prospects,” Iluka chief financial officer Alan Tate said. “The new facilities will be available for general corporate purposes and provide flexibility for future investment decision making,” Mr Tate added. The debt restructure comes after Iluka posted a 13 per…