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(Image source: Sheffield Resources) Aerial view of Thunderbird.

Thunderbird production is a go!

The first significant heavy minerals sand deposit to be discovered in the Canning Basin, Sheffield Resources’ (ASX:SFX) Thunderbird mineral sand project is one of the largest and highest-grade mineral sands deposits in the world. Hosted by highly weathered Broome sandstone, Thunderbird is a zircon and ilmenite rich valuable heavy mineral deposit. Progressing from an exploration project to a substantial development project, a large high-grade maiden mineral resource of 1.37bt at 6.1% heavy mineral was declared for Thunderbird in December 2012. A scoping study was completed in 2014 and a pre-feasibility study and pre-feasibility study update was released in 2015, leading to the announcement of a maiden ore reserve of 683mt at 11.3% heavy mineral in January 2016. A bankable feasibility…

GEMCO operation in the Northern Territory.

Thiess secures $120m GEMCO contract

Global mining services provider Thiess has secured a three-year, $120m contract with GEMCO, a manganese operation on Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory. The contract, which has a potential two-year extension, includes a range of services critical to GEMCO’s manganese operation. Thiess will supply, operate and maintain the equipment for the pre-strip mining operations, as well as undertaking the design and construction of support infrastructure which includes workshops and related mobile maintenance facilities. Thiess executive chair and chief executive Michael Wright commented on the contract. “This award demonstrates Thiess’ commitment to delivering sustainable mining solutions for our clients, strongly supporting the further development of the local community,” he said. “For Thiess, the continued diversification into different commodities needed for the energy transition…

The WA Data Science Innovation Hub is a WA Government initiative, supported by Curtin University, aiming to ensure the State remains at the forefront of the digital revolution by increasing the uptake, education, training and awareness of data science in WA.

AI’s big impact on automation & exploration in Australian mining

While the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning has been relatively slow in being taken up by some sectors of the Australian mining industry, a leading local advocate for the technology believes it is about to be taken up in a significant way. WA Data Science Innovation Hub director Alex Jenkins says there is growing interest in the benefits AI can provide, particularly in providing automation and exploration solutions. “I think that we will see increasing uses of Artificial Intelligence driving automation within the mining industry, as we will see in other places,” Mr Jenkins told the Australian Mining Review. He said there are a number of economic drivers that will see mining companies continue to increase their…

(Image source: BCI Minerals) Jetty where SOP and salt is exported from.

The rapid growth of the Mardie salt and potash project

In April 2023, the Australian Mining Review spoke with BCI Minerals (ASX:BCI) managing director David Boshoff about the rapid growth and success of its Mardie salt and potash project on the West Pilbara coast in WA. This month, we will look at the progress undertaken since then and what other developments are in the pipeline for the company. Mardie Salt and Potash Project 100% owned by Mardie Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of BCI, the Mardie salt and potash project represents a rare and sustainable opportunity to develop a large-scale, multi-generational solar evaporation operation on the Pilbara coast. Mardie has all the critical characteristics for establishing a large-scale solar evaporation operation, including optimum climate conditions, a large area, minimal environmental…

MV Aburri at the Bing Bong Loading Facility, associated with the McArthur River zinc mine, Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory, Australia.

Upstream zinc-ing for energy transition

One of the world’s largest zinc mine is located in the Northern Territory at Glencore’s McArthur River Mine, about 700km southeast of Darwin. Along with zinc, the mine also produces lead and silver, both in concentrates. Zinc produced there is used in steel products, such as white goods, to preserve and extend the life of steel products, and also in renewable technologies like solar panels and wind turbines for steel and corrosion protection. McArthur River Mine was originally an underground mining operation, with the mine converting to open cut in 2006. In 2012, Glencore took full ownership of the mine and, in 2013, the Northern Territory Government approved a major expansion to double size and production. The expansion involves PBOX…

XH250 PR TOP DISCHARGE_2 SYKES

Introducing the Sykes XH250: Meeting the evolving dewatering needs of the mining and quarry industries

Sykes Group, a leading name in the realm of dewatering pump solutions, is excited to announce the launch of its latest innovation, the Sykes / Primax XH250. Developed with the distinct requirements of the mining and quarry industries in mind, the XH250 is set to revolutionise dewatering operations in these sectors. Mines and quarries are continually expanding, reaching greater depths and widths, demanding reliable dewatering solutions. The Sykes XH250 steps in to address this challenge by delivering higher heads and flow rates. This ensures consistent equipment access to all areas of mining and quarry sites. The XH250 complements Sykes’ existing range of Extra High Head pumps and boasts a remarkable head capability of 200 l/sec @ 220m or 250 l/sec…

Australia’s first electric excavator in operation at Cloudbreak.

Fortescue debuts Australia’s first electrical excavator at Cloudbreak

Australia’s first newly built electric excavator is now in operation at Fortescue’s (ASX:FMG) Cloudbreak mine in WA. Powered by a 6.6kV substation and more than 2km of high voltage trailing cable, this is the first of three R 9400 E electric excavators being delivered by Liebherr. Fortescue chief executive Dino Otranto says the commissioning of the excavator is a milestone for the company. “The commissioning of this fully electric excavator is a massive achievement by the team and is the first of its kind in Australia for the mining industry,” he said. “It’s a true demonstration of industry collaboration where we’ve been fortunate enough to work with industry experts who have been using trailing cable for decades, and then repurpose…

Green hydrogen factory.

PureGRAPH showcases potential in hydrogen production

Independent research has found graphene-enhanced electrocatalysts reduce the amount of power needed during hydrogen generation. The study by the Centre for Process Innovation UK (CPI) showed electrodes composed of First Graphene’s (ASX:FGR) metal-oxide doped graphene — PureGRAPH — resulted in a 43% reduction in overpotential, the energy required to drive the hydrogen generation reaction. The PureGRAPH-based electrodes showed overpotential values of 0.175V for graphene-manganese-oxide and 0.170V for graphene-ruthenium-manganese-oxide. Improvements to the process were also identified that can increase throughput by 64%, reduce raw material costs by 50% and broaden metal oxide options in the product. First Graphene managing director and chief executive Michael Bell says this is an exciting development for the company. “This is an exciting development for First…

(Image source: Alcoa.) Bauxite mining at Alcoa in WA's southwest region.

Alcoa welcomes decisions that support WA operations

Alcoa today welcomed decisions from the WA Government that will allow the company to continue bauxite mining and downstream alumina refining in the State, while also pledging to enhance the way it operates to meet evolving requirements and expectations. The WA Government has announced that it will approve Alcoa’s latest five-year mine plan – known as the 2023-2027 Mining and Management Program (MMP) – for its Huntly and Willowdale bauxite mines. In addition, the WA Government has granted an exemption that will allow Alcoa to continue its mining operations if the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) decides to undertake a separate environmental impact assessment on all or parts of the MMP. The EPA’s determination is expected by year end. Alcoa…

Mining trucks transporting ore.

Agrimin signs final Native Title Agreement for Mackay haul road

Agrimin (ASX:AMN) has signed the final Native Title Agreement with Tjurabalan Native Title Land Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (TNTLAC) for the Mackay potash project. This agreement allows the granting of requisite haul road licences within the Tjurabalan determination area. In August 2021, Agrimin and TNTLAC began formal negotiations to permit the construction and operation of Agrimin’s haul road, whilst preserving the traditional way of life of the Tjurabalan native title holders. These negotiations involved on-country meetings and heritage surveys, as well as input from environmental, economic and legal experts. The Native Title Agreement provides the necessary consents for a miscellaneous licence and ancillary licences to be granted by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety relating to the haul road…

Copper ore.

True North Copper gives green light to Cloncurry restart

True North Copper (ASX:TNC) has combined the Great Australia Mine Reserve (GAM) and the Wallace North Resource to create the Cloncurry copper project (CCP). This decision comes after recent positive exploration and development across both projects with the finalised CCP mine plans to be announced early 2024 following the completion of the updated GAM and the maiden Wallace North Reserve. Advanced grade control drilling at Wallace North included multiple high-grade gold and copper zones with up to 14.05% copper and 25.7g/t gold intersected. True North managing director Marty Costello commented on the mining restart. “Over the past six months, thanks to the tremendous efforts of our operational and technical teams, we have reached a point where the TNC board can…