Author: Chloe Coutinho

Groundbreaking agreement between BMA and Barada Barna people BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) has entered into a native title project agreement with the Barada Barna Aboriginal Corporation (BBAC) for the company’s Bowen Basin, Queensland, operations, including the Broadmeadow, Caval Ridge, Goonyella Riverside Peak Downs and Saraji mines. This is the second native title project agreement BBAC and BHP have negotiated together in Queensland and a first between BMA and BBAC. Under the agreement, BMA will provide financial benefits...

Image accelerates Atlas mineral sands project Image Resources (ASX: IMA) is accelerating construction of its Atlas mineral sands project in WA following receipt of final permitting milestones. This represents the finalisation of Image’s Ground Water Operating Strategy (“GOS”) and the receipt of 5C water licenses for water abstraction and mine dewatering at Atlas. Project construction and full-scale operations including achievement of first HMC production in Q1 2025 can now advance. Initial roadwork and civil construction were facilitated by a temporary 5C water abstraction license. Now civil and infrastructure construction and mine development will accelerate rapidly, clearing the path for...

Major acquisition drives strong results for Alcoa Alcoa Corporation (ASX: AAI) reported results for the Q3 CY24 that reflect the acquisition of Alumina and resulting increases in net income, adjusted net income and Adjusted EBITDA. Net income increased to $134m (US$90m), while adjusted net income increased sequentially to $201m (US$135m). Adjusted EBITDA increased to $680m (US$455m). Alumina production decreased 4% to 2.44mmt primarily due to the full curtailment of the Kwinana, WA, refinery completed in June 2024. In the Aluminium segment, production...

Team MinRes rides 200km for cancer research Mineral Resources (MinRes) was proud to once again support the annual Cancer 200 Ride for the Perkins, helping to raise much needed funds for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. Almost 2,000 riders took part in this year's two-day event — including 87 MinRes riders — completing the 200km round trip from Perth to Mandurah and back on October 12 and 13. The community-focused Cancer 200...

BHP: copper and iron ore up in Q1 BHP copper and iron ore production have seen increases, driven by operational improvements at Escondida copper in Chile and WA iron ore (WAIO), according to the company’s Q1 operational review. The company reports it is on track to meet FY25 production guidance thanks to strong operational performance. BHP chief executive Mike Henry says BHP is seeing a strong start to the 2025 financial year, with production up across all major commodities for the quarter. “Copper production was up 4% due to higher grade and recoveries at Escondida and WAIO production...

Decmil secures $123m road upgrade contract for WA lithium project Macmahon holdings (ASX: MAH) subsidiary, Decmil, has been awarded a $123m road upgrade contract for Covalent Lithium’s Mount Holland lithium project in WA. The scope of works includes upgrading the logistics link between the Great Eastern Highway and Covalent’s Mount Holland site, with approximately 113km of road upgrades to take place. Decmil commenced work on the project in August 2023 following receipt of a limited notice of award (LNoA) in July 2023. Approximately $59m of works had already been completed during FY24. Work under the full contract award is expected to directly...

UAJV: transforming outdated PPE into sustainable solutions UAJV is tackling the challenge of managing outdated and non-compliant personal protective equipment (PPE) as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability. Rather than contributing to landfill waste, the team has taken the opportunity to make a positive impact by partnering with Loop Upcycling to upcycle functional garments that no longer meet clients’ minimum specifications. With Loop's expertise, UAJV upcycled 199 shirts and coveralls into 90 padded laptop sleeves, complete with long and short handles and 100 durable duffle bags. The process was managed to ensure zero waste, with even...

Muckanippie kicks off titanium drilling Petratherm (PTR) (ASX: PTR) has commenced drilling at its Muckanippie titanium project in South Australia. The 4,000m drill program will assess at a regional scale the Rosewood and Claypan Prospect titanium rich heavy mineral sands (HMS) mineralisation. Drilling is also planned over high titanium-vanadium bearing source rock horizons for primary vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) style mineralisation. PTR Chief executive Peter Redi says the company is extremely pleased to have drilling now underway. “The critical minerals, titanium and vanadium, have been identified over large areas and in a variety of target forms which is testament to the fertility of the Muckanippie area,” he said. “This...

Federal Government backs rare earths The Federal Government is putting Dubbo, NSW at the heart of its plans to grow Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths industry by providing further support for miner Australian Strategic Materials Limited (ASM) (ASX: ASM). The Dubbo project will produce critical minerals such as zirconium, niobium and hafnium as well as several rare earth elements. Rare earths are critical to the energy and defence industries...

Alcoa: rubber hits the road on tyre recycling Old tyres are being given a new life thanks to an innovative recycling project involving Alcoa Australia and Tyrecycle’s newly established East Rockingham, WA, facility. The “off-the-road” (OTR) haul truck tyres that have reached the end of their operational life are being sent from Alcoa’s bauxite mines in the Peel and South West regions to the local Tyrecycle facility where they are processed to create a crumbed rubber product. The resulting product can be used for a...

Gold booming for Rumble Resources Rumble Resources (ASX: RTR) has announced a 76% increase to its mineral resources estimate (MRE) for the Western Queen gold project. The project now boasts an upgraded MRE of 4.42mt at 2.02g/t of gold for 286,600oz with indicated resources of 2.39mt at 2.11g/t of gold for 163,800oz, a 142% increase compared to the August 2021 MRE. Diamond drilling completed in June 2024 prompted a comprehensive lithostructural review and reinterpretation of the Western Queen gold project, which led to the remodelling of the MRE. Rumble managing director and chief executive Peter Harold says the company...