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A new global standard for tailings management has been released to support the safe management of tailings facilities around the world. This follows the tragic tailings facility collapse at Brudaminho in January 2019, where a total of 259 people were confirmed dead and 11 remain missing to-date. The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management was developed by the independent Global Tailings Review, the International Council on Mining and Metals, the United Nation’s Environment Program and the Principles for Responsible Investment. Global Tailings Review chair Dr Burno Oberle says the release sets a precedent for the safe management of tailings facilities globally and towards the goal of zero harm. “I call on all mining companies, governments and investors to use the…

Final trade data for the 2019-2020 financial year has reconfirmed that Australia’s resources sector is bolstering the economy. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows commodity exports reached $287b in 2019-2020, of which iron ore was worth $102b. Resource and energy commodity exports have grown 3.5% since 2018-2019. Gold is also forecast to become the third largest commodity export after iron ore and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2020-2021. Gold exports was $24b in 2019-2020 and forecast to reach $32b in 2020-2021. Federal Resources, Water and Northern Australian Minister Keith Pitt said the resources sector will support jobs and growth as the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Australia’s success in becoming a top supplier of iron ore and gold…

A Caterpillar grader with a difference recently made its way from Caterpillar dealer WesTrac’s Port Hedland workshop to a Pilbara mine site. Unlike the typical yellow Cat equipment in use across Australia’s mining sector, this is likely to be the only purple grader operating anywhere in Australia. The eye-catching finish was applied as part of a machine rebuild by WesTrac and is designed to promote recognition of the Women in Mining in the Pilbara (WiMitP) group. WesTrac Area Manager Jason Hill said while the team had painted equipment in various colours including blue and black before, it was the first time he’d come across a request for purple. “It’s not a shade we have on hand as part of the…

Longreach Mineral Exploration (Longreach) has become a successful recipient in Round 4 of the Queensland Government Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) grants. As part of the economic recovery measures, the CEI encourages innovative exploration to help explorers discover new economy minerals that are of high demand in the renewable and technology sectors. A total of 25 projects have been awarded up to $200,000 each to support innovative exploration to help discover new economy minerals. Longreach plans to use the grant for its Fletchers Awl project (EPM 27423) which is located in Central Queensland. Longreach believes this area has been underexplored and that the permit area has significant potential for copper and gold mineralisation. Longreach will acquire a high resolution airborne magnetic…

A SURVEY of 53 WA resources sector companies found that the State’s mining, oil and gas, energy and contractor industries contributed more than $67.1b to Australia’s economy in 2018-19 and directly created more than 71,000 fulltime jobs. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) Chief Executive Paul Everingham said the organisation asked its members, ‘How much does industry spend and where?’ “The data provided by 53 member companies for the financial year 2018-19, shows how industry’s spending flows through to every part of WA, by means of wages and salaries, business purchases, government payments and community contributions,” Mr Everingham said. “Considering this survey is just a snapshot of the sector’s direct contribution to the broader economy, the…

EMESENT has updated the capabilities of its Hovermap drones, allowing them to fly beyond line of sight and communications range into unmapped areas. Hovermap’s Autonomy Level 1 technology, in operation for nearly two years, has now been updated to the new Autonomy Level 2 technology (AL2), the world’s first plug-and-play payload for industrial drones. This update provides autonomous beyond-line-of-sight and GPS-denied flight, enabling the drones to be used in the development of stopes, drifts and tunnels in mines, as well as the analysis of conditions and security prior to sending in personnel. Building on Emesent’s Hovermap simultaneous localisation and mapping (SLAM) autonomous flight system, the AL2 enables companies to map, navigate and collect data in challenging inaccessible environments such as…

FORMER cricketer Brad Hogg has swapped the cricket bat for a microphone to interview mining workers about their mental health, in a new video project for Lifeline WA and its partner the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA (CME). Called A Resourceful Life – Hoggy talks to everyday heroes, the project will feature Hogg having an open and honest chat to resource sector workers about their personal experiences of mental health and how they’ve overcome the challenges of working away from home. Hogg is a former T-20 and Australian test cricketer, and as a Lifeline WA ambassador, has been open about his struggles with alcoholism and depression. He said it was especially important for men to talk to other men openly…