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Stack odds for success

Stack odds for success

HEIGHTENED risks associated with wet tailings dams, as well as cuts to water allocations in mining projects, impelled FLSmidth to seek a solution to dry tailings systems that would be cost efficient for larger mines. The solution IT developed, with a functioning system currently operating in an iron ore project in WA, is economical for mines with a throughput of more than 30,000t of dry stack tailings a day, and can also be applied to mines with lower production levels. Dry tailing systems cut costs and risk. The elimination of wet tailings dams and the re-use of process water on the site minimises environmental risks to the community, cuts complexity and helps mining companies attain a social licence to operate....

Westgold restarts Big Bell operations

Westgold restarts Big Bell operations

ONE of Australia’s previous largest single mine gold producers has restarted operations in the Murchison, WA, with plans to bring it back to its former glory. Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) yesterday announced underground sub-level mining has recommenced at its Big Bell mine, located within the company’s Cue Gold operations. Westgold executive chairman Peter Cook said this was a major milestone for the company and paves the way for planned ramp-up in mine output, targeting steady-state production rates by the end of 2020. “Big Bell will become our largest single mine in the Murchison region and restarts with a 10-year mine life with excellent resource extension potential,” he said. The first mass cave blast broke about 103,000t at 3g/t of gold...

Coal in Northern and Central Queensland: Exploration aplenty

Coal in Northern and Central Queensland: Exploration aplenty

QUEENSLAND is renowned for its coal mining industry, which generates billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs for Australians. Now the state’s coal mining industry is about to enter a new era of growth, after the Queensland government opened up 7000sq km of land in its Bowen and Surat coal basins to fresh exploration activity for coal and gas. Mining companies have been invited to stake their claim in the exploration territory to sow the seeds for the next generation of resources projects. Queensland Member of Parliament for the Mackay constituency, Julieanne Gilbert, said the exploration program could result in significant job opportunities. “Two areas in the highly prospective Bowen Basin have been earmarked for metallurgical coal –...

BHP South Flank: A mine for the future

BHP South Flank: A mine for the future

THE South Flank iron ore project currently under construction for BHP in the Pilbara region of WA will be one of the most technologically advanced mines in the world. Superlatives such as the biggest, longest, latest and greatest are being applied to many aspects of the project which starts production in 2021. The new mine is incorporating many of the latest developments in mining technology ranging from autonomous mining equipment, digital-connectivity and modular-designed structures. According to BHP’s Project Director for South Flank, Simon Thomas, South Flank is a US$3.6b project that will fully replace production from the 80mtpa (100 per cent basis) Yandi mine, which is expected to end its economic life in the mid-2020s. “The first ore from South...

Gidgee offers new promise

Gidgee offers new promise

Gidgee offers new promise AN outstanding result in high grade aircore results, plus a promising regional review, reveal a significant new exploration at the Gateway Mining Gidgee Gold Project near Kalgoorlie in WA. Four gold corridors have been defined, covering a cumulative strike length of approximately 20km. This discovery opens up a major new exploration opportunity for Gateway within its high-quality operation, beyond the currently defined resources. Reconnaissance aircore drilling, supported by a regional assessment outside the Montague Granodiorite, was instrumental in identifying the series of prospective gold corridors. These new discoveries present a major opportunity, specifically for shallow oxide gold deposits. Gateway managing director Peter Langworthy said that the company’s core focus remains to unlock the significant potential that...

Saraji Mine: Eastward Ho

Saraji Mine: Eastward Ho

Saraji Mine: Eastward Ho SARAJI coking coal mine in Queensland’s coal-rich Bowen Basin coalfield is ready for the next stage in its development with its Saraji East expansion project. Purchased by the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance joint venture, a 50:50 joint undertaking between Japanese trading house Mitsubishi and BHP, from Australian coal company New Hope Corporation in July 2008 for the price of $2.45b, the Saraji (East) coal project marked a new watershed price for coal mining assets in Australia. New Hope went on to use the money received for its Saraji coal project to fund some coal asset acquisitions including stakes in former Rio Tinto’s Hunter Valley coal mine in NSW. The Saraji project is an undeveloped metallurgical coal resources...

Sojitz Coal: Full speed ahead

Sojitz Coal: Full speed ahead

Sojitz Coal: Full speed ahead SOJITZ Coal Mining is an Australian subsidiary of Japanese company Sojitz and was established in 2002 as the holding company for its Queensland coal operations. SCM’s span of operations has grown to three Queensland coal mines – Gregory, Minerva and Meteor Downs -- and it has been quietly upgrading these. Sojitz managing director and chief executive Cameron Vorias said the company’s plans to develop its Australian coal mines were progressing well despite some hiccups in thermal coal prices. “Thermal coal prices have been stable but not brilliant,” Mr Vorias said. He said Australian thermal coal prices experienced a difficult market in 2019, when benchmark Australian thermal coal prices endured a steady decline over 2019, falling...

Carrapateena: Copping it sweet

Carrapateena: Copping it sweet

Carrapateena: Copping it sweet PRODUCTION at one of Australia's biggest copper mines is set for a solid rise. The OZ Minerals-owned Carrapateena already has the potential to produce 65,000t of copper and 67,000oz of gold a year over its expected 20-year lifetime. The iron-oxide–copper–gold (IOCG) underground mine, located about 160km north of Port Augusta in South Australia, produced its first concentrate at the end of December 2019, targeting 4.25Mtpa throughput rates by end 2020 and 4.7-5Mpta from 2023. OZ Minerals chief executive Andrew Cole said the company remained confident in the long-term demand for copper from traditional sources as well as from the rapidly expanding focus on carbon reduction. “The company is planning to continue its investment in growing Carrapateena,”...

Coppabella Mine: Mackay steel

Coppabella Mine: Mackay steel

Coppabella Mine: Mackay steel BUSINESSES around the Mackay region have long thrived on work provided by US company Peabody’s Coppabella, and the other mines in the vicinity. Its strong culture of community engagement and corporate responsibility provides ongoing support to community services, local emergency services, education, safety and environmental management. Coppabella celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018. Peabody Australia president George Schuller said that over its two decades in operation, Coppabella had provided benefits for the Moranbah and Nebo townships and the Mackay region as a whole. The comments were echoed by Queensland Regional Council director Ian MacFarlane. “Coppabella has exported coal to Japan, Korea and Taiwan, paying royalties to the State Government which are used to build the schools...

Coronavirus screening for FIFO workers

Coronavirus screening for FIFO workers

Coronavirus screening for FIFO workers FLY-IN, fly-out workers may undergo a special coronavirus screening as part of new measures to protect rural and remote communities from the spread of the virus. The Australian Principle Health Committee will present a management plan to the Federal Government, which will include special measures for FIFO employees. Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said the health risks posed by the virus affected metropolitan and rural areas differently. “In metropolitan areas the health system would be able to cope... but in isolated communities this could have pretty devastating consequences,” he said. “They present a particular risk and so we’re planning a range of approaches to staffing and screening of people coming into community so that we...

AOG bigger than ever

AOG bigger than ever

AOG bigger than ever THE Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition is shaping up to be a whopper, with 118 new exhibitors signed up for the event at the Perth Convention Centre, from March 11-13. Businesses catering for the oil, gas and energy industry are gearing up to showcase a range of innovations and services. Renewable energy is making its presence felt with a Renewables and Energy Storage zone included for the first time. The dedicated exhibition floor will be promoting Australia as a leading investment destination for renewable energy products. As part of the renewables energy discussion, conference sessions around the path to energy transition, and energy diversification will be chaired by industry leaders. A raft of energizing and valuable...