Category: Features

THE Kenyan Government has revoked all mining licences issued in the months before and after the country’s March elections and announced it would increase royalties paid by companies undertaking mining operations. “I have today revoked all licences (Prospecting, Exploration and Mining), issued between 14 January, 2013 and 15 May, 2013,” Mining minister Najib Balala said in early August. The decision was made following a number of complaints about the issuing process. Following his election, President Uhuru Kenyatta set up a mining ministry to overhaul the country’s mining regulations and broaden its economy. “Though Kenya is not generally known as a mining investment destination, recent developments have proven that the country actually holds a significant potential for mineral development, and is...

THE world’s largest private sector coal company Peabody Energy has actioned a second round of Australian job cuts, dismissing 170 positions – or 5.7 per cent of its total workforce – due to challenging market conditions. The cuts began on 22 July, and will reportedly affect all of the company’s Australian operations, including a total of eight projects in Queensland and three more in NSW. The Missouri-based coal giant announced the news just one month after its first round of cuts – which saw 450 contractor positions removed from its Australian projects – citing a need to streamline operations though aggressive cost-cutting initiatives. The company has cut more than 20 per cent of its workforce since the start of the...

LOCAL Goodyear conveyor belt manufacturer, Veyance Technologies, has announced a $4.5 million investment in establishing a network of company-owned conveyor belt services, training and repair facilities. This investment has confirmed ongoing company commitment to deliver owners their “lowest cost per tonne conveyed” benefit. The service centres, based at major mining hubs around Australia, will assist with all types of conveyor belting, both surface and underground. Veyance Technologies reported that its new conveyor service centres would provide global cutting edge technology in vulcanising, condition monitoring, training and conveyor belting maintenance. These ‘greenfield’ service centres would be staffed by qualified Veyance staff and remove the company’s current reliance on local engineering firms, to optimise, maintain and service conveyor belts. The initial centre...

WHEN the Argyle Diamond Mine finally closes, it will be remembered as one of the world’s largest and most successful mines of its kind. Aside from the sheer scale of the project, which opened in 1985, the quantity and appearance of its diamonds – including elusive red diamonds – attracted unprecedented attention to the Kimberley. Thirty years on, the mine is still entrenched in the fabric of WA mining; its name remains synonymous with the region. Since coming into operation, the mine has produced more than 800 million carats of diamonds, peaking in 1994 when 42mct were produced. While leading the world in terms of quantity, the quality of diamonds is relatively low, with only 5 per cent being considered...

TASMANIAN Resources minister Bryan Green admitted that historic mining activity has contaminated about 40 of the state’s rivers. At a budget estimates hearing in early June, Mr Green was asked for an update on government plans to remediate old mine sites and tackle the heavy metals contamination of the state’s rivers and streams. Mr Green told the hearing committee the government was doing what it could at the legacy sites, while tightening environmental laws for new and existing mines. “We’ve got a fund, not a huge amount, that allows us to mitigate when we can,” he said. “We admit that there is a large task to undertake. “New mines have a far more stringent arrangement in place with respect to...

INDUSTRIAL instability and violence in South Africa’s platinum mining industry continue to threaten the country’s economy, after 4000 mine workers engaged in a ‘sit-in strike’ at Anglo-American’s Thembelani mine. As trade union representatives met with government officials to draft a framework for a sustainable platinum industry several thousand platinum workers went on strike, refusing to exit an underground mine owned by the world’s largest primary platinum producer, in protest of the suspension of four of its leaders from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). The union leaders were allegedly suspended for presenting fraudulent membership applications to boost membership numbers. The AMCU is central to a bitter union rivalry against the National Union of Mineworkers, as both unions struggle...

THE first two holes drilled at Sirius Resources’ conductor 6 drilling target have intersected thick zones of massive sulphide; confirming the area is an extension of the existing Bollinger deposit, part of the Fraser Range joint venture in WA. The two holes indicate that conductor 6 is the southerly extension of Bollinger and that the thick massive sulphide extends more than 100m southwards from the original discovery holes. The sulphides are similar to those seen at the company’s nearby Nova deposit, with coarse grained pentlandite (nickel sulphide) and chalcopyrite (copper sulphide) crystals visible in the core. According to Sirius, the zone remains open in all directions and drilling continues to assess the boundaries of the area. Holes are underway in...

TESTING has identified significant copper and gold exploration targets at the Horseshoe Lights mine in WA. The initial report identified a volcanic-hosted massive sulphide copper and gold deposit at a depth of 200m and the potential new zone of mineralisation begins 400m south of the main site, extending more than 800m. The mine’s owner Horseshoe Metals commissioned the report from Resource Potential and, while yet to be fully completed, it has already identified the area as having major resource potential. When compiling the report, geophysicists used data gathered during the last two-and-a-half years, as well as historical information of the area to identify exploration targets for the next stage of drilling, to provide the best possible understanding of the geology...

FIFTEEN employees and contractors were dismissed apparent safety breaches after performing or watching the Harlem Shake dance on site at WA’s Agnew underground gold mine. The video of the employees and contractors performing the internet craze was subsequently posted onto popular video sharing site YouTube. The Harlem Shake internet meme involves groups of people erratically dancing to the popular song of the same name for about 30 seconds and posting the result to YouTube. It has been estimated that since 2 February, when the first Harlem Shake video was posted to YouTube a further 40,000 videos have been posted, receiving more than 175 million views. The dismissed Agnew mine employees reportedly advised The West Australian newspaper that those participating did...

INTEGRATED precious metal and uranium explorer Marmota Energy has applauded authorities for their final decision to approve first drill testing at its high-priority Durkin copper-nickel prospect in South Australia’s Gawler Craton. Following the government approval, Marmota announced mobilisation was set for 25 March to the rig site at Durkin, near the company’s Indooroopilly gold project and Challenger gold mine. Marmota conducted geophysical surveys in late 2012 after laboratory assays of the company’s initial surface samples confirmed copper and nickel mineralisation. Within these positive initial results, multiple coincident EM conductor, gravity and surface geochemical targets were identified for first-round drilling. The company reported that it maintained “reserved anticipation” for the mineralisation potential within several parts of the Durkin area, with multiple...

DIVERSIFIED explorer Core Exploration has initiated a follow-up drill program on an exceptional uranium discovery at its wholly owned Fitton project in northern South Australia. The 2500m reverse circulation (RC) drilling program will target down dip and strike extensions of the high-grade uranium mineralisation – including 5m at 0.25 per cent uranium oxide – which were discovered during the company’s maiden drilling program in late 2012 at the Scott Lee prospect within Fitton. Core stated that program would also follow up on an anomalous uranium intersection at Fitton’s Hamilton prospect and surface mineralisation (1400 parts per million uranium oxide) found recently at the newly discovered Bruce Lee prospect – 300m west of Scott Lee – in February this year. Assay...