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Success of manufacturing depends on AI and robotics The future success of Australia’s manufacturing industries is dependent on accelerated investment in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, the Australian Steel Institute (ASI) annual national convention in Brisbane, Queensland will hear. Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub founder and chief executive Professor Cori Stewart will argue AI and robotics not only save time, but also potentially save lives by minimising human error and ensuring a safer working environment. Professor Stewart will deliver the presentation to the peak body on September 10. Professor Stewart says continued growth in the manufacturing industry including...

Westgold begins mining at Bluebird Westgold (ASX: WGX) has commenced mining at its South Junction Lode within the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex at Meekatharra, WA. The ramp up targets a 100kt per month run rate for the Bluebird-South Junction mine by Q3 FY25. The drilling results have returned significant intersections from both the Polar Star and South Junction Lode positions. Of great significance is an intersection of 8.83m at 15.31g/t gold being the most southern hole drilled to date with the mineralised system remaining open to the south. Westgold managing director and...

Austrade releases new digital, dynamic critical minerals prospectus as King & Cook host Korea in Perth The Federal Government has released a new digital Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus, featuring an interactive map and showcasing more than 55 investment-ready projects across the country. This new online tool by Austrade can be customised to navigate Australia mineral endowment and a range of available government support, including potential funding for Australian critical minerals projects. One of the investment-ready projects featured in the prospectus is Ardea Sources’ Kalgoorlie nickel project Goongarrie Hub. Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King comments on this. “Critical minerals are...

Secret to gold nugget formation: earthquake-induced piezoelectricity in quartz Scientists have long been fascinated by the formation of gold nuggets, often found nestled within quartz veins. New research led by Monash University geologists suggests that the process might be even more electrifying than we previously thought—literally. Gold nuggets, prized for their rarity and beauty, have been at the heart of gold rushes for centuries. The study is led by Dr Chris Voisey from the Monash University School of Earth Atmosphere and Environment and will be published in Nature Geoscience. “The standard explanation is that gold precipitates from hot, water-rich fluids as they flow through cracks in the Earth’s crust,” said Dr...

Capturing PFAS chemical for better battery tech Technology developed at The University of Queensland (UQ) can remove harmful chemicals from water so they can be used in renewable batteries. Researchers at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have made a filter which quickly and cleanly captures per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are synthetic chemicals used in consumer and industrial products because of their ability to resist heat, stains, grease and water, however, they have been linked to a range of potential human health problems. The filter contains a patented sorbent solution that uses...

Arcadium Lithium to put Mt Cattlin into care and maintenance in mid-2025 Arcadium Lithium (ASX: LTM) will suspend stage 4A waste stripping at its Mt Cattlin spodumene operation in WA given the continuing decline in spodumene prices. Additionally, Arcadium Lithium plans to place Mt Cattlin into care and maintenance after it completes stage three mining and ore processing in the first half of 2025. By placing Mt Cattlin into care and maintenance, operations can potentially resume when the market conditions become more favourable. Arcadium Lithium will continue to explore the viability of underground...

Customised health solutions for Australian worksites Control the health outcomes on your worksite with RVT Group On worksites across Australia, juggling the health of workers alongside budgets, time constraints and productivity can make or break a project.  Health risks can be both deadly and disruptive. They not only impact the livelihood of your workers, but they can also be a huge setback for any project.  But what if there was an end-to-end solution to manage onsite health risks? A solution that is delivered by a passionate team dedicated to sending everyone home safely, each and every day.  Established in 1993 and now supporting more than 4,000 companies across Australia, Europe and America, RVT Group provides hazard control systems to mitigate...

GATES® MXG 4K & 5K Hydraulic Hoses Last Longer, Perform Better, Are More Flexible and Lighter, Perfect For Rugged Mining Applications Gates® MXG™ 4K and MXG™ 5K hydraulic hoses are engineered for long-lasting performance in rugged environments like mining. They are lighter and more flexible than traditional 4K & 5K spiral hoses, making them easy to transport and install. Their compact design also means they use less space where limited storage is available (force-to-bend is 25% better and OD is 5% smaller). The secret to their superior performance is the patented Xpiral™ construction, a new woven spiral construction method with four layers of high-tensile steel wire reinforcement. This leads to features such as: Tested to 1,000,000 impulse cycles (3 x...

Queensland invests $1m to boost critical minerals ESG standards The Queensland Government and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) have partnered to increase ESG capability, awareness and knowledge sharing within the state’s critical minerals sector. The Queensland Government will invest $1m, as part of the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy, to establish a formal ESG Advisory Panel comprising representatives from government, industry, academia and the community. Key initiatives of the panel include reviewing domestic and international trends in ESG; baselining Queensland’s critical minerals industry ESG capability; developing capability uplift strategies, tools and guidance materials and establishing...

Genesis ahead of schedule at Laverton mill Mining and processing preparations for Genesis Minerals’ (ASX: GMD) Laverton mill re-start in WA are running ahead of schedule, enabling the company to capitalise on strong gold prices. The re-start is running six months ahead of schedule with re-start expected in October 2024, marking the first step in an accelerated growth strategy aimed at achieving a 325kozpa target. Following the progress, Genesis has increased its forecast FY25 production at Laverton to 35-35,000oz from 14-16,000oz. Total FY25 production outlook also increased to 190-210,000oz from 162-188,000oz. Genesis Minerals managing director Raleigh Finlayson says the expedited start of production...

Red 5 purchases Asra’s Tarmoola pastoral lease Asra Minerals (ASX: ASR) has executed a binding sale and purchases agreement for Red 5 Limited (ASX: RED) to acquire the Tarmoola pastoral lease, livestock and relevant equipment in the Goldfields, WA, for $3m cash. Asra will retain the exploration camp comprising the accommodation camp, kitchen, laundry, ablution facilities and access road, all located in an area approximately 10km2 and the subject of miscellaneous licence applications, 37/271 and 37/272, currently with the WA Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Department (DEMIRS). Proceeds from the sale will be used to support Asra’s upcoming exploration and drilling campaign across both its Mt Stirling and Kookynie gold projects....