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Round 30 of WA Exploration Incentive Scheme targets critical minerals WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael has announced the successful applicants for Round 30 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) co-funded drilling program. A total of 50 applicants, including six prospectors, will receive grants worth $7.288m for projects to be drilled between December 2024 and November 2025. Seventeen of the successful companies are targeting battery minerals including lithium and Rare Earth Elements (REE). Minister Michael says the WA Government aims to position the State as a dynamic global supplier of future battery minerals and materials. "It is pleasing...

First gold doré bar poured at Golden Crown The inaugural gold doré bar has been poured from the bulk sampling program at Mt Malcolm Mines’ (ASX: M2M) Golden Crown prospect in WA. A bulk sampling program at Golden Crown has produced Mt Malcolm’s first gold via gravity processing. Notably, two gold doré bars were poured with a combined weight of 431g. The bulk sampling program forms an integral part of Mt Malcolm’s strategy to evaluate the potential of Golden Grove. So far, excavation has reached a depth of around 9m with efforts continuing to excavate and extract deeper mineralised material. Ongoing...

NSW Government releases $250m royalty deferral initiative The NSW Government has released a $250m royalty deferral initiative, the first of the State’s new critical minerals and high-tech metals strategy. Currently, there are 12 critical minerals mining and processing projects NSW that are ready for investment. These projects need around $7.6b in capital investment and are expected to generate around 4600 jobs during construction and 2700 after that. High initial investment costs for critical minerals projects are a challenge and the royalty deferral initiative will assist new projects in the early stages of development, ease financial pressures,...

Koonenberry Gold to strengthen portfolio Koonenberry Gold (ASX: KNB) is set to acquire a suite of projects from Global Uranium and Enrichment (ASX: GUE) and Gilmore Metals. These projects – the Enmore gold project and the Lachlan projects – will increase Koonenberry’s existing gold and copper assets in NSW. Under the acquisitions, GUE will receive 35m fully paid ordinary Koonenberry shares, while Gilmore Metals shareholders will receive 95m Koonenberry shares. All shares are subject to 12 months of voluntary escrow. The acquisitions are subject to Koonenberry completing a minimum $2m fund raising, shareholder approval and the end of the Enmore gold project’s 2% net...

One standard to rule them all: have your say A draft standard covering all commodities, facilities and locations worldwide is out for public comment over the next two months. Partners of the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI) – ICMM, World Gold Council, Mining Association of Canada and The Copper Mark – launched their first public consultation yesterday and will...

Rare earth element anomalism confirmed at Mt Doreen Recent surface geochemical sampling at Litchfield Minerals’ (ASX: LMS) Mt Doreen project in the Northern Territory has confirmed the presence of rare earth element (REE) anomalism. A total of 134 soil and 50 rock chip samples were collected at Mt Doreen to assess REE anomalism within granites and associated erosional sediments. Rock chip sampling was undertaken to assess REE anomalism within granite outcrops, while soil sampling was undertaken to test the granite-derived sediments surrounding the granites. Light REE dominated the findings, with an average of 42% cerium, 21% lanthanum and 19% neodymium returned. The highest-grade REE samples were collected...

Evolution on track to deliver “over $1.9b operating cash flow” in FY25 Evolution Mining (ASX: EVN) has followed its record FY24 performance, with the company announcing it’s on track to achieve over $1.9b of operating cash flow by the end of FY25. In Q1 FY25, Evolution generated mine cash flow of $429m, with all operations delivering positive cash flow and major contributions coming from the Cowal and Red Lake operations. Looking at production, 193,554oz of gold and 19,059t of copper was produced, and with an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of $1569/oz, Evolution remains one of the lowest cost producers in the sector. Evolution managing director...

Monadelphous locks in new contracts worth $160m Monadelphous Group Limited (ASX: MND) has announced the award of new contracts and extensions totalling around $160m. The engineering group has been awarded two one-year contract extensions for fixed plant maintenance services and sustaining capital projects across Rio Tinto’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara, WA. Monadelphous has also secured a fabrication, supply, installation and commissioning contract at the global miner’s Tom Price mine, with work completion expected in mid-2025. South32’s Worsley Alumina operations in southwest WA has awarded a new three-year contract for the provision of minor project works at site, on the back of the maintenance and shutdown services contract extension announced last month. Monadelphous has been providing services at Worsley...

The future of apron feeder technology RCR Mining Technologies has launched the world-first sealed pan feeder (SPF), combining apron feeder technology with the sealing properties of a belt feeder into one machine. The SPF shares over 90% of its components with the trusted RCR apron feeder in its low-maintenance and high-durability design. Key improvements include: Enhanced performance: The SPF reduces the need for maintenance outages, offering approximately 50% fewer outages and 39% less tool time over a 15-year period compared to standard, non-RCR apron feeders. Maximised production: The reduction in maintenance frequency and outage duration translates directly to more...

Rio Tinto increases iron ore, bauxite and titanium dioxide production in Q3 Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has released its Q3 CY24 results, with the company increasing Pilbara iron ore, bauxite and titanium dioxide slag production. Bauxite production saw an 8% increase from the prior corresponding period to 15.1mt, titanium dioxide slag production increased 7% to 263kt and Pilbara iron ore production increased 1% to 84.1mt. On the other hand, aluminium production decreased 2% to 809kt and mined copper production dropped 1% to 168kt. Operations Construction of Rio’s Western Range mine is now 80% complete, with the company finalising commissioning of the autonomous haul trucks and completing...

UNSW Innovation Symposium to explore VFB supply chain On October 15 and 16, Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos and her team at UNSW Sydney will host the 40th Anniversary Flow Battery Innovation Symposium. Since the first 1kW vanadium flow battery (VFB) was built at UNSW, the technology has significantly evolved with systems now being installed internationally at capacities into gigawatt hour scale. This scale up of flow battery deployments signals a major shift in the global energy landscape as countries turn to long-duration energy storage to support renewable power sources. The symposium will bring together...