Micron invests in US critical minerals processing

AUSIMM has launched an International Women's Day campaign to celebrate the successes and raise awareness of the challenges women face in the resources sector,  in the lead-up to International Women's Day in March 2020. The campaign will culminate in an event series in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Expected to attract more than 2000 participants, the luncheons will bring together keynote speakers including former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and ABC deputy chair Dr Kirstin Ferguson. AusIMM chief executive Stephen Durkin said that as the peak body for resources professionals, AusIMM understands that being a champion of change is about more than one week a year. “At AusIMM we are committed every day throughout the year, to creating...

BRIDGING the gap between university graduates and careers in the mining industry was high on the agenda at the recent Association of Mining Companies (AMEC) conference in Perth. Student Edge head of research Cristiano Lima detailed the finding of two surveys of around 3000 young people (1000 between 15-29 years old and 2000 between 12-24 years old), in which questions were asked about their perceptions of mining as a career pathway. Around 60pc of students said they knew nothing about mining, and Mr Lima said the surveys showed the main reason for the decline in graduates pursuing careers in mining could be due to misconceptions around what jobs were available and concerns around automation and the boom-bust cycle. “Students said...

ORICA and Epiroc Rock Drills are jointly developing a semi-automated explosives delivery system, enabling safer and more productive blasting operations in underground mines. As mines go deeper and ore bodies become more remote, the case for blasting automation becomes clearer. The partnership brings together the deep expertise and experience of two global industry leaders to address the growing demand from customers mining in increasingly more hazardous and challenging underground operations. Orica chief commercial and technology officer Angus Melbourne said the partnership with Epiroc allowed Orica to leverage its exclusive wireless initiating system, WebGen, to deliver the critical first steps towards the automation of drill and blast operations. “Automation is a key pillar of our technology strategy and supports our vision...

The collaboration between Rio Tinto, Gemco Rail and CRRC Qiqihar Rolling Stock will see 100 railcars being manufactured to support local production capacity in WA.This railcar marks the completion of 40 WA-made iron ore railcars manufactured in Gemco Rail’s Perth facility, with the remaining 60 expected to be manufactured in the new, purpose-built facility in Karratha. The Karratha facility is expected to create up to 25 local jobs.