OD6 confirms high-grade fluorspar at Mammoth

Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada has seen its final day of production after 23 years of operation.The mine which has produced more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds was discovered in 1991 beneath Lac de Gras, 220km south of the Arctic Circle.Mining began in 2003, utilising both open pit and underground mining methods to produce predominantly white gem quality diamonds and a small proportion of rare yellow diamonds.A celebration at the mine was attended by Indigenous Government Organisations, government representatives and other stakeholders to signal the formal completion of production.Diavik chief operating officer Matthew Breen says this milestone reflects the significance of the operation in the region.“Diavik has been an inspired collaboration between a modern mining company and Indigenous partners with an enduring legacy of socioeconomic benefits for the North” he said.“We look forward to continuing to respectfully reclaim the land in line with our commitments to, and in partnership with, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Indigenous partners.”Planning for closure has been underway since before production began, with closure objectives covering safety, land use, landforms, water and biodiversity and community capacity.Closure activities will extend to 2029, followed by a period of post-closure monitoring.Rio Tinto says the rough diamonds from the final production phase will be polished and sold through 2026 and beyond via its global customer network.

Fortescue has removed second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARS) from its operations, in a move to reduce risks to native wildlife, including threatened species such as the Northern Quoll.  The change was implemented in August 2025 with Fortescue transitioning to alternative rodent control methods including first generation rodenticides, which break down more quickly in the environment. Rodent management remains a requirement at mining operations to protect infrastructure and the health and safety of personnel.  SGARs are known to persist in the environment and can accumulate in animals that consume poisoned rodents, increasing the risk of secondary poisoning in predators and scavengers.  Fortescue approvals, communities and services director Rosli Wheelock said the decision was made following internal assessment of environmental risks.  “We operate in some of Australia’s most important natural habitats, and we have a responsibility to look after them,” he said. “When we saw these products could put native wildlife at risk, we made the decision to stop using them and have moved to safer alternatives.” Recent studies have identified anticoagulant rodenticides in a range of Australian wildlife species, raising broader concerns about their environmental impact. Edith Cowan University Associate Professor Robert Davis says second-generation rodenticides are highly persistent and can accumulate through the food chain. “Reducing their use where practical can help lower the risk of secondary poisoning for native predators and scavengers,” he said. Fortescue says it will continue to monitor and review rodent management practices as part of its broader environmental management program. 

New research from Monash University has identified the pre-treatment stage of lithium-ion battery recycling as a significant contributor to both environmental impact and material recovery efficiency.  The study published in Nature Sustainability found that pre-treatment can account for 16-38% of the environmental impact of lithium-ion battery recycling, accounting for significant material losses, with outcomes varying by battery type and processing route.  Pre-treatment is the first processing step that producing “black mass” from which valuable materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt can be extracted. The study suggests that this step is often overlooked in recycling strategies.  The study by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering compared three main industrial approaches — mechanical, thermal and chemical pre-treatments — for environmental performance, recovery efficiency and operational complexity.  Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering deputy head and Professor Victor Chang says the findings indicate that decisions made during the early stages of recycling can influence both system efficiency and long-term resource recovery.  “Our work highlights an important aspect of the process — the pre-treatment stage. This step is often overlooked, but it can be critical in determining the efficiency, safety, and overall effectiveness of downstream recycling processes” he said.  According to Monash University, the findings could act as critical guidance for policymakers and industry as countries build new battery systems.  Professor Chang says lithium-ion battery recycling is not just a technical challenge but a system design challenge.  “While many countries are planning to invest in and scale up battery recycling industries, our work highlights an important aspect of the process” he said.  “Pre-treatment shapes both recovery efficiency and environmental outcomes. Decisions made at this stage will affect system performance for decades, so it’s vital that they are guided by robust evidence.”