Author: Samantha Bawden

MinRes introduces reusable crib kits Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has eliminated thousands of single-use meal containers from its operations by rolling out more than 5,000 reusable crib kits to its workforce.  In line with the WA Government’s Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy 2030, the initiative aims to change habits around crib meals — packed meals prepared by FIFO workers before the start of their shift.  By introducing reusable crib kits, MinRes is addressing the problem of disposable containers, which generate significant amount of waste, at its source.    Based on employee feedback, MinRes developed an eight-piece reusable kit designed for both practicality and durability. To ensure effective uptake, supporting infrastructure was installed across sites to enable the hygienic washing...

Colours of our Country celebrates 20 years  The Colours of our Country exhibition, exhibited by Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) to showcases the work of Aboriginal artists from across the Pilbara, returns to Perth on September 15-26.  This year’s exhibition features 124 artworks by 43 artists, with each piece reflecting a deep connection to country, culture and community.   The Perth exhibition comes after Colours of our Country reached new audiences after it travelled to London for the first time in July and was showcased...

Anglo American merges with Teck Resources Anglo American and Teck Resources have entered an agreement to join forces in a proposed merger of equals to form a new company — Anglo-Teck. Anglo Teck is set to become one of the top five copper producers in the world, with combined production from its mines in Chile, Peru and Canada to be about 1.2mt, predicted to reach 1.35mt by 2027. By bringing together the strengths of both companies, Anglo Teck will leverage proven capabilities in technical and operational excellence, sustainability, product marketing and project execution to deliver value-accretive growth....

BHP pays $110m to settle Samarco class action BHP (ASX: BHP) has reached an agreement to settle the Australian Samarco shareholder class action filed to the Federal Court in 2018. The class action was launched on behalf of shareholders who acquired BHP shares prior to the 2015 Fundão tailings dam collapse. The dam collapse at the Samarco iron ore project in Brazil killed 19 people and lead to more than $30b worth of damages. The communities of Bento Rodrigues, Paracatu de Baixo and Gesteira were flooded when mine waste from the dam entered the Doce River. Other communities and...

Contractor fined $540,000 after fatal rock fall An underground mining contractor has been fined for a rock fall incident that resulted in the death of an employee at Hamlet underground gold mine in WA in October 2022. The contractor, RUC Mining Contractors, pled guilty to two counts of the same offence — exposing a worker to a risk of death, injury or harm to health, contrary to sections 19(1) and 32(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 — which resulted in the death of a driller and the injury of a probationary offsider. This offence does not indicate that the breach caused the...

UQ researchers identify methane ‘super-emitter' Researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) have found a coal borehole is releasing the same amount of greenhouse gases as 10,000 cars.  The researchers used advanced gas detection technology to determine 235t of methane were released per year from the abandoned borehole at a farm in the Surat Basin revealing a potentially underreported source of methane in the atmosphere.  With an estimated 130,000 similar boreholes across Queensland, where the quality of sealing by coal explorers is unknown, sealing high-emitting sites could offer a cost-effective way to reduce emissions.  [caption...

Wind turbines begin 1,000km journey to St Ives Seven wind turbines destined for Gold Fields’ landmark $296m St Ives renewable energy project have been unloaded at Geraldton Port in WA. The cargo includes 80m long turbine blades — weighing more than 24t each and reaching a combined length of 1.7km if laid out end-to-end — and is now ready for transportation by road to the St Ives gold mine near Kambalda. Gold Fields principal specialist and project director Simon Schmid says arrival of the wind turbine components marked a major milestone for the project...

Next-generation miners tested in old-school methods Engineering and geology students will dig, pan and muck their way across Langley Park in Perth, WA, this weekend in the 2025 AusIMM Asia Pacific Mining Games Competition. This year’s games, formerly known as the National Mining Games Competition, will be the biggest in the event’s history, with 34 teams from 14 student chapters of AusIMM competing in a series of challenges based on old-school techniques. The games will also go public for the first time, with the event held on Perth’s doorstep to...

Youanmi gold project advances Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) has made significant progress at its Youanmi gold project in WA with the completion of dewatering at the United North pit ahead of schedule. After obtaining major environmental approvals, the company is advancing its definitive feasibility study (DFS), evaluating mining works tenders and preparing for the commencement of underground mining. With pumping at United North finishing early, preparation works for the exploration decline are expected to commence in Q4 CY25. Rox Resources managing director Phill Wilding says seeing the initial plant layout following metallurgical results and confirming the company...

Aquila mine named innovation award finalist A breakthrough underground excavation guard at Anglo American’s Aquila coal mine has been named a finalist at the 2025 Prospect Awards. The new system — dubbed The Armadillo for its unique shield design and first-of-its-kind industry adaptability in Bowen Basin coal mines — has been recognised in the Innovative Mining Solution category for its use on the site near Middlemount, Queensland. Developed in partnership...

Queensland company wins Australia’s top safety innovation award INTELICS, a Queensland-based software company, has won the Safety Innovation Award at the Queensland Mining Industry Health & Safety Conference (QMIHSC) 2025. The award recognises its Contractor Management Platform (CMP), which is already transforming safety and contractor management across some of the country’s largest mining operations, as a game-changer for mining safety. CMP enables mining companies to gain real-time visibility of contractor competency, equipment compliance and proactive risk oversight — areas traditionally seen as high-risk in the resources sector — helping operations shift from reactive to proactive...