Category: Features

All images: Mincor Resources.   BY REUBEN ADAMS   FORMER nickel mid-tier Mincor is back in the game, pouring first gold at its 71,700oz – and growing – Widgemooltha Gold Project in late July. The low-capex operation will help bankroll the rapid development of the miner’s world-class Kambalda nickel portfolio, with a major exploration push currently underway. The Australian Mining Review speaks with Mincor chief executive Peter Muccilli.     Q. You’ve experienced nickel’s incredible highs and the subsequent, challenging lows as part of the Mincor team. How has this rollercoaster ride helped shape your approach as chief executive and the current Mincor strategy? The sharp falls in the Australian nickel price, which hit decade lows in March 2016, resulted...

All images: Gascoyne Resources.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   THE lights turned on at Gascoyne Resources’ Dalgaranga project earlier this year; now, the miner’s focus is on achieving commercial production and continued exploration to extend mine life.   It's been two months since first gold was poured at Gascoyne Resources’ $100 million Dalgaranga project in the Murchinson region, WA. Bringing any new project into production is a milestone, but for Gascoyne Resources, this represented something bigger. First gold marked the beginning of the company’s transition from explorer to a producer among the ranks of ASX-listed gold miners. Gascoyne Resources managing director Mike Dunbar said to say that he was pleased “would be a massive understatement”.   “The company has managed...

BY: JESSICA CUMMINS   A transformational deal with Canadian miner New Gold expands Aurelia Metal’s footprint in the Cobar region and further diversifies the company’s portfolio. The Australian Mining Review speaks with managing director and chief executive Jim Simpson on his outlook for the remaining of the year.   IN June Australian miner Aurelia Metals made a watershed deal with Toronto-listed miner New Gold to acquire its Peak Mines gold, copper and lead project. The tier 1 mining operation has averaged over 100,000oz of gold and 8.6 million pounds of copper production per year since commissioning in 1992. Aurelia Metals bought the mine and 750,000tpa processing plant in the Cobar region of central NSW, 75km north of its producing Hera...

  All images: Whitehaven Coal      BY: JESSICA CUMMINS   The largest high quality coal producer in the Gunnedah Basin, Whitehaven Coal, finds itself perfectly positioned to capitalise on rising demand from Asian markets. Against the backdrop of coal prices sitting at seven year highs, The Australian Mining Review speaks with chief executive Paul Flynn about Whitehaven’s outlook following its most important acquisition.   FY17 results for Australian coal producers placed Whitehaven as one of the industry’s leaders, with a significant jump in net profit from $20.5 million to $405.4m year on year. Now, with met coal prices at seven year highs, Whitehaven remains on track for a record financial result in FY18. June Quarter ROM production of 5.9...

  All images: City of Karratha       BY: JESSICA CUMMINS     The Pilbara support service hubs of Port Hedland and Karratha are preparing for a new wave of growth, as the region’s revitalised resources sector changes gear.     The mining centres of Port Hedland and Karratha will be the centre of a new wave of mining and resources activity. Last month, Fortescue Metals Group approved its new $US1.3 billion Eliwana project, which is set to create 1900 jobs during construction. BHP’s $4.7 billion South Flank will replace its Yandi mine, creating about 3000 construction and operational positions, while Rio Tinto expects to make a final investment decision on its massive Kooldaideri project by the end of...

BY: JESSICA CUMMINS   In the final stages of debt financing discussions over its 823,000oz Karlawinda Gold Project ahead of construction in the second half the year, Capricorn Metals is working in parallel to further enhance the value of this compelling project – and the results have been outstanding.   CAPRICORN has a very low profile for a company lining up to become one of Australia’s next significant gold producers. After acquiring its flagship Karlawinda Gold Project – 65km, southeast of Newman in WA – at the beginning of 2016, Capricorn has moved quickly towards development.   In June, an optimisation study increased the value of an already attractive project by $100m, with improved rates of return and a quicker...

  A diamond rig at Doolgunna. All images: Sandfire Resources     BY: JESSICA CUMMINS   A cashed up Sandfire Resources is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to replace production from its depleting flagship DeGrussa operation, which is expected to reach the end of its life in 2022 on current reserves.   SANDFIRE’s replacement and growth strategy includes taking advantage of M&A opportunities in Australia and overseas,  an aggressive $30 million regional exploration campaign around DeGrussa, and the rapid development of its $US250m Black Butte project in Montana. The recent $72.3m purchase of Talismans’ 30 per cent interest in the Springfield Exploration and Mining Joint Venture gives Sandfire full ownership of the Monty copper-gold development, Springfield and Halloween West. Neighbouring Sandfire’s...

Kwinana Industries Council director Chris Oughton. Image: KIC.     BY REUBEN ADAMS   TIANQI'S decision to establish a lithium downstream processing facility at the Kwinana Industrial Area (KIA) was a watershed moment. It not only flagged a new wave of growth for the KIA, it was synonymous with a broader step change for WA’s resources sector – from ‘dig and deliver’ into value-added processing.   The Kwinana Industrial Area  is the heart of the Western Trade Coast (WTC), WA’s premier industrial area which pumps about $15 billion into the State economy each year.  The KIA could see its current $11 billion per annum contribution to the WA economy skyrocket as this push toward secondary processing and battery manufacturing gains...

Image: Chalice Gold.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   RECENT success at Kirkland Lake’s Fosterville gold mine has sparked a new wave of activity in regional Victoria. But it’s not just gold; zinc-copper, battery metals, and mineral sands projects are also accelerating toward development.   Victoria's mining sector, which has flown under the radar for years, has been reinvigorated. News the Fosterville gold project will be ramping up production to 400,000 ounces per annum by 2020, after mine resources were upgraded from 1moz to 1.7moz earlier this year has caused a buzz. Just ask Melbourne Mining Club chairman Richard Morrow. The industry advocate told The Australian Mining Review the Fosterville update had opened up new opportunities for Victorian miners, and the...

QLD Resources Investment Commissioner Todd Harrington.    BY ELIZABETH FABRI   QLD Resources Investment Commissioner Todd Harrington will be part of a panel discussion on Transforming Regional QLD at the upcoming QME conference and exhibition in Mackay. We spoke with Mr Harrington ahead of the event about the biggest issues facing the industry, investment opportunities, and the global importance of QLD metallurgical and thermal coal.     Q. What topics will you cover as part of the QME panel discussion on Transforming Regional QLD?   QLD has got some of the best geology. We’ve got the best metallurgical coal, some very good thermal coal, we’ve got copper, lead, zinc, silver, and then oil and gas, both conventional and unconventional. The...