Dust problems? We have the solution

There’s a lot to like about where Australia’s ‘critical minerals’ industry is headed, with many mines already in development to capitalise on the growing battery and EV markets. However, there are still knowledge gaps when it comes to mineral processing and manufacturing that require further investigation. Elizabeth Fabri spoke with Geoscience Australia Resources Division chief Andrew Heap about opportunities for Australia on the back of the agency’s recently released reports. Q. Tell us about your background in geoscience and some career highlights to date? I am currently chief of the Resources Division at Geoscience Australia with responsibility for energy and mineral, carbon capture and storage, and marine geoscience programs: a position I have held since September 2017. I am a...

Horizon Minerals’ reports positive outcomes at its Boorara gold mine, WA, with mining and ore haulage is progressing ahead of schedule and total material movement 22% above plan. Mr Jon Price, Managing Director, Horizon Boorara, said that a total movement of 232,000 BCM had been mined with approximately 42,000 tonnes of oxide and transitional ore at a fully diluted grade of 1.4g/t Au.  This is in line with the reserve model estimates. Costs of drill and blasts have been reduced by the mining of a higher than budgeted volume of free dig material which has resulted in better productivity levels. “First gold production and revenue is expected in July 2020 with production continuing on a campaign basis through to January...

MARKING the start of the annual Diggers and Dealers mining conference in Kalgoorlie last month, two major WA gold producers signed a deal that will see them merge into one of the largest gold mining companies in the state. The $426 million takeover of Integra Mining by Silver Lake Resources will create a major Australian gold producer with a 6.6 million ounce resource base and a forecast production rate of 400,000 ounces per annum by 2014. Under the agreement, Integra shareholders will be offered 1 new Silver Lake share for every 6.28 Integra shares. The Silver Lake offer values Integra at $0.452 per share. The transaction offers shareholders of both companies the opportunity to create material value, given the proximity...

WITH a strong portfolio of nickel and gold projects plus cash and current receivables of $126.4 million, WA’s Panoramic Resources is well placed for growth in the next 12 to 18 months. The company’s Savannah and Lanfranchi nickel projects are booming – Panoramic has forecast that it will produce between 17,500t and 18,500t of nickel this year – and its recently acquired Gidgee gold project is showing strong promise. Savannah nickel project More than 200km south of Kununurra in WA’s East Kimberley region, the Savannah project consists of a nickel sulphide ore body, an underground mine, a processing plant and associated infrastructure. The Savannah ore body, a sulphide-rich nickel, copper and cobalt formation hosted by the layered mafi c-ultramafi c...