Terra hits massive sulphides at Dante project

Macmahon Holdings (ASX: MAH) is partnering with Manuka Resources (ASX: MKR) for the restart of mining operations at the Wonawinta silver project in NSW.The agreement covers open pit mining services, drill and blast and load and haul activities with mining expected to recommence in May 2026.A formal mining services agreement is anticipated to be finalised in April, with an estimated value of $190m across an initial five-year term.Macmahon has said no additional capital expenditure is required for FY26, with company guidance remaining unchanged.The Wonawinta project, located in the Cobar Basin, last operated in 2015 before being placed in care and maintenance due to low silver prices.Manuka Resources acquired the project in 2016 and has since intermittently used the site’s processing plant for gold from its nearby Mt Boppy operation.The project was returned to care and maintenance in early 2024.Macmahon managing director and chief executive Michael Finnegan welcomes the opportunity to partner with Manuka Resources to de-risk operations at Wonawinta.“Macmahon is proud to be working in partnership with Manuka Resources to get this exciting large-scale silver project into production again” he said.“We look forward to working closely with them to deliver the operational flexibility and scalability that supports Manuka’s development timetables and production targets.”

A fatal accident involving a contractor has occurred at Nickel Industries’ (ASX: NIC) Hengjaya mine in Indonesia.All operations have since been suspended at the mine pending an investigation by the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources which is expected to commence on March 27.The contractor, engaged by PT Fajar Metal Industry, was working on the construction of transmission lines for the slurry plant and dry stacked tailings facility infrastructure when the fatal accident occurred, according to Nickel Industries.The company said it is cooperating with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and will provide further updates as they become available.Nickel Industries extended its condolences to the contractor’s family, friends and fellow workers and said support is being provided.

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.” 

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has delivered first ore on ship from its Lamb Creek iron ore project in WA’s Pilbara region. The milestone was reached three months after ground was broken at the site in December 2025. CSI Mining Services — a wholly owned subsidiary of MinRes has now commenced mining, processing and haulage at the site. Lamb Creek will be an open pit mine with a capacity of 7.5mtpa, strategically located just 50km from MinRes’ Iron Valley operation. Ore from both sites will be blended and hauled to Utah Point for export through the Port of Port Hedland. MinRes executive general manager iron ore and asset management group Joe Brown says the milestone highlights the company’s ability to rapidly develop and bring assets into production. “Safely achieving first ore on ship in such a short time since breaking ground is a remarkable feat and demonstrates MinRes’ significant in-house capability to bring projects to life quickly,” he said. Development of Lamb Creek also involves the planned wind-down of the current Wonmunna iron ore operation, with all Wonmunna-based staff set to transfer to Lamb Creek and no impact to jobs anticipated. MinRes acquired Wonmunna from the Australian Aboriginal Mining Corporation in FY21 as an undeveloped project and has since mined nine pits and exported more than 26mt of iron ore from the operation.  The Pilbara Hub has production guidance of 9-10mtpa for FY26.