Category: Features

Lynas lines up Mt Weld evolution Since 2024, Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) has had its sights set on meeting surging global demand for rare earths, by advancing its $500m Mt Weld Expansion Project in WA’s Goldfields. The Mt Weld rare earths deposit sits in a two-billion-year-old volcanic plug and is considered one of the world’s most valuable rare earths deposits because of its high grade and predicted long life, containing both light and heavy rare earth elements. Back in August 2022, Lynas announced a $500m capacity expansion project at the mine and concentration plant — global demand for rare earth materials and neodymium magnets had been accelerating, with neodymium magnet...

Nova sets its sights on sustainability As the demand for battery minerals remains high, IGO (ASX: IGO) continues to make strides in its quest to discover, develop and deliver products critical to a clean energy future. Whether it’s the electrification of transport, energy storage, or renewable energy generation, IGO is investing in its mining assets to meet the world’s appetite for critical minerals. The Nova Operation is the cornerstone of IGO’s clean energy transition. Situated in WA’s Fraser Range, about 360km southeast of Kalgoorlie, the deposit reflects the company’s steadfast commitment to sustainability and low-impact mining practices. Since reaching nameplate production in December 2017, Nova has continued to punch above its weight. Although...

Jimblebar: star of the WAIO constellation Jimblebar is a key component of BHP’s (ASX: BHP) WA iron ore (WAIO) operations, an integrated system of four processing hubs and five open-cut mines in the Pilbara region connected by more than 1,000km of rail infrastructure and port facilities. The operation iron ore mine located 40km east of Newman is part of an 85:15 joint venture between BHP and Mitsui and ITOCHU. The operation is regarded as reliable and dependable by BHP, as it continues to demonstrate its strengths across performance, productivity and innovation. In FY24, WAIO posted record production of 255mt (BHP share) with Jimblebar contributing a whopping 73,111t, up from 66,801t the year prior....

From strength to strength: Yancoal celebrates 20 years in 2024 The Year of the Wood Dragon is particularly auspicious for Yancoal (ASX: YAL) as it celebrates 20 years of operation in Australia in 2024. What started as a single mine operation in 2004 has now grown into one of country’s largest coal producers and exporters in the country. Its majority shareholder, China-based Yankuang Energy Group, is pleased with what the company has achieved in two decades. Yancoal Australia chairman Gang Ru says the company has established itself as a world-class coal mining business in Australia. 2024 is the Year of the Wood Dragon, according to...

It’s a golden transformation In the quiet, expansive land of central west NSW, Tomingley gold operations is gearing up for a golden transformation. Alkane Resources (ASX: ALK), the company behind the mine’s driving force, is taking bold steps to secure its future through the ambitious Tomingley Gold Extension Project – a plan that promises to enhance efficiency, extend the mine’s life, and uncover even more untapped potential beneath the soil. The extension was approved by the NSW Planning Minister on 21 February 2023, and Alkane has development consent until end-2032 – doubling the life of the mine until 2031 and producing an estimated 745,000oz of...

Pantoro takes the bull by the horns Pantoro (ASX: PNR) is proving it can move quickly on a golden opportunity. Coming off a merger in 2023 with its then 50% partner at Norseman, Tulla Resources, Pantoro has posted improved results in every quarter following the commencement of operations at the gold mine. With surging production and gold prices, what will Pantoro do with its newfound resources? The Australian Mining Review speaks with Pantoro managing director Paul Cmrlec to find out. Dynamic strategy At the start of 2024, Pantoro announced a major modification to its mining strategy at the...

Alcoa’s rehabilitation mosaic Bauxite mining in the Northern Jarrah Forest As the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust, aluminium is all around us from the planes, trains and cars we use to navigate, to the computers and phones we use to connect. As a plentiful, lightweight, durable and infinitely recyclable material, it will continue to stick around, especially given its emerging role in renewables energy technology. According to the International Aluminium Institute, aluminium is one of the most recycled materials on earth, with almost 75% of the 1.5bt ever produced still in use today. As a major input for solar panels and wind turbines,...

Leveraging lithium In the fifth instalment of the Australian Mining Review’s critical minerals series, we speak with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO Futures mineral resources lead Max Temminghoff and CSIRO critical minerals lead with the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub Chris Vernon for a deep dive into emerging mid-stream processing pathways for lithium as highlighted in the agency’s From Minerals to Materials: An Assessment of Australia’s Critical Minerals Mid-Stream Processing Capabilities report. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are expected to drive a surge in demand for critical battery materials lithium, cobalt and graphite. These essential minerals present significant concentration and sustainability concerns across their supply chains, meaning research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activity will need a boost, both domestically and...

Breathing new life into Narrabri Things are moving along for Whitehaven Coal’s (ASX: WHC) Narrabri Stage 3 extension project.  The Federal Government recently approved the project, which proposes to extract coal to the south of the existing mine, subject to conditions, in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (Cth). This approval extends the life of the mine from 2031 to 2044 and converts Narrabri’s adjacent exploration licence into a mining lease. Coal will be mined using the underground longwall mining method already successfully and safely used at the mine. Existing portals, coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP), rail loop, box cut, offices...

Australia’s first block cave for iron ore Far from the Pilbara in the northwest region of WA lies a powerful integrated iron ore mining and pellet production business close to the city of Burnie in the northwest region of Tasmania. Grange Resources (ASX: GRR) owns and operates the Savage River magnetite iron ore mine, 100km southwest of the city, which produces some of the highest iron- concentrated magnetite in Australia with minimal impurities. The mine has been in operation for more than 57 years, extracting magnetite from a series of open pits, with its downstream processing facilities including a concentrator on-site and a pelletising...

Newmont’s Lihir: One of Papua New Guinea’s largest gold mines Papua New Guinea (PNG) is rich with gold, copper, nickel and cobalt deposits, with mining playing a key role in shaping the country and its economy. The mineral resources in the country got little attention until the late nineteenth century when prospectors form North Queensland began travelling in search for alluvial gold. From 1896, there were attempts to exploit the gold loads and although some small mines yielded good results, all were abandoned by 1923. Unlike many other mining districts in PNG, Niolam island – a geothermally extinct volcano doesn’t have a history of alluvial gold mining. Gold traces were...