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Glencore shifts on coal with shareholder support Glencore will retain its coal and carbon steel materials business after receiving backing from shareholders, citing opportunities to fund its transitioning metals portfolio. With its acquisition of a 77% interest in Canadian coal miner Elk Valley Resources in July, Glencore intended to demerge the combined business within 24 months from close. Following the acquisition, Glencore consulted shareholders to assess views regarding retaining or demerging the business, with over 95% of consulted Glencore shareholders supporting retention. Glencore says shareholders do not see a demerger as ESG...

Fifth year of record-breaking exports in the Pilbara The Pilbara region in WA saw a record 758.3mt of exports valued at about $173.2b pass through its ports in FY24. Iron ore was a major factor in this result, with Pilbara Ports handling about 80% of the national iron ore trade and 43% of the global iron ore trade. The record-breaking exports were achieved alongside more than 7,700 safe vessel visits, equating to an average of 21 vessel visits each day across...

Gold Fields supports WA Museum’s regional sites Gold mining company Gold Fields has entered a three-year partnership with the WA Museum and the Foundation for the WA Museum. Gold Fields will be the presenting partner of two significant projects focused on the WA Museum’s regional museum sites: the Aboriginal Bush Food and Medicine Garden at the Museum of the Goldfields in Kalgoorlie, and digital audio guides. Foundation for the WA Museum chief executive Coralie Bishop spoke on the importance of the partnership....

Government urged to step in for Australian steel The Australian Steel Institute (ASI) is enlisting support from Federal and state governments for local steel fabricators and manufacturers, after research revealed the local industry is being undercut by an excess of cheap imports. Australia has experienced weaker industrial output of steel since the start of 2023 as world steel demand continues to be affected by the elevated interest rate environment in most advanced economies, according to the Federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ June Resources and Energy Quarterly...

Aruma locks in QLD copper and SA uranium projects Explorer Aruma Resources (ASX: AAJ) has completed the acquisition of a copper and uranium exploration portfolio across two Australian states. Last quarter, the company executed a share acquisition arrangement for the Wilam IOCG-uranium project in the Olympic Dam precinct in South Australia and the Fiery Creek and Bortala copper projects in the Mt Isa region of Queensland. Shareholder approval was granted on August 1, with 26.5 million fully-paid Aruma shares issued to NHMHA shareholders along with 52.5 million options. The shares issued...

BHP partners with Kariyarra to help create mining jobs BHP (ASX: BHP) and the Kariyarra Aboriginal Corporation have partnered to elevate employment and training outcomes for Kariyarra people. The Kariyarra Work Ready Program offers a combination of classroom and on-the-job training to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required for a mining role. Importantly, it will create employment pathways for Kariyarra candidates with no prior experience. The inaugural program kicked off in July with 11 new trainees participating in a three-to-four-month training program at BHP’s Port Hedland operations. Led by BHP’s Indigenous employees, the program...

Horizon Minerals to commence mining at Phillips Find As the price of gold continues to climb, Horizon Minerals Ltd (ASX: HRZ) has executed a joint venture (JV) agreement with BML Ventures Pty Limited (BML) to develop and mine two open pits at Phillips Find. The company’s existing 200,000t toll milling agreement with FMR Investments Pty Ltd will be used for ore processing an eight-month period. Mining is expected to commence in the September 2024 quarter, with first gold production planned for December 2024, subject to the current mining proposal being approved. Horizon Minerals managing director and chief executive...

Westgold lands on the TSX Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) has commenced trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange following its merger with Karora Resources. Westgold acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Karora, with Karora shares being delisted from the TSX on August 2. Westgold managing director and chief executive Wayne Bramwell says the merger with Karora creates an ASX and TSX listed, mid-tier gold producer with international appeal. “Westgold is unhedged, well-funded and focused on delivering shareholder returns,” he said. “The TSX: WGX listing provides increased liquidity and brings a +400,000oz producer to a broader investor base. “The listing also sees potential demand from...

First trainee secures full-time role at Narrabri The first of 10 local trainees at Whitehaven Coal’s (ASX: WHC) Narrabri coal operations (NCO) coal handling and processing plant (CHPP) has secured a full-time role. Sam Cameron, one of the 10 trainees, was a baker in town before entering the program and he was one of the first three candidates to enrol in September 2022. He completed all program requirements ahead of schedule and was awarded a Certificate III in Resource Processing...

Arcadium Lithium acquires Li-Metal Corp for $16m Arcadium Lithium (ASX: LTM) has acquired lithium metal business Li-Metal Corp for $16.88m (US$11m). This purchase includes the intellectual property and physical assets related to lithium metal production, including a pilot production facility in Ontario, Canada. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Arcadium’s position as a leading global producer of lithium metal by providing safer, lower cost and more sustainable processes for lithium metal production. Li-Metals’ capabilities will complement Arcadium’s existing process technologies for producing lithium metal at its Bessemer City site in North Carolina, using concentrated lithium chloride from its Güemes facility in Salta,...

Cosmic rays and hyperspectral imaging in mining operations It sounds like something out of Star Wars, yet cosmic rays and hyperspectral imaging are a central feature in two mining technology projects backed by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC), with major implications for safety and access to strategically important materials. mDetect is a Swinburne University spinout specialising in astrophysics research into muons, a type of subatomic particle that results from the Earth’s atmosphere being hit by cosmic rays, which fall harmlessly and constantly down on us1. They are sometimes described as the...