Author: Samantha Bawden

Macmahon wins $172m underground contract Macmahon (ASX: MAH) has announced that it has been awarded an underground mining services contract at the Deflector underground gold-copper mine in the southern Murchison region of WA. The contract includes all underground and mine development and production services and all other associated works. The two-year contract commences on May 1 this year, with possible extension, and is expected to add $105m to Macmahon’s secured orderbook. Macmahon managing director and chief executive Michael Finnegan commented that the company is pleased to have been awarded the contract. “Macmahon values our relationship and are excited to continue building on this,” he...

Alkane goes global: diversifying gold and antimony production Perth based Alkane Resources (ASX: ALK) are set to acquire Canada based Mandalay Resources in a proposed “merger of equals” to create a diversified gold and antimony producer. The acquisition proposes that Alkane is to buy all issued and outstanding shares of Mandalay under a court-approved plan of arrangement in an all-share transaction. Mandalay shareholders will receive 7.875 Alkane common shares per each Mandalay common share held. The merged entity will operate under the name Alkane Resources and following the transaction, Mandalay shareholders will own 55% of the merged company and...

Delta Lithium expands to Mortimer Hills Delta Lithium (ASX: DLI) is expanding its Yinnetharra lithium and tantalum project as it acquires Mortimer Hills from Zeus Resources (ASX: ZEU). The strategic acquisition of Mortimer Hills, located in the Gascoyne region of WA, comprises of one granted exploration licence located 5km southeast of southeast along strike from Malinda. The tenure gives Delta access to another 4km of strike along the Leake Springs metasediment unit that hosts both the Malinda and Jameson resources that boast a combined 21.9Mt of lithium. Delta managing director James Croser said that the acquisition of Mortimer Hills is a strategic...

Honeywell to boost production and efficiency at Eneabba Honeywell has announced its integrated controls and safety system (ICSS) will be designed and implemented at Iluka Resources’ (ASX: ILU) Eneabba refinery to create a safer environment for workers and boost efficiency. Located in WA, the $1.8b refinery will be Australia’s first fully integrated rare earth refinery and will produce rare earth oxides essential to defence systems, electric and hybrid vehicles, robotics, sustainable energy technologies and consumer, industrial and agriculture applications. The site will benefit from the use of...

Sandvik wins its largest ever BEV fleet order South32 (ASX: S32) has ordered 22 battery-electric vehicles from Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions as part of a 42 strong underground equipment fleet. The fleet will be delivered to South32’s greenfield Hermosa critical minerals project in the US. Sandvik’s president Mats Eriksson said that the company is proud to contribute to an increased supply of critical minerals and support the continued electrification and decarbonisation of the resource sector. “Lower fuel expenses and maintenance costs coupled with longer equipment lifespan will enable a more efficient, economical and sustainable operation at Hermosa,” he said. South32’s Hermosa site, located in...

Westgold to massively increase production at Higginsville Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) has announced plans to expand its existing 1.6Mtpa Higginsville processing plant to 2.6Mtpa. The Higginsville expansion plan (HXP) would increase the steady state gold production at the site, located in WA, from 87,000 ounces per annum to between 122,000 and 160,000 ounces per annum. Westgold’s chief executive and managing director Wayne Bramwell said that the company’s strategy is to drive its cost base lower and increase free cash generation and improving outputs. “An expanded, lower cost 2.6Mtpa Higginsville mill will also enable greater resource development opportunities across the Southern Goldfields...

Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve: Australia’s move to independence The Australian Government has pledged an initial investment of $1.2b to create a strategic reserve of critical minerals for Australia. The move follows China placing export restrictions on several critical minerals in response to the US imposed tariffs on Chinese goods. China currently dominates the global critical mineral supply chain being the top producer of 30 of the 50 minerals considered critical. Australia has major deposits of various critical minerals and rare earths, however, almost the entirety of the processing of...

WA Government funds to unlock new exploration opportunities The WA Government has announced that it is allocating $11.2m in funding to the successful applicants of its 31st round of the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). The EIS aims to encourage exploration for the long-term sustainability of the resource sector by helping overcome the financial barriers that early-stage projects often face. The latest round of funding will support 77 projects across WA, 49 projects of which will receive a total of $7.8m to support drilling programs. There are also 25 geophysics ventures that will receive $3.2m and three energy analysis program (EAP)...

Apollo Hill delivers lustrous drilling results Saturn Metals (ASX: STN) have announced notable drilling results from its flagship Apollo Hill gold project that indicates significant potential for future growth. The announcement includes results from 41 drill-holes and 8,816m of assays from drilling completed at the site. Highlights of the results include: 41m at 1.92g/t gold from 248m including 10m at 4.12g/t gold from 268m 21m at 1.79g/t gold from 116m including 8m at 4.05g/t gold from 123m These results will contribute towards a second mineral resource estimate (MRE) upgrade, a maiden ore reserve and a pre-feasibility study later this year....

Cosmo Metals expanding operations in NSW Cosmo Metals (ASX: CMO) has announced that it has acquired the highly prospective Bingarra and Nundle gold, antimony and copper projects in northern NSW along the Peel Fault. The company’s focus now moves to implementing its exploration strategy across the projects, spanning approximately 743km2 across the New England Orogen region. The New England Orogen extends from northern NSW along the eastern coast of Australia and up to Townsville in Northern Queensland. The region hosts globally significant orebodies including the nearby Hillgrove gold-antimony deposit and the Mt Morgan gold-copper deposit in Queensland. Both high-density light...