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WesTrac upgrades fluid analysis capabilities A new scheduled oil sampling laboratory established by WesTrac at its Tomago, NSW, headquarters has gone live, giving customers access to industry-leading testing and analysis services. Recently introducing three automated instruments known as AutoLabs, WesTrac has integrated and automated six separate fluid analysis tests, doubling its testing capacity to 1200 fluid samples per day. As well as integrating six testing steps into one instrument, WesTrac has introduced AutoA — an automated interpretation software that releases ‘no action required’ samples without the requirement of manual technician intervention. Each of the AutoLab instruments integrate tools for visual inspection, particle quantification infrared spectrometry, particle counting,...

MinRes and BTAC sign land access agreement for Onslow iron Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) and Buurabalayji Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation (BTAC) have signed a land access agreement to deliver benefits to the Onslow iron project in WA. The Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) comes after more than two year of collaboration between the two parties which culminated in a common law holders meeting in Onslow. The ILUA strengthens the partnership between MinRes and BTAC who will work together for the next 30-plus years to create opportunities for the Thalanyji people. MinRes managing director Chris...

Liebherr to present new mining solutions at MINExpo From 24 to 26 September 2024, Liebherr will present advancements from its mining, earthmoving, mobile and crawler cranes, components, and aerospace and transportation product segments at MINExpo in Las Vegas, USA. In line with Liebherr’s motto for the event, ‘Your mining partner’, Liebherr will showcase its reliability as a partner for best-in-class equipment, decarbonisation solutions, cutting-edge technology, and service excellence for the mining industry. Liebherr will be sharing its latest news, products, services, and innovations for the mining sector at the world’s largest mining exhibition, MINExpo INTERNATIONAL®, this September. Visitors will experience over 2,777m2 (over 29,000 sq. ft) of...

MinRes shines at mine emergency rescue competition Mineral Resources (MinRes) (ASX: MIN) won the firefighting event in the surface mine emergency rescue competition run by the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME) in Coolgardie. The event allows teams to compete in vehicle extrication, hazardous material response, confined space rescue, rope rescue, team skills, theory, mass casualty first aid and incident management. This was the first year MinRes had entered a team in the competition, winning the firefighting event in which participants worked...

Impact Minerals progressing $1.3b high-purity alumina project Impact Minerals (ASX: IPT) has confirmed the WA Lake Hope high purity alumina (HPA) pre-feasibility study (PFS) is on schedule for completion by the end of 2024. In a recent update to its PFS, Impact Minerals identified significant progress on the mine, the process plant and product development, offtake and marketing. The project has an estimated post-tax net present value of about $1.3b with a benchmark production of 10,000tpa of HPA which would make it one of the lowest-cost producers globally by a significant margin. Location of the Lake...

Queensland Pacific Metals receives $8m grant for TECH project Queensland Pacific Metals (ASX: QPM) has received an $8m grant from the Federal Government under the International Partnerships in Critical Minerals program. The company has been working with the Government and stakeholders to secure independent funding to advance its TECH project in Queensland and this grant represents a significant step towards achieving this. The TECH (Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub) project will be a modern and sustainable battery materials refinery, processing imported, high-grade laterite ore to produce nickel and cobalt sulphate as well as other valuable co-products. It has been declared a...

Adavale Resources to begin uranium drilling in South Australia Following drilling and survey contracts being finalised, Adavale Resources (ASX: ADD) is one step closer to drilling at the Marree Embayment in South Australia. Around 3000m of aircore drilling will target paleochannel extensions and uranium redox boundaries at the MacDonnell Creek and George Creek prospects. Both prospects highlighted uranium potential with historical drill intercepts of 1m at 263ppm triuranium octoxide and 0.65m at 235ppm triuranium octoxide. Heritage surveys have been designed to extend localised areas previously cleared at MacDonnell Creek and George Creek. Adavale executive director David Riekie commented on...

Rio Tinto contributes $40m towards WA hospitals Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will contribute an additional $20m to the WA Government to redevelop the Paraburdoo hospital in the Pilbara region. Rio Tinto’s contribution to the Paraburdoo Hospital will come from the company’s $250m commitment to the WA Government’s Resources Community Investment Initiative (RCII). The major redevelopment of the Paraburdoo Hospital is the first project through the RCII to receive funding. The partnership will see the ageing Paraburdoo Hospital upgraded with contemporary purpose-built facilities to support medical services for the local community, including new rooms for the GP. The project will be packaged with Rio Tinto’s previous $20m commitment to a new Tom Price hospital. Rio Tinto rail, ports and core services...

JL Mag invests $7m in Hastings Chinese JL Mag Rare-Earth will own 9.8% of Hastings (ASX: HAS) as well as a seat on its board following a $7m investment in the company. The investment proceeds will be used to advance the Yangibana rare earths project in WA toward production and supplements the $16m previously raised in April 2024. Hastings has already completed the construction of the mine infrastructure for the Yangibana project. The company plans to complete the project debt funding and start construction of its beneficiation plant in Q4 2024. The plant...

XRF to achieve 100% ownership of Orbis WA based XRF Scientific (ASX: XRF) will acquire the remaining 50% of Orbis Mining in an acquisition valued at $3.91m. XRF states this is a low risk, bolt-on acquisition with highly complementary products as the majority of XRF’s existing customers require laboratory jaw crushers like those produced by Orbis. XRF acquired its initial 50% shareholding for $800,000 in 2021. Since then, Orbis has grown significantly and continues to gain market share. In FY21, Orbis produced unaudited...