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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...

Rio Tinto confirms $9.95b Arcadium Lithium purchase Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has confirmed the purchase of leading global lithium chemicals producer Arcadium Lithium (ASX: LTM) for $9.95b (US$6.7b). The all-cash deal will see Arcadium shareholders receive $8.69 (US$5.85) for every share held. The transaction will bring Arcadium Lithium’s world-class lithium business into Rio’s portfolio, adding onto Rio’s existing aluminium, copper and iron ore operations. Rio chief executive Jakob Stausholm commented on the acquisition. “Acquiring Arcadium Lithium is a significant step forward in Rio Tinto’s long-term strategy, creating a world-class lithium...

Liontown & Zenith officially open Australia’s largest operating off-grid power system ...

Anglo American frontline coal miners rewrite safety program The most important thing to come out of a mine is the miner. And this is the north star that has guided Anglo American through the redesign of its frontline safety program. Through a bottom-up approach, frontline coal mine workers have been empowered to shape a new Fatal Risk Management (FRM) program, one that is easy to use and doesn’t add another layer of red tape. Anglo American Australia chief executive Dan van der Westhuizen says embedding frontline workers in the project team is crucial in designing the simplified and standardised tools as they understand the risks better than...

Newmont to sell Akyem for up to $1.49b Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) has revealed it will be selling its Akyem operation in the Republic of Ghana to Zijin Mining Group for up to $1.49b (US$1b). This sale is part of Newmont’s continuing program to divest its non-core assets as it makes a strategic shift to focus on its Tier 1 assets. Under the agreement, Newmont is expected to receive cash consideration of $1.33b (US$900m) upon closing, with a further $148m (US$100m) expected to be received upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including regulatory approvals. Newmont president and chief executive Tom Palmer commented on the...

MinRes partners with the Y WA for mental health support Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) has continued its partnership with the Y WA to support the Inside Our Minds campaign. This is the fourth year Mineral Resources has partnered with the Y WA, one of Australia’s largest youth organisations, for the Inside Our Minds campaign. Every day through WA Mental Health Week – which runs from October 5 - 12 – a different video featuring young people talking about their mental health will be shared on...

WesTrac expands autonomous training centre to shape future workforce Leading Caterpillar® dealer WesTrac will complete the construction of new facilities at the WesTrac Technology Training Centre in Collie, WA, by November, offering further world-leading training opportunities. Speaking during a visit to the facility by WA Premier Roger Cook, WesTrac chief executive Jarvas Croome said the State Government supported the project by providing $1m from the Collie Futures Industry Development Fund. “It is fantastic to have Roger Cook at the WesTrac...

Trigg moves swiftly on antimony Trigg Minerals (ASX: TMG) is rapidly working to restate the existing mineral resource estimate (MRE) and grow the potentially significant Wild Cattle Creek (WCC) resource at its recently acquired Achilles antimony project in NSW. WCC contains 15,600t of antimony and is also enriched in tungsten and gold, making it NSW’s second-largest antimony deposit and the highest-grade undeveloped antimony project in Australia, according to Trigg. Tungsten and gold were excluded in the original MRE as well as potentially significant antimony veins. In addition to these potential enhancements, Trigg says antimony...

First units installed at Collie big battery The first containerised battery units are now in place at one of WA’s biggest batteries, the Collie battery energy storage system. When fully operational, the battery will provide 500MW of power with 2000MWh of storage when connected to the grid. The first 80 units are now in place, with the entire system to include 640 units when complete. The Collie battery will join Synergy’s existing battery systems in Kwinana and soak up excess solar and wind energy during the day to provide system stability and support the continued uptake of...

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and BHP (ASX: BHP) have signed an MoU to promote lower carbon steelmaking technology for blast furnaces in India. An initial study will be done to assess strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) after which various workstreams will consider the role of alternate reductants such as hydrogen and biochar use. These measures have been taken with a view to building local research and development capability to support the decarbonisation transition. Technology and abatements deployment as well as partnerships are critical to decarbonising India’s and the global steel industry. SAIL chairman Shri Amarendu Prakash comments on this. “SAIL is looking forward to this collaboration with BHP in taking a step forward towards engaging...