Category: Features

All images BHP. BY ELIZABETH FABRI THE 2017 financial year was a game changer for BHP and its iron ore division. On top of a corporate rebrand and record production at West Australian Iron Ore (WAIO), plans for BHP’s proposed South Flank project were advancing, with initial funding locked in for early construction. BHP recently dumped the ‘Billiton’ name in a rebrand aimed at highlighting the company’s Australian roots and rebuilding a dialogue with its stakeholders. Iron ore has been a key pillar of BHP’s operations for more than 67 years, with WA Iron Ore (WAIO) one of the company’s largest and most successful assets. “You’re only as good as your last game. Notwithstanding this prosperous history, in the here…

 All Images: CITIC Pacific Mining. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND A LEGAL stoush between Mineralogy and CITIC over royalty payments from the Sino Iron project is awaiting decision by the WA Supreme Court, and could affect up to 2600 workers currently involved with the operation. Although beleaguered by mounting costs, court battles and a volatile iron ore price, CITIC Pacific Mining remains confident its Sino Iron project in the Pilbara will become a stalwart of the WA mining scene, contributing 24 million tonnes per year (mtpa) of magnetite ore to its steelwork counterparts in China. Headquartered in Perth, CITIC Pacific Mining (CPM) was established to manage the construction and operation of the Sino Iron project, an integrated mining, processing and port operation…

Coal trucks at the Newlands coal mine, QLD. All images: Glencore. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND ON the back of resurgent coal prices, mining giant Glencore has boosted output and looked at expanding its Australian portfolio. One of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies, Glencore is a major producer of Australian coal, with 12 active mining operations across NSW and QLD employing about 7000 personnel. Its QLD operations employ more than 2900 personnel across five projects in the Bowen Basin – Clermont, Rolleston, Oaky Creek, Newlands and Collinsville. In NSW, 4750 personnel are employed across four coalfields – Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Western Districts and Southern Districts. During 2016, the Swiss-based miner produced 67.6 million tonnes (mt) of coal in Australia,…

BY ELIZABETH FABRI MOMENTUM is building for this year’s Diggers and Dealers Mining Forum, with more than 2000 mining professionals expected to set foot on Kalgoorlie’s iconic red soil this August for another action-packed event. The Kalgoorlie and Goldfields province has a rich mining history that dates back to September 1892, when prospectors Arthur Bayley and William Ford first discovered gold in Coolgardie. Gold and nickel mining dominated the first half of the 20th century, and the region’s portfolio has since evolved to encompass a number of iron ore, copper, zinc, silver, and lithium projects. “This year, gold mining in Kalgoorlie celebrated its 60th million ounce of action, which is a remarkable achievement,” Diggers and Dealer’s Forum chairman Nick Giorgetta…

All images: WPG Resources BY ELIZABETH FABRI SOUTH Australian mine Challenger has been operating for 15 years, but it still has a long and promising future ahead. Under the fresh ownership of WPG Resources, mine life continues to grow through an aggressive exploration campaign which is returning high-grade results, and a two pronged expansion due for completion in early 2018. Discovered by Dominion Mining in 1995, the Challenger gold find was a huge win for the South Australian resources sector; generating thousands of construction jobs and ongoing jobs for the State. Dominion Mining began construction in September 2001, open pit mining in 2002, and underground production in 2005. The mine was later operated under a 50/50 joint venture between Kingsgate and Diversified…

An aerial shot of the Spotted Quoll mine. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND AUSTRALIA’S only pure-play nickel producer Western Areas has been increasing its reputation as one of the world’s best low cost, high grade operators with its own innovate BioHeap technology. Volatile nickel prices have been fair-weathered by Western Areas. The company has utilised its position as a low cost, high grade nickel producer to increase cash in the bank and explore organic growth opportunities in WA. Located 400km east of Perth, Western Areas’ flagship project is Forrestania which comprises two producing nickel mines, Spotted Quoll and Flying Fox, as well as the Cosmic Boy concentrator which treats the high grade ore to produce about 25,000 tonnes (t) of nickel concentrate per annum.…

All images: AUSIMM. BY ELIZABETH FABRI AFTER iron ore prices experienced 12-month lows in June, the theme of this year’s Iron Ore 2017 event ‘Building Resilience’ is set to provide valuable insight into how mining and METS companies can remain profitable during the downward swing. Jointly organised by AusIMM and CSIRO, Iron Ore 2017 will be staged across three days at Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 24-26 July. The boutique conference has been held since 2002, providing a unique opportunity for iron ore businesses to discuss the biggest issues facing the sector and, of course, the path forward. This year’s theme ‘Building Resilience’ aims to tackle issues experienced during the volatile price climate, and cover the latest developments in geology,…

All Images: Gold Road Resources. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND AS Gold Road Resources’ Gruyere project is fast-tracked into development, the now self-funded explorer has ramped up its exploration budget to explore organic growth options within its 5000sqkm Yamarna Belt tenements. With its joint venture (JV) partner Gold Fields, Gold Road has now awarded all major contracts for the construction of its Gruyere gold project in the highly mineralised Yamarna Belt, 200km east of Laverton. A 2010 study by the Geological Survey of WA suggested the Yamarna Belt geological similarities with the Kalgoorlie Terrane greenstone rocks, and studies by previous explorers such as Ausgold supported that claim. Gold Road’s 5000 square kilometres of tenements in the Yamarna Belt already contain a number of…

All images: AIMEX. BY ELIZABETH FABRI MORE than 6000 mining professionals are expected to touch down at Sydney Showgrounds next month for the biennial Asia-Pacific International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) conference. Running from 29 to 31 August, the free-to-attend event will be the biggest to date, bringing together the industry’s leading minds and technologies. First held in the 1970s, the AIMEX conference has become a must-attend event on the industry calendar; and it’s easy to see why. Spread across three days, the leading event presents a wealth of opportunities for the mining industry to up-skill, network and generate new business leads. “This year we have the first free-to-attend conference program at AIMEX that we believe offers visitors key insights into the…

All images: Doray Minerals. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND GOLD producer Doray Minerals is looking to its two producing assets – Andy Well and Deflector – for organic growth opportunities. WA gold producer Doray Minerals’ Andy Well gold project commenced production in August 2013; with the Deflector gold-copper project commencing production in May 2016. Both projects are currently undergoing aggressive exploration and development to increase the company’s mineral resources and reserves. Deflector The Deflector project is located 160km east of Geraldton in the southern Murchison region of WA, and was acquired following its successful takeover of Mutiny Gold in February 2015. After fast-tracking development of the $63m project, the mine commenced commercial production in November 2016 with an initial mine life of…

All images: Adani BY CAMERON DRUMMOND DEVELOPMENT of Adani’s $16.5 billion Carmichael coal project is back on the table after the QLD Government made clear its position for the go ahead of the project. The Indian miner had dramatically suspended its final investment decision just days before its due date, blaming lack of clarity over royalty rates and the specifics of a $900 million Federal loan through the North Australian Infrastructure facility (NAIF). Over the last two years, Adani’s proposed Carmichael coal project has tenaciously pushed through the approval processes for the gigantic mine and associated infrastructure which, if developed, had the potential to unlock widespread development in the Galilee Basin. The proposed Carmichael coal, railway and port project includes building…