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The WA Government is on track to drive advanced manufacturing in the Pilbara with its multimillion-dollar investment into two major rail projects. Almost $8m is to be invested under the Government’s Local Manufacturing Investment Fund (LMIF) with funding to establish an iron ore railcar manufacturing production line and a centre of excellence in Karratha. Today, WA State and Industry Development Assistant Minister Stephen Dawson officially opened CORE Innovation Hub’s Rail Collaboration Centre (RCC) which will provide a platform to undertake testing, research and development in the manufacture of iron ore railcars. With strong support from Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) the RCC fills a gap as a platform to assess the development of new rolling stock, infrastructure, technology and ideas. Gemco…

Globally diversified miner South32 (ASX: S32) has become a signatory to the Sea Cargo Charter – a global framework for assessing and disclosing the climate alignment of chartering activities for the first time in history. The Charter encompasses a group of the world’s largest energy, agriculture, mining and commodity trading companies including Anglo American, Tata Steel Group, Shell and Chevron. United Nations agencies estimate the international shipping industry to carry around 80% of world trade flows and to be responsible for 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually. South32 has operations in Australia, South Africa and South America producing a variety of commodities including bauxite, alumina, aluminium, copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, metallurgical coal and manganese. The company is targeting…

The NSW Government is in the final stages of resolving a contaminated land issue that has plagued a waterfront site in Hunters Hill for more than 100 years. The contamination was caused by historic industrial activity when the site operated as a carbolic acid plant between 1897 and 1909, and the used by Radium Hill Refinery between 1911 and 1915. As a result of this work, soil along the foreshore had been contaminated with coal tar waste material and heavy metals. The soil was also contaminated with low-level naturally occurring radioactive material, caused by the radium processing plant, however, experts considered the material to not be a risk to human health if it was suitably managed or controlled. Over the…

Medallion Metals (ASX: MM8) has entered an exclusivity agreement with IGO (ASX: IGO) to negotiate the proposed acquisition of certain assets of the Forrestania nickel operation in WA. Over the next nine months, with the ability to extend for up to a further three, Medallion has a period of exclusivity to negotiate the acquisition, specifically the Cosmic Boy process plant and associated infrastructure following the completion of nickel processing by IGO. An exclusivity fee of $1m in cash is payable to IGO within five business days of executing the exclusivity agreement, which will be deducted from any deferred cash consideration if a transaction proceeds. During the exclusivity period, Medallion intends to complete due diligence on Forrestania in conjunction with advancing…

Researchers from Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) Mineral Recovery Research Centre have successfully demonstrated the direct extraction of rubidium from ore samples supplied by Everest Metals Corporation (ASX: EMC). What began as discussions around lithium extraction at Everest Metal’s Mt Edon project in WA turned into how to best extract rubidium with lithium as a by-product. A research agreement was executed earlier this year around this, with the first stage involving a small-scale laboratory demonstration of all the processing steps in the recovery of rubidium using advanced processes such as ion exchange. Rubidium is designated a critical mineral by the US Government and is often associated with caesium and lithium mineralisation. Its compounds are used in biomedical research, electronics, speciality glass,…

Efforts to expedite the mining exploration approvals process in WA have proven successful with the State seeing a significant reduction in wait times for Program of Work applications. The WA Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) finalised 313 applications last month, with wait times cut by more than 50% from 16 business days to just seven. WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael says exploration is essential to the development of future mines. “The Government is committed to making the approvals process as efficient as possible,” he said. “These milestones highlight our commitment and represent meaningful initiatives that will support explorers and exploration in this State.” Round 30 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) Co-funded Drilling…

Positive ore sorting trials have shown potential to improve output from Group 6 Metals’ (ASX: G6M) Dolphin tungsten mine in Tasmania. Trails were conducted in April by HP Sorting Technology and focused on evaluating the potential of ore sorting technology to enhance the processing of low-grade and high-grade ore from Dolphin. The low-grade ore sample weighed 595.5kg and had an average grade of 0.22% tungsten oxide, and 66.05% of the material was classified as waste rock as it contained 0.02% tungsten oxide or less. The high-grade ore sample 609.5kg and had an average grade pf 0.61% tungsten oxide. In this sample, 55.3% was classified as waste rock as it contained 0.093% of tungsten oxide or less. Group 6 Metals managing…

Gold mining company Gold Fields has entered a three-year partnership with the WA Museum and the Foundation for the WA Museum. Gold Fields will be the presenting partner of two significant projects focused on the WA Museum’s regional museum sites: the Aboriginal Bush Food and Medicine Garden at the Museum of the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie, and digital audio guides. Foundation for the WA Museum chief executive Coralie Bishop spoke on the importance of the partnership. “We look forward to working with Gold Fields over the coming three years and seeing the outcomes of this new partnership take place,” she said. “The expanded Aboriginal Bush Food and Medicine Garden as well as the digital audio guides will provide exciting new opportunities…

Explorer Aruma Resources (ASX: AAJ) has completed the acquisition of a copper and uranium exploration portfolio across two Australian states. Last quarter, the company executed a share acquisition arrangement for the Wilam IOCG-uranium project in the Olympic Dam precinct in South Australia and the Fiery Creek and Bortala copper projects in the Mt Isa region of Queensland. Shareholder approval was granted on August 1, with 26.5 million fully-paid Aruma shares issued to NHMHA shareholders along with 52.5 million options. The shares issued to NHMHA shareholders are subject to a voluntary escrow period of 6 months. Aruma Resources managing director Glenn Grayson says the company is delighted to complete this pivotal acquisition. “ will see Aruma expand focus into key high-demand…

BHP (ASX: BHP) and the Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation have partnered to elevate employment and training outcomes for Kariyarra people. The Kariyarra Work Ready Program offers a combination of classroom and on-the-job training to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required for a mining role. Importantly, it will create employment pathways for Kariyarra candidates with no prior experience. The inaugural program kicked off in July with 11 new trainees participating in a three-to-four-month training program at BHP’s Port Hedland operations. Led by BHP’s Indigenous employees, the program provides a culturally safe learning and work environment for trainees. Two Traditional Owner businesses — Yarnda Group and Ngarda Ngarli Training — have been engaged to support the program through labour hire and…

As the price of gold continues to climb, Horizon Minerals Ltd (ASX: HRZ) has executed a joint venture (JV) agreement with BML Ventures Pty Limited (BML) to develop and mine two open pits at Phillips Find. The company’s existing 200,000t toll milling agreement with FMR Investments Pty Ltd will be used for ore processing an eight-month period. Mining is expected to commence in the September 2024 quarter, with first gold production planned for December 2024, subject to the current mining proposal being approved. Horizon Minerals managing director and chief executive Grant Haywood says the company is pleased to be partnering up with BML Ventures. “ have a proven track record of delivering projects in the Eastern Goldfields of WA,” he…