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Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has released detailed information on 14 of its global tailings facilities and their progress towards conformance with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). These tailings facilities are those rated very high or extreme under GISTM classifications, based on the highest potential consequences in the extremely unlikely event of a failure. Rio Tinto chief technology officer Mark Davies commented on the release of information. “Since the tragic failure of the tailings facility at Brumadinho in Brazil in 2019, the entire industry has been working to improve the way we manage tailings facilities,” he said. “Responsible tailings management is critical to ensure the safety of our people and communities and to protect the environment. We have made…

Toll milling and processing of the first parcel of gold ore from Auric Mining’s (ASX:AWJ) Jeffreys Find gold mine is expected to be completed on August 7. The initial parcel of 36,000t of ore is being processed at the Greenfields Mill at Coolgardie. All gold doré from the first milling campaign will soon be at the Perth Mint where final refining will be undertaken. The number of ounces of gold from the maiden milling campaign will be known shortly and released to the market. Managing director Mark English is pleased with the process made. “We are highly satisfied to have put more tonnes through the mill than we anticipated; the first parcel was approximately 36,000t,” he said. “The project is…

AquaBlue Seafoods is one of Australia’s most modern and technically advanced aquaculture operations on the east coast, created by Neil Meyrick and Terry Brissett to bring dams, ponds and lakes back to life. Now expanding into end-of-life mine cycles, the Australian Mining Review spoke with Neil about the history behind the company and how stocking former minesite dams is environmentally friendly. AMR: Can you share the story behind how AquaBlue Seafoods started? NM: I was working in Sydney at the time and a friend of mine, Terry Brissett, mentioned that he’d like to grow fish. It struck a chord with me as something beneficial for the environment and ease the pressure on our natural resources. Restocking was mentioned in our…

Newmont Corporation has received clearance from Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Independent Consumer & Competition Commission (ICCC) to proceed with the proposed acquisition of Newcrest Mining (ASX:NCM). In consultation with Newcrest, Newmont has also determined that no premerger notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act will be required in the United States for the transaction to move forward. Newmont president and chief executive Tom Palmer commented on the ICCC outcome. “We appreciate the ICCC in Papua New Guinea carefully reviewing and clearing our proposed acquisition of Newcrest,” he said. “We remain committed to building strong, mutually beneficial and long lasting relationships with PNG’s government and local communities. “As part of this commitment, Newmont plans to establish PNG as a standalone fifth region in…

ASM Korea Co, a subsidiary of Australian Strategic Materials (ASX:ASM), has signed a five-year binding sales and tolling framework agreement with USA Rare Earth for the supply of neodymium iron boron alloy. The agreement enhances ASM’s growing customer portfolio and strengthens its strategic supply relationships with the US magnet production industry, via its Korean Metals Plant. The Korean Metals Plant will supply neodymium iron boron alloy to support USA Rare Earth’s production ramp-up of high-performance rare earth magnets. USA Rare Earth is poised to become the leading domestic supplier of rare earth magnets and heavy rare earth elements required for the electric vehicle, green energy, consumer electronics and defence industries. It owns a magnet production facility in Stillwater, Oklahoma and…

Toyota Australia and BHP have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at enhancing safety and decarbonisation measures within BHP’s Australian operations. The two industry-leading brands will work together across safety, engineering and product development teams, focusing on safety in light vehicles design and future state technologies and challenges. Toyota Australia president and chief executive Matthew Callachor welcomes the collaboration. “BHP is a key player in Australia’s export industry, and Toyota Australia is delighted to announce this collaboration which is designed to enhance safety measures at BHP’s Australian worksites and reduce vehicle operation and other CO2 emissions on BHP sites,” he said. Through this MOU, BHP will gain access to the knowledge and resources of Toyota’s expert engineering teams across…

EQ Resources (ASX:EQR) has achieved a new monthly concentrate production record at its Mt Carbine tungsten mine in Far North Queensland. Mt Carbine produced 110t of 50% tungsten concentrate, nearly twice the June monthly production, driven by processing of first primary ore from the Andy white open pit. EQ Resources is pleased that the head-grade of the initial open pit production and grade control drilling met expectations announced in mid-July in the ‘Confirmation of Initial Ore Reserve Section at Mt Carbine’ release. Understanding the mining of the ore body with successive blasts is leading to increased efficiency and handling through the four-stage treatment process which incorporates crushing, screening, gravity treatment and high tech XRT ore sorting. EQ Resources chief executive…

Bravus’ renewables powerhouse Rugby Run continues to be among Australia’s top performing solar farms, as the facility approaches its fourth year of operations. The central Queensland renewables project once again achieved a podium finish as the third-highest performing photovoltaic asset in the country in June. Rugby Run is located near Moranbah in central Queensland and features 247,000 solar panels that generate 185,000MWh of power each year. Bravus business manager for renewables Derek Chapman says the company is proud of the latest solid performance from Bravus’ flagship solar investment in Australia. “Rugby Run is located in one of the best sites in eastern Australia for solar generation,” he said. “Achieving this level of consistency of output highlights what a great generation…

Lithium producer Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) and environmental technology company Calix (ASX:CXL) have made a final investment decision to construct and operate a mid-stream demonstration plant at the Pilgangoora project.   The project aims to demonstrate the potential to reduce carbon emissions intensity for the hard-rock lithium supply chain via the creation of a high-purity lithium-rich chemical salt using electric calcination that could be powered by renewable energy. Life cycle assessment studies commissioned by Pilbara Minerals have calculated that when using 100% renewable electricity for electric calcination, the carbon emissions intensity of spodumene calcination can be reduced by more than 90% when compared to using coal. Potential reductions in carbon emissions are also anticipated from producing a mid-stream product by avoiding…

New data shows the number of apprentices and trainees in the Australian mining industry increased 19% in 2022, according to the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). The figures, released yesterday, confirmed 7,689 apprentices and trainees joined the mining workforce in 2022, which included a 14% increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and a 26% jump for women compared to 2021. Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Tania Constable says apprenticeships and traineeships are an important pathway into the minerals industry, with high demand for qualified tradespeople in highly paid and secure jobs. “The mining industry has for decades invested in collaborative partnerships such as developing tailored work readiness, apprenticeship and traineeship, cadetship and recruitment pathways,” she…

Australian Rare Earths (ASX:AR3) has submitted applications for four exploration licences which are believed to host an extension of key geological setting at its Koppamurra rare earths project. If granted, the exploration licences will increase prospective tenure south of Koppamurra by 2700km2 to more than 6700km2. Based on a review of historic drilling and the shallow nature of the mapped Gambier limestone in the region, these application areas are considered an extension of the Koppamurra rare earth mineral province. The Gambier limestone is thought to play a critical role in the mineralisation process at Koppamurra and is deemed highly prospective for additional Koppamurra-style mineralisation. Australian Rare Earths chief executive Travis Beinke said the granting of further tenure supports the company’s…