Category: Projects

WITH production well and truly underway at Dacian Gold’s Mt Morgans project in WA, the company was now turning its attention to exploration to grow mine life. After an “excellent” December quarter, Dacian Gold declared commercial production at its flagship Mt Morgans project in January. The mine, 37km south of Laverton, presented Dacian with 200,000 ounces of gold over an estimated 10-year mine life, and a clear path to mid-tier status through its organic growth options; the Westralia underground operation, open cut Jupiter mine, and new discovery Cameron Well. Dacian Gold executive chairman and chief executive Rohan Williams said the company achieved its commercial production milestone in January exactly when it said it would. “We have now been producing for almost a…

Members of the board visit the Thunderbird project site. All Images: Sheffield Resources. SHEFFIELD Resources is advancing development of its flagship Thunderbird mineral sands project, between Derby and Broome in Western Australia, with first production to begin in Q4 of 2020. The Thunderbird mineral sands project is one of the largest, high-quality mineral sands discoveries in recent decades, and after securing all key permitting early this year, is now construction ready. The project will generate a suite of mineral sands products, including premium zircon suitable for the ceramic sector and LTR ilmenite – which would be one of the highest-grade sulphate feedstocks available globally. Sheffield Resources anticipated a two-year construction phase for the project with the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) supporting…

All Images: MMG BY EMMA DAVIES MMG’S Rosebery mine in Tasmania recently achieved an important milestone – mining and milling 1 million tonnes on a rolling 12-month basis, for the first time in its more than 80-year history. Rosebery’s record result was achieved following improvements to the mine’s tailings dam, insourcing of the mine development work, and an upgraded fleet. MMG Rosebery general manager Jenkins Kroon was pleased with the site’s production rates. “In the third quarter of 2018 Rosebery produced 19,218 tonnes of zinc in zinc concentrate, broadly flat when compared to the second quarter of 2018 and up 12 per cent on the prior corresponding period,” Mr Kroon said. “The strong production was driven largely by another record…

Image: Talison Lithium. BY ELIZABETH FABRI TALISON Lithium’s mammoth Greenbushes mine in south-west WA is entering its next phase of growth with a $320 million expansion to double production nearing completion, a $516 million second expansion greenlit to begin in 2019, and a further $1 billion commitment made towards downstream processing. Talison Lithium’s owners Tianqi Lithium and US group Albemarle are pouring some serious capital into their long-running Greenbushes mine in WA’s south-west as the State begins its transition into a global hub for battery metals and value-added processing. In early 2018 the State Government established a Lithium and Energy Materials Taskforce aimed at understanding opportunities from the emerging industry and creating a strategy going forward. The Greenbushes mine – 250km…

All images: Newmont Mining BY EMMA DAVIES NEWMONT’S Tanami gold mine in the Northern Territory has commenced a second phase expansion, is constructing two power stations on site and is on track to reach tier 1 status in the not too distant future. Newmont Mining is focussed on long-term growth with Australian production remaining between 1.4 and 1.6 million ounces in 2018. Newmont Mining regional project director Francois Hardy told The Australian Mining Review that Tanami’s second phase expansion will leverage the mine for future growth and will maximize value from the deeper orebody, from between 1200m and 2600m below surface. “Tanami Expansion 2 secures the future of Tanami as a long-life, low-cost producer, adding approximately 100,000oz per year (2023…

The Nolans NdPr project is 135km north of Alice Springs. All Images: Arafura Resources. BY ELIZABETH FABRI ARAFURA Resources is going above and beyond many juniors on the path to production, with a seven phase pilot project for its Nolans rare earths mine nearing completion, downstream processing plans confirmed for the Northern Territory, and a DFS and Final Investment Decision imminent. Arafura Resources has made some innovative decisions on its $US680 million Nolans neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) project over the last few years. Instead of taking what would be considered a faster route straight to production – the explorer has had a dedicated team focussed on a detailed pilot program addressing key engineering and operational considerations prior to commissioning. Arafura’s Nolans project…

All Images: Alliance Mineral Assets BY EMMA DAVIES DECEMBER was a big month for the owners of the Bald Hill lithium Joint Venture –Tawana Resources and Alliance Mineral Assets Limited – with a merger finalised between the two companies that is set to take the mine into its next phase of growth. Bald Hill – 50km south east of Kambalda in the Eastern Goldfields region WA – entered commercial lithium concentrate production in mid-2018. To date, the mine has been operated under a 50:50 Joint Venture between Tawana Resources and Singapore-based Alliance. However a merger has been in the works since April that will simplify the mine’s ownership and management, as well as place the merged group on the radar…

BHP conducted the first blast at its South Flank project in September. Image: BHP. BY AMY BLOM MINING giant BHP is on time and on budget to deliver its multibillion dollar South Flank project, having taken off with a flying start in July. South Flank has made a rapid start in its first three months of construction, according to project director Simon Thomas. Speaking at a WA Mining Club lunch in Perth on 25 October, Mr Thomas said BHP already had more than 600 people working on the project, with local contractors such as NRW, Clough, CPB and Decmil mobilised to site. He said September quarter highlights included an expansion of the Mulla Mulla village facilities comprising 756 operational rooms…

Team members at Olympic Dam. Image: BHP BY AMY BLOM OLYMPIC Dam had mixed results in FY18 as a result of smelter issues as well as a planned rolling shutdown. However, production is back on track and BHP is pushing ahead with expansion projects and potentially game-changing innovations that could decrease costs while doubling production. Growth plans for BHP’s Olympic Dam were back on track following a slower than planned ramp-up after its major smelter upgrade earlier this year and ongoing technical issues. The major smelter maintenance upgrade was the largest planned shutdown ever undertaken in Olympic Dam’s 30 year history, running from August 2017 until February 2018. Other major upgrade work was carried out on the refinery, concentrator and…

Spodumeme product at Altura’s Pilgangoora Lithium mine.  Images: Altura Mining and Pilbara Minerals.  BY: JESSICA CUMMINS & ELIZABETH FABRI PRODUCTION began at Altura Resources and Pilbara Minerals’ identically named Pilgangoora  projects several months ago, and the companies are already eyeing expansions with strong interest from buyers. WA is in the box seat to tap into growing global demand for electric vehicle and static storage batteries. In recent months, discussions have been centred on the idea the State could establish itself as a ‘lithium valley’; essentially a global hub for lithium mining and downstream processing. The State was already home to the mammoth Greenbushes mine, and newly opened Mt Cattlin project and Mt Marion mine, near Coolgardie. Newly minted Pilbara producers,…