Author: Samantha Bawden

Sandvik accelerates mining’s digital future Sandvik has launched DataDrive’31, a major new technology program aimed at advancing digitalisation through data-driven innovation across the mining industry. DataDrive’31 focuses on developing new data-driven technologies and solutions that enhance productivity and safety and sustainability across the entire mining value chain. The program aims to enable new services and products through data utilisation and commercialisation, integrate data-driven technologies into equipment, operations and aftermarket services to deliver end-to-end digital solutions and build predictive and prescriptive operating environments to support smarter, safer and more sustainable mining. The six-year program has a total budget of $144m...

UNSW exploring green metals manufacturing methods The University of NSW SCoPE Lab for Green Metals is leading research to develop scalable low-cost and low-emission ironmaking technologies with a blast furnace innovations project. The manufacturing of iron and steel, materials essential to build almost all infrastructure in modern society, accounts for about one-tenth of global carbon dioxide emissions — more than any other industrial sector. As global populations grow and urbanisation accelerates, the demand for steel and iron shows no sign of slowing, making the need for greener production of these metals crucial. Project lead Professor Yansong Shen...

Tivan gets go ahead at Sandover Tivan (ASX: TVN) has secured regulatory approval from the Northern Territory Lands, Planning and Environment Department to commence its maiden drilling campaign at the Sandover fluorite project. The program will test high-grade fluorite veins identified through two recently completed surface sampling and mapping programs, which returned assays measuring up to 94% calcium fluorite and identified multiple priority vein targets for drilling. The approval follows the signing of a mineral exploration deed for the project, located 230km north-east of Alice Springs, with the Central Land Council, providing the...

The Jameson Cell’s ongoing impact on flotation advancement Glencore’s Jameson Cell, one of the most effective, flexible and high performing flotation technologies in the world, remains at the forefront of froth flotation innovation. The Jameson Cell was developed in 1985 when Mount Isa Mines asked Professor Graeme Jameson to improve flotation performance in their zinc circuit. His breakthrough — the downcomer — showed that effective particle recovery occurred in an intense mixing zone, leading to the creation of a compact, high-efficiency flotation cell. Over the next 40 years, the Jameson Cell underwent continuous...

WA to cut green tape with environmental law overhaul The Federal and WA Government are negotiating a new bilateral agreement to eliminate duplication in environmental approvals that, if adopted nation-wide, could save Australia $7b according to Federal Government figures. This week, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt met with WA Premier Roger Cook to discuss reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. These changes will streamline processes by negating the need for Federal assessment of projects already under review by the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Minister Watt says he is confident that the governments can both deliver...

Australian miner boards US critical minerals bandwagon Pinnacle Minerals (ASX: PIM) is expanding its global footprint in the technology and defence sectors with the acquisition of eight critical minerals projects in the US. This acquisition marks the company’s entry into the US critical mineral landscape with the aims of positioning the company to benefit from emerging government policy in both the US and Australia. It follows recent developments in international critical minerals policy, including China’s further tightening of export controls on critical minerals on October 9 and the Federal Government’s advancement...

Fortescue axes hundreds of green jobs in UK and Australia Fortescue (ASX: FMG) is dropping plans to manufacture electric motors in-house and moving work offshore to China in a shift that will cost hundreds of workers in the UK and WA their jobs. The UK-based Fortescue Zero division was set to manufacture powertrains for about 400 electric mining trucks for the company’s extensive iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of WA. The company will instead be making the majority of components for the vehicles offshore in China where costs are lower...

Rio boosts Pilbara shipments, loads first ore at Simandou Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has recorded strong results for Q3 CY25, backed by rebounding iron ore prices and advancing operations at the Simandou iron ore project in Guinea. The company shipped 84.3mt of iron ore from its WA operations during Q3 CY25, narrowly missing the estimated guidance of 85.5mt. Rio’s $6.2b Simandou project reached a major milestone with the loading of first ore on the newly commissioned mine-to-rail-to-port system. First shipments are expected in November, with a ramp-up to the site's full capacity of 60mtpa expected over the next 30 months. Rio Tinto chief executive Simon...

Hancock Prospecting invests in Araxá rare earths project St George Mining (ASX: SGQ) has secured $72.5m in funding for its rare earths-niobium Araxá project in Brazil.  The placement involved the issue of 725 million new ordinary shares and attracted major interest from prominent investors, including Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting. Hancock acquired 225 million shares — representing about 31% of the placement value.  St George initially targeted a smaller placement, but upsized due to overwhelming interest from investors in Europe, the US and Australia.  The Araxá project’s mineral resource estimate (MRE) includes six of the top 10 minerals on the...

Finniss lithium reserves get 42% boost Core Lithium (ASX: CXO) has revised the ore reserve at its Finniss lithium mine in the Northern Territory to 15.2mt at 1.26% lithium oxide. Operations at the project were previously suspended in 2024 due to the global lithium price slump caused by oversupply of the mineral. The project is now advancing towards a low-cost underground operation with a 20 year mine life, supported by the findings of a restart study. There have been firm commitments for a $50m (before costs) placement and an additional $4.3m raised through a share purchase plan (SPP) to accelerate the Finniss development....

Australia taps antimony miners ahead of Albanese-Trump meeting Resolution Minerals (ASX: RML) and Nova Minerals (ASX: NVA) are amongst the miners requested to brief Australian Ambassador to the US Dr Kevin Rudd ahead of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meeting with US President Donald Trump. The meeting between Prime Minister Albanese and President Trump is scheduled to take place in Washington DC on October 20 with critical minerals and strategic cooperation set to be key points of discussion. The Ambassador has requested Resolution to provide an update on its Horse Heaven gold-antimony-tungsten project...