Latest News

QCoal scholarship helps students achieve their dreams 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...

WesTrac raises more than $211,000 for cancer research 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...

Finalists announced for AMEC awards The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) has announced the finalists for the AMEC Awards, 2024. Categories cover six key areas as the awards showcase the industries commitment to the environment, diversity and inclusion, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Islander empowerment, contribution to the community and a media story demonstrating clarity, relevance and impact to the industry. AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce says these awards are a highlight of the association’s calendar year. “The AMEC awards provide us with an opportunity to reflect, celebrate and acknowledge some of the excellence we see everyday in the exploration...

Australia waves hello to ocean energy Clean renewable energy from harnessing ocean waves can be a critical enabler in helping Australia achieve its Net Zero targets — and we are uniquely well-placed to lead in this space, a new report shows. Commissioned by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre and led by a team of researchers at The University of Western Australia’s Ocean Institute, the Ocean Wave Energy in Australia report details the opportunities, application, integration and development of an ocean energy industry in Australia. With the world’s largest and most consistent national wave...

Sandvik introduces industry’s most advanced narrow vein underground drill Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is introducing Sandvik DD212i, its first intelligent i-series narrow vein drill and the industry’s most advanced underground drill of its type. Sandvik DD212i is a compact single-boom jumbo with a new carrier and updated design, offering improved productivity, drilling accuracy, intelligence, versatility and easy integration? into operations. Optimal in narrow vein and medium-sized drifts, Sandvik DD212i ensures more tons and maximum profitability, as well as operational efficiency with precise electronic positioning and instrumentation...

Renewables at their Zenith as Liontown lifts lithium with hybrid power project WA Energy Minister Reece Whitby officially opened the Kathleen Valley hybrid power system, ushering in a new age of emissions free mining for the energy transition. The power system is the largest operating off-grid power system in Australia, designed, funded, built, owned and operated by Zenith Energy for Liontown Resources (ASX: LTR). The 95MW Kathleen Valley hybrid power system incorporates the nation’s largest off-grid wind farm utilising the largest land-based wind turbines in the country....

“It would have been an absolute cracker of a producer”: Regis’ Jim Beyer on McPhillamys Regis Resources managing director and chief executive Jim Beyer spoke about the future of its McPhillamys mine at the WA Mining Club September luncheon. The NSW gold project was expected to be a valuable asset for the company, featuring a 7mtpa plant with 189moz of contained gold and an expected mine life of over 10 years. “This would have been an absolute cracker of a producer, producing 187,000oz per year on average and ramping up to 235,000oz,” Mr Beyer said. “That’s where we...

Challenges and Solutions in Pumping Iron Ore Slurry The pumping of iron ore slurry presents a unique set of challenges due to the abrasive nature of the material and the demanding conditions under which the pumps operate. Iron ore slurry is a dense and abrasive mixture of finely ground iron ore and water, which requires specialised equipment to ensure efficient and reliable transportation. Common Issues Faced with Slurry Pumping Abrasion and Erosion: The high abrasiveness of iron ore slurry can cause severe wear and tear on pump components, leading to frequent maintenance and reduced lifespan of the equipment. Corrosion: In the Pilbara and Goldfields regions of Western Australia, where water contains both bacteria and high salinity, the combination of iron...

WA southern ports' $17.4m tech upgrades, Accenture gets $13.6m The WA Government is contributing $17.4m towards major upgrades of operational technology at Southern Ports. Contractor Accenture will receive $13.6m to boost the performance of more than 22 major assets across ports at Albany, Bunbury, and Esperance through hardware and software advancements. These advancements will increase efficiencies operating ship loaders, rotary car dumpers and conveyors that move trade products through multiple sheds. Southern Ports has an asset base worth a replacement cost of about $1.6b, with more than 37mt of trade imported and exported through WA’s southern ports. WA Mines, Petroleum and Ports Minister David Michael...

Aluminium, alumina & bauxite must be “critical minerals” to avoid nickel fate: AAC The Australian Aluminium Council (AAC) has renewed its calls for the inclusion of bauxite, alumina and aluminium to Australia’s Critical Minerals List to avoid the same fate as the nickel industry. This comes as a new report, Vulnerabilities & Opportunities in Australia’s Upstream Aluminium Sectors, highlights growing risks to the sector’s supply chain due to heightened geopolitical risk, rising costs and prolonged regulatory approvals. AAC chief executive Marghanita Johnson says the current inclusion of aluminium on Australia’s Strategic Mineral List acknowledges the metal’s importance in the transition to net zero but it also lacks policy support....

Augmented reality (AR) core logging takes mineral exploration to new depths MinEx CRC and CSIRO have partnered to bring Augmented Reality (AR) core logging technology to mineral exploration. Core logging is traditionally considered time-consuming, solitary and subject to human error but this new technology promises to bring about enhanced productivity and decision-making to the resources industry. Geologists often struggle to incorporate multiple data streams into the logging process and they lack tools to efficiently analyse this complex information for fast, informed decision-making. The AR core logging technology is developed by MinEx CRC in collaboration with the...