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RCR Mining Technologies has launched the world-first sealed pan feeder (SPF), combining apron feeder technology with the sealing properties of a belt feeder into one machine. The SPF shares over 90% of its components with the trusted RCR apron feeder in its low-maintenance and high-durability design. Key improvements include: Enhanced performance: The SPF reduces the need for maintenance outages, offering approximately 50% fewer outages and 39% less tool time over a 15-year period compared to standard, non-RCR apron feeders. Maximised production: The reduction in maintenance frequency and outage duration translates directly to more ore throughput without increasing the size or speed of the feeder. Cost efficiency: By eliminating the need for dribble conveyors, the SPF delivers more efficient operating costs,…

Petratherm (PTR) (ASX: PTR) has commenced drilling at its Muckanippie titanium project in South Australia. The 4,000m drill program will assess at a regional scale the Rosewood and Claypan Prospect titanium rich heavy mineral sands (HMS) mineralisation. Drilling is also planned over high titanium-vanadium bearing source rock horizons for primary vanadiferous titanomagnetite (VTM) style mineralisation. PTR Chief executive Peter Redi says the company is extremely pleased to have drilling now underway. “The critical minerals, titanium and vanadium, have been identified over large areas and in a variety of target forms which is testament to the fertility of the Muckanippie area,” he said. “This maiden drill program by Petratherm will assist in determining the extent of mineralisation of the prospect areas…

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has released its Q3 CY24 results, with the company increasing Pilbara iron ore, bauxite and titanium dioxide slag production. Bauxite production saw an 8% increase from the prior corresponding period to 15.1mt, titanium dioxide slag production increased 7% to 263kt and Pilbara iron ore production increased 1% to 84.1mt. On the other hand, aluminium production decreased 2% to 809kt and mined copper production dropped 1% to 168kt. Operations Construction of Rio’s Western Range mine is now 80% complete, with the company finalising commissioning of the autonomous haul trucks and completing the Paraburdoo upgrade in the quarter. Rio continues to focus on the construction of the greenfield crushing and screening plant as well as the Paraburdoo plant…

The Federal Government is putting Dubbo, NSW at the heart of its plans to grow Australia’s critical minerals and rare earths industry by providing further support for miner Australian Strategic Materials Limited (ASM) (ASX: ASM). The Dubbo project will produce critical minerals such as zirconium, niobium and hafnium as well as several rare earth elements. Rare earths are critical to the energy and defence industries due to their use in high-strength magnets for EVs, wind turbines and aerospace actuators. The Federal Government will provide $5m to ASM under the International Partnerships in Critical Minerals Program to fund up to 50% of a study to find more efficient ways of refining rare earths at its mine and processing plant. The funding…

Old tyres are being given a new life thanks to an innovative recycling project involving Alcoa Australia and Tyrecycle’s newly established East Rockingham, WA, facility. The “off-the-road” (OTR) haul truck tyres that have reached the end of their operational life are being sent from Alcoa’s bauxite mines in the Peel and South West regions to the local Tyrecycle facility where they are processed to create a crumbed rubber product. The resulting product can be used for a variety of applications including as a crumbed rubber modified bitumen, and a range of soft-surface applications such as those used on athletics tracks and in playgrounds. Alcoa water and waste global program manager Nicole King says the recycling project has been a long…

Rumble Resources (ASX: RTR) has announced a 76% increase to its mineral resources estimate (MRE) for the Western Queen gold project. The project now boasts an upgraded MRE of 4.42mt at 2.02g/t of gold for 286,600oz with indicated resources of 2.39mt at 2.11g/t of gold for 163,800oz, a 142% increase compared to the August 2021 MRE. Diamond drilling completed in June 2024 prompted a comprehensive lithostructural review and reinterpretation of the Western Queen gold project, which led to the remodelling of the MRE. Rumble managing director and chief executive Peter Harold says the company believes the Western Queen is one of the most underexplored high-grade gold projects in WA. “The 76% increase in in contained ounces is an extremely positive…

Two trailblazing women have swapped the salon and vet hospital for new careers at the New Acland mine in Queensland. Jodi Keane-Venz, a former hairdresser and teacher and Ella Graham, a former vet nurse, started work at New Acland Coal in August. The duo is part of a new-to-industry intake, which required no prior knowledge of the mining industry. Mrs Keane-Venz, an Oakey based hairdresser for the past 30 years says she jumped at the opportunity to swap the scissors of the salon for the roads of the New Acland mine. “My husband and sons have worked in the mining industry for years, but it was never a career I considered until recently,” she said. “As an operator, I now…

Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) produced a record 77,369oz of gold from its expanded portfolio, achieving an average sale price of $3,723/oz for Q1 FY25. The Q1 FY25 result is based on three months of production from the Murchison (52,889oz) operations, but only two months of production from the Southern Goldfields operations (24,480oz). This follows the company’s move to increase FY25 production guidance to 400,000-420,000oz, a substantial increase from its 220,000-235,000oz FY24 guidance. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says Q1 FY25 delivered the company’s highest quarterly gold production yet. “In August Westgold successfully completed a $1.4b merger that created a top five ASX and top 10 TSX listed gold producer and propelled the company into the ranks of…

On October 15 and 16, Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos and her team at UNSW Sydney will host the 40th Anniversary Flow Battery Innovation Symposium. Since the first 1kW vanadium flow battery (VFB) was built at UNSW, the technology has significantly evolved with systems now being installed internationally at capacities into gigawatt hour scale. This scale up of flow battery deployments signals a major shift in the global energy landscape as countries turn to long-duration energy storage to support renewable power sources. The symposium will bring together key players across the flow battery supply chain, including researchers, industry leaders and government stakeholders to promote understanding of the latest advancements, challenges and opportunities in flow batteries. It will also feature presentations and…

A scholarship fund that’s provided almost $300,000 to help build regional Queensland’s next-generation tertiary workforce has opened its door to applications for its 10th annual scholarship. Marking a decade since it first launched, the QCoal Foundation Scholarship provides a James Cook University (JCU) student with $10,000 each year for three years to offset the costs of studying. Students studying medicine, dentistry, geology, speech pathology, veterinary science, engineering and other disciplines at JCU have all benefitted from the scholarship over the past decade. First year speech pathology student and 2024 QCoal Foundation Scholarship recipient Taylor Dockerty says she is grateful for the support as she adjusts to campus life at JCU in Townsville. “It has really allowed me to strive to…

Dozens of WesTrac cyclists donned yellow and black lycra for WA’s largest cycling fundraiser on October 12 and 13, raising more than $211,000 for life-saving cancer research. The annual MACA Cancer 200 – Ride for the Perkins kicked off on October 12, with nearly 2000 participants cycling 200km from Perth to Mandurah, and back, over two days. A team of 39 riders from WesTrac hit the road to raise funds for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. WesTrac asset management manager Ian Ilsley decided to participate this year after his brother-in-law was recently diagnosed with cancer. “I have lost friends and WesTrac colleagues to cancer, but it didn’t really hit me until my brother-in-law was diagnosed, so I decided…