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DRILLING at Crusader Resources’ Posse iron ore mine in Brazil has intercepted broad zones of high-grade massive haematite ore, as the project ramps up to full production in August. Two drill holes returned an average grade of about 45 per cent iron, a marginal increase on the mine’s JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate of 36 million tonnes grading 43.5 per cent iron. Results included 136.6m at 45.23 per cent iron from surface in PORC-003 and 120m at 45.26 per cent iron from surface in PORC-004. The drilling also intercepted thick zones of friable itabirite, which comprises the bulk of the project resource. The company reported that this itabirite would be the principal ore to feed the project’s planned Stage 2 beneficiation…

PERTH-based Castle Minerals has discovered significant gold mineralisation at its new Kpali prospect in northwest Ghana. The company reported that rotary air blast drilling successfully identified a 650m-long continuous zone of near-surface gold mineralisation containing 7m at 1.20 grams of gold per tonne, including 2m at 2.13g/t of gold from 20m, and 5m at 1.32g/t of gold from 6m. vReverse circulation drilling only tested the southern 200m of the 650m-long anomaly. Castle Minerals managing director Mike Ivey said the Kpali mineralisation would be included in the geophysical survey for its high grade Bundi prospect. “This work confirms Kpali as an exciting new gold discovery for the company with our strong expectation that we will define a significant gold resource following…

A resources industry support group has launched a fly in, fly out (FIFO) awareness campaign to show the benefits of the work arrangement, following recent high-profile criticism of its effects on employee health. Women in Mining WA unveiled The Other Side Of FIFO on 11 July, with the aim to dispel negative media reports and social perception by presenting the positive experiences of FIFO work for both women and men. Women in Mining WA founder Sabina Shugg stated that a recent, widely reported parliamentary inquiry maintained a basis in propaganda rather than fact, with an intention to “provide more incentive for FIFO workers to become residential workers.” “The tone of the report is summarised in its provocative title: Cancer of…

INDUSTRY groups have welcomed the Federal Coalition’s promise to cut green and red tape for Australian businesses by $1 billion a year. The Coalition reported that its policy to boost productivity and reduce regulation would lower business costs, generate more jobs and strengthen the economy; removal of the carbon and mining taxes and the cutting of environmental regulation would be central to the success of the policy. “For too long, the red and green tape burden on Australian businesses has been increasing,” Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said in a statement. “Under the Rudd-Gillard Government, 21,000 additional regulations have been added despite having promised to cap the growth of regulation with a ‘one-in, one-out’ policy. “Labor has paid too little regard…

APPROVAL to develop one of Australia’s largest coal deposits has been met with dissent from Traditional Owners amid claims mining would destroy local heritage sites. Whitehaven Coal received final approval for its $767 million Maules Creek project in NSW last month, and immediately began site preparation works. However on 8 July, Gomeroi Traditional Owners and non-Aboriginal community members staged a protest outside Whitehaven’s Boggabri office, alleging the company had undertaken an incomplete and disrespectful cultural heritage process. In a statement on the Maules Creek Community Council website, Gomeroi Traditional Owner Stephen Talbot said the mine would clear more than 4000 acres of culturally significant forest, artifacts and cultural values that hadn’t yet been properly assessed. “The forest contains cultural heritage…

PERTH-based miner Cape Lambert has sold its Leichhardt copper project to a private Malaysian buyer for $14.75 million. The sale of the Queensland project represents a tidy profit for the company – Cape Lambert purchased the project from Matrix Metals for $7.75 million in August 2010. The transaction was delayed several times before being completed. Leichhardt – which has been on care and maintenance since 2010 – includes a copper cathode process plant capable of producing 9000t of copper per annum and has an existing offtake agreement with Glencore International. Cape Lambert chairman Tony Sage said he expected the project would return to production following the sale. “With this transaction now complete, Cape Lambert will have available cash reserves of…

A long-term mental health and wellbeing strategy introduced at two WA underground mine sites is showing early signs of success, according to Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health (ACRRMH) chief executive Dr Jennifer Bowers. She said early feedback was “very exciting” for the ‘Minds in Mines’ program by Byrnecut Australia, following six months of activity and evaluation data from the first 200 participants. “Perhaps most importantly, 99 per cent of employees agree that mental health is a significant issue in their sector and that it needs to be addressed. A further 98 per cent responded that having information on mental health and emotional wellbeing is helping them understand and deal with their own issues,” Dr Bowers said. Acknowledging…

THE board of Perth-based producer Atlas Iron has granted approval for the company to progress its Pilbara-based Mt Webber iron ore mine to development, in a joint venture with Altura Mining. Lying 230km south-southeast of Port Hedland, the direct shipping ore mine already has environmental approval, enabling the two companies to commence immediate development works. The fifth mine development for Atlas Iron in about five years, Mt Webber’s operations are expected to begin in the final three months of 2013, with first ore shipments from mid 2014. The new mine has an initial life of 18 years at a 3 million tonnes per annum production rate, with the ore trucked by road train to Utah Point port for the opening…

COAL production at Rio Tinto’s Kestrel Mine Extension is underway, with the US$20 million project adding a further 20 years to the life of the underground mine. Rio has run the hard coking coal (HCC) operation at Kestrel since 1999, but began the Kestrel South extension four years ago. At the peak of construction in early 2013 the extension provided work for about 1500 employees and contractors, and would require a workforce of about 400 people over the next 20 years. The expansion involved the construction of a new longwall, a 7.9km overland conveyor and upgrades to the existing coal handling and preparation plant, which has allowed a new series of underground panels to be mined to the south of…

MINERAL giant Rio Tinto has reversed its decision to sell out of the diamond trade after announcing the plans in March last year. Although the company cited “robust” market fundamentals for the move, the business sphere has had mixed reactions regarding Rio’s primary motivation for the strategy change. Maintaining fully integrated diamond mining units within Australia, Canada, Zimbabwe and India – including mining, cutting and polishing and marketing and sales of the precious stone – Rio Tinto was understood to have been considering a $2 billion float of diamonds assets across these countries. However, the company announced in late June it would conserve its diamond interests, and pulled its assets from the market arena. Some analysts have interpreted the move…