Author: Samantha Bawden

Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) is engaging and empowering Indigenous communities with its Onslow iron project. The project, located in WA’s Pilbara region, holds Traditional Owner-led businesses at its heart. MinRes has attributed the success of the project, following the increase of production to 35mt annually, to the support of deep partnerships with local Indigenous suppliers. These partnerships not only provide the project with critical services but shape its legacy through job-creation, long-term capability-building and economic empowerment. MinRes is setting the standard for the resource sector to encourage generational change in Indigenous communities by integrating Indigenous-owned enterprises across its supply chain. The company’s intentional and strategic approach to fostering these partnerships ensures that these relationships are so much more than just…

BCI Minerals (ASX: BCI) announced that it has transitioned to full-scale operations at its Mardie salt and potash project. This now marks the Pilbara as the home of the world’s third-largest salt project. This follows approval from the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on the projects updated Groundwater Monitoring and Management Plan (GMMP). The project, located 80km south-west of Karratha in WA, is the first salt operation Australia has seen in nearly three decades and has an expected operation life of 60 years. The Mardie project is anticipated to produce more than 5.35mt of industrial salt annually, making it the largest salt project Australia has ever seen. It is projected to contribute nearly $5b to…

Fortescue (ASX: FMG) has confirmed it has signed a $350m major contract with mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc to acquire more than 50 electric drills. This decision is part of Fortescue’s progress towards operating at net-zero emissions. The company has committed to purchasing a fleet consisting of both autonomous electric platform drills and autonomous electric contour drills. The fleet is anticipated to be operational by 2030, aligning with Fortescue’s goal of replacing ageing diesel-powered equipment. The autonomous electric fleet will be operated from Fortescue’s Integrated Operations Centre in Perth, WA and is expected to cut diesel consumption annually by more than 35ML. Fortescue Metals chief executive Dino Otranto says that the company is thrilled to be collaborating with Epiroc to integrate…

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has discovered one of the largest gem-quality yellow diamonds to ever be found. Weighing in at 158.20 carats, this rough diamond was found at its Diavik diamond mine located in the remote Northwest Territories of Canada. This is one of five diamonds weighing in over at 100 carats to ever be found at Diavik in its two decades of operation. Diamond production at Diavik is primarily white gem quality diamonds, with less than a percent of its production yielding yellow diamonds. Diavik diamond mine chief operating officer Matt Breen says that the two-billion-year-old natural Canadian diamond is a miracle of nature. “It is a testament to the skill and fortitude of all the men and women…

In February of this year, Leibherr-Australia, on behalf of Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST), commissioned five PR 776 dozers. These five dozers are the first of thirteen brand-new Liebherr machines to be acquired by Northern Star at their notorious Super Pit gold mine located near Kalgoorlie, WA. Liebherr-Australia will also supply two more PR 776 dozers, five R 9150 excavators and an R 9400 excavator to the company. This commissioning of these machines grows the number of existing Lieberr machines in Northern Star’s current fleet to seventeen. Northern Star began acquiring Liebherr machines in 2022, the first machine being an R 9400 excavator. Liebherr-Australia’s operations manager for WA Daniel Law-Davis says that to accommodate for the company’s growing presence in…

Gold Road Resources (ASX: GOR) has announced its support of Northern Star Resources (ASX: NST) acquisition of De Grey Mining (ASX: DEG). Gold Road has advised that it has the intention to vote all the De Grey shares it holds in favour of the scheme. Gold Road holds approximately 17.26% of De Grey shares, which are valued at over $1b, making it the company’s largest shareholder. Northern Star is Australia’s largest listed gold miner, valued at almost $25b, and will know if its bid has been successful following a De Grey shareholder meeting on April 16th. The target of this acquisition and De Grey’s most lustrous asset is the Hemi gold project in the Pilbara region of WA. Hemi is…

Cobalt Blue (ASX: COB) has signed a binding pre-final investment decision consortium deed with Iwatani Australia to develop Australia’s first cobalt refinery located in Kwinana, WA. The deed outlined terms in which both companies will advance the refinery towards a final investment decision (FID). Conditions of the agreement include: Samples produced by Cobalt Blue meeting customer specifications Finalising a suite of Project related agreements covering joint venture relationships and operational plans, feedstock supply and offtake, and intellectual property licensing Completion of technical studies and independent due diligence reviews Agreement on a financing plan to cover project funding Iwatani Australia obtaining Foreign Investment Review Board approval If a positive FID is made between the companies, targeted for December 2025, the Kwinana…

Mineral Resources (MinRes) (ASX: MIN) has had a successful first blast at the Cardo Bore East deposit located in the in the West Pilbara region, WA. The deposit is located 12km south of a larger deposit within the Onslow Iron project, the Ken’s Bore mine site. Cardo Bore East will support the project’s anticipated production increase of up to 35 million tonnes per annum. Following a successful first blast and targeted drilling program, an increase in works to prepare the site for further mining and haulage activity has commenced. Cardo Bore East is projected to deliver another high-grade iron ore producing deposit. CSI Mining Services is currently constructing a private haul road to connect the deposit to the Ken’s Bore…

AusQuest (ASX: AQD) has announced the commencement of its drilling program at the Balladonia project located in the Fraser region of WA. The program targets a range of metals including copper, lead, zinc and silver. The drilling program is expected to take six weeks to complete. Initial assays are expected from late May to early June this year. AusQuest’s managing director Graeme Drew says the company is very pleased to be drilling again at Balladonia now that they have successfully defined some promising large-scale base metal targets. “Geological comparisons that have been made with productive base metal regions like Northwest Queensland and Broken Hill will be tested by this upcoming drill program, which could provide an exciting new development for…

BHP (ASX: BHP) has announced the 2025 beneficiaries of its largest ever Telethon donation, including a significant boost to the East Pilbara-based Upstream health project. The project, run by Puntukurnu Aboriginal Media Services (PAMS), aims to provide permanent and culturally appropriate child and maternal health care services throughout the region. PAMS is already having life changing effects on the local community. Jennifer Landi, Martu woman and single mother of five, praises the programs aid over multiple aspects of her life. “Raising a child on your own is already difficult, but caring for multiple children is incredibly overwhelming. “I’ve been doing this on my own, and without PAMS clinical services and the Upstream Program, I don’t know where we would be…