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Ionic Rare Earths partners with Ford, LCM and BGS to create UK rare earth supply chain Ionic Rare Earths (ASX:IXR) has partnered with Ford Technologies, Less Common Metals (LCM) and British Geological Survey (BGS) to create a UK rare earth supply chain. Ionic Technologies International, Ionic’s UK-based subsidiary, will develop a UK supply chain for recycled magnet rare earths to magnets and will complete a feasibility study and supply chain analysis for a UK magnet recycling facility. The UK Government will support the partnership via a $1.95m (£1m) project with Ionic Technologies announced as the major beneficiary and lead collaborator. The UK Government is also supporting an...

NSW develops new critical minerals strategy The NSW Government has begun consultations as it develops a new critical minerals and high-tech metals strategy. This strategy is a crucial document that provides the framework for the critical minerals and high-tech metals mining industry. It will provide certainty and direction for the industry as it continues to grow and will include a sharper focus on domestic manufacturing, skills and training opportunities. Discussions on the new strategy will outline new opportunities to: Create more local jobs by encouraging domestic processing and manufacturing of products with significant critical minerals inputs. Develop skills and training opportunities to reinforce the state’s unique mix of deposits and...

BHP and Rio Tinto join forces for HEMS program BHP (ASX:BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) have joined forces to create the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) program. Initiated by BHP, the program offers rapid emergency medical response through the large, remote and frequently inaccessible Pilbara region. Provided by Heliwest, the twin-engine BK117 aircraft is staffed by two helicopter pilots and a senior BHP paramedic. It features night vision capabilities, a weather radar and is capable of flying under almost all-weather conditions. Currently, BHP has seven staff members trained and endorsed to operate on the aircraft. The aircraft is tasked with around 110 missions annually. BHP WA iron ore...

WA & Indonesia talk for renewable energy initiatives WA’s energy minister Bill Johnston has met with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia to talk renewable energy. Earlier in the week, Mr Johnston led a WA delegation to host talks around opportunities for cooperation and the challenges facing WA and Indonesia as the countries transition towards net zero, including energy distribution to remote communities and carbon capture and storage. Discussions focused on identifying new sources of energy and the actions required for the transition. Indonesia is the world’s largest exporter of coal, however, they have significant potential to generate renewable energy through geothermal, hydropower, solar and...

WesTrac celebrates 100th wheel loader to MGM Bulk Leading Caterpillar® dealer WesTrac has delivered its 100th Cat® Next Generation Medium Wheel Loader, released only 18 months ago, to WA bulk haulage company MGM Bulk. MGM Bulk’s fleet includes 152 prime movers, about 500 pieces of trailering equipment, 25 wheel loaders and a wide range of ancillary equipment, with Cat products making up about 90% of MGM’s machinery fleet. MGM Bulk fleet manager Allan Thomas says the full spectrum of Cat wheel loaders are a key part of MGM’s operations from the Pilbara to the South West in WA, helping meet ever evolving productivity targets. “Over the years...

Sandvik partners with MACA to supply new surface drill rigs Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has been selected by mining, civil and materials processing contracting group MACA to supply nine new surface drill rigs. These rigs will completely replace an aging mixed fleet at the Gruyere open pit gold mine in WA’s Goldfields, where MACA was recently awarded a five-year contract extension. MACA has provided various services at Gruyere, a joint venture between Gold Fields and Gold Road Resources, since the contractor initiated bulk earthworks in 2017. Gruyere is expected to produce an annual 350,000oz of gold per year with a current mine life until at least 2032. The order includes...

Woodside-KEPCO collab on carbon capture and storage Woodside has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) to enable studies of a potential carbon, capture and storage (CCS) value chain between Japan and Australia. Under the MOU, KEPCO plans to research the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from its thermal power plants and its transport to Australia. Woodside is progressing CCS projects in Australia and will conduct the study of injection and storage of CO2 delivered from Japan as well as the...

Perenti awarded $360m Motheo expansion works contract African Mining Services (AMS), Perenti’s (ASX:PRN) surface mining business in Africa, has been awarded a $360m contract for open pit mining services at Sandfire Resources’ (ASX:SFR) Motheo copper mine. Under the 74-month contract (just over six years) AMS will deliver all surface mining services associated with development and production activities at the A4 open pit. The A4 open pit lies roughly 8km west of the T3 open pit where AMS has progressed from development into production works. Perenti expects A4 pre-production and development work to begin at A4 in September 2023 with pre-strip mining to commence in October 2023. Both the T3 and...

Analysis confirms suitable flake size for lithium-ion batteries Initial petrographic analysis has indicated graphite from Kingsland Minerals’ (ASX:KNG) Leliyn graphite project is attractive and potentially suitable for use in lithium-ion batteries. The graphite flakes underwent a micronising process before being further processed into spherical graphite. Flake sizes of less than 150 microns are preferred as larger flakes require greater size reduction which incurs a higher cost. At this stage, Leliyn looks to have flake sizes that are well favourable for battery anode material. Samples were collected at seven to eight-metre intervals down the core holes for petrographic analysis. This involves making a thin section of the core, allowing light to pass through the rock....

Australian Rare Earths expands landholding in Queensland Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3) has significantly increased its landholding in the Kennedy Province in North Queensland. Applications have been lodged for another 800km2 of exploration tenure which hosts the Forty Mile Scrub, Sandy Tate and Oaky Valley prospects. An emerging new clay-hosted rare earth mineral province, the Kennedy Province is host to intrusive and extrusive, predominantly felsic magmatism. Through airborne geophysics surveys, the Forty Mile Scrub, Sandy Tate and Oaky Valley prospects have identified areas displaying weathering profiles over the prospective geology of the extrusive and intrusive rocks of the kennedy igneous association. The kennedy igneous association comprises the most widespread...