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Critical minerals explorer and developer QEM (ASX: QEM) has extracted 99.93% pure vanadium pentoxide from Queensland industrial waste. These results complete the study carried out on QEM’s behalf by The University of Queensland Hydrometallurgy Research Laboratories (UQ), part of the School of Chemical Engineering. The results set the groundwork to begin optimisation and pilot-scale work. QEM supplied The University of Queensland with vanadium-bearing spent catalyst from Incitec Pivot’s Mount Isa sulphuric acid plant. Work determined that an acid lead followed by solvent extraction, crystallisation and calcining is a technically viable method of recycling spent catalyst to produce high-purity vanadium pentoxide. Vanadium electrolyte is one of the critical components of vanadium flow batteries for long-duration energy storage, complementing renewable electricity generation.…

CSI Mining Services, Mineral Resources’ (ASX: MIN) mining services arm, has been awarded a crushing contract for Atlas Iron’s McPhee Creek project in WA. The five-year contract is for the supply and operation of a 10Mtpa primary crushing plant fed by Atlas Iron via dump trucks or front-end loaders. The product will be stockpiled for reclaim and haulage by Atlas Iron. CSI chief executive Mike Grey says the contract adds to the company’s pipeline of upcoming work. “It’s fantastic to strengthen our partnership with Atlas Iron, with CSI also currently providing crushing services for their Sanjiv Ridge mining operations and crushing and haulage operations for Roy Hill,” he said. “It’s an exciting period of growth for our business, with CSI…

As part of Fortescue’s (ASX: FMG) decarbonisation plans, power and communications infrastructure provider GenusPlus Group (ASX: GNP) has been awarded two work contracts worth $50m. The two contracts are for the construction of civil foundation and the construction of a 220kV circuit overhead transmission line to transmit power between the power station at Fortescue’s Solomon and Eliwana mines in WA. Under the contracts, GenusPlus will construct the pole civil foundations and install the transmission poles, conductor, optical ground wire and hardware. Work has already begun and is expected to be completed by mid-2025. GenusPlus managing director David Riches welcomes the opportunity to extend the company’s relationship with Fortescue. “We are delighted to secure these contracts, which continue to build on…

BHP (ASX: BHP) and Mitsubishi Development (MDP) have completed the divestment of the Blackwater and Daunia mines to Whitehaven Coal (ASX: WHC). Both mines were part of the BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) metallurgical coal joint venture in Queensland. BHP and NDP each hold a 50% interest in BMA. Whitehaven Coal paid BMA $3.07b (US$2b) cash consideration on completion, plus a preliminary completion adjustment of $67.73m (US$44.1m) for working capital and other adjustments. On October 18, 2023, Whitehaven paid a $153.59m (US$100m) deposit on signing of the asset sale agreement. There remains a cash payment of $1.69b (US$1.1b), payable by Whitehaven Coal to BMA over three years post completion. A potential additional amount of up to $1.38b (US$900m) in a price-linked…

Under a new management services agreement (MSA), Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) will manage the Ranger rehabilitation project in the Northern Territory on behalf of Energy Resources of Australia (ERA). The MSA will build on ERA’s existing rehabilitation work with Rio’s technical expertise in designing, scoping and executing closure projects. Transition to Rio Tinto’s management will begin immediately and is expected to take around three months. Under the agreement, Rio and ERA will aim to complete the Ranger rehabilitation project in the safest and most efficient way, and to a standard that will establish an environment similar to the adjacent Kakadu National Park. Rio chief executive, Australia Kellie Parker commented on the partnership. “With the signing of this agreement, we are…

Applications are open for the second Mineral Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) science communication awards. The aim of the award is to encourage and recognise the value of high-quality, high-impact communication of mineral research, technology and services in WA’s mining and minerals industry. The awards are open to industry professionals, students, researchers and academics engaged in minerals research in WA. First place will receive $5k, second place will receive $2k and third place will receive $1k, while shortlisted finalists will be provided with a science communication masterclass to enhance their skills. Submissions are to be in the form of a three-minute video presentation and scientific accuracy will be assessed as part of the judging process. WA Mines and Petroleum…

Perenti’s (ASX: PRN) underground mining business Barminco has been awarded a $393m contract for mining services at Regis Resources’ (ASX: RRL) Duketon operations in WA. Under the three-year contract, Barminco will provide underground development, production and support services for Duketon. Perenti managing director and chief executive Mark Norwell says the company is pleased to continue the partnership with Regis. “We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with Regis Resources at the Duketon operations where Barminco has been providing value to our client through both development and production works since February 2019,” he said. “This award adds Australian-based underground earnings to our portfolio, which is aligned with the ongoing delivery of our strategy.” Located around 130km north of Laverton in the…

Legacy Iron Ore (ASX: LCY) has completed the maiden ore sale from its Mount Celia gold operations in WA. Gold mining at Mount Celia began in November 2023 with work commencing at the Blue Peter pit. The delivery of this first ore is in line with Legacy Iron’s guidance stating first ore would be processed in Q1 2024. The first delivery of 21,000t will be processed through an ore purchase agreement with Paddington Gold, a subsidiary of Northern Goldfields. Legacy chief executive Rakesh Gupta commented on this milestone. “This first ore sale marks a significant step in the company’s history as we move towards gold production and revenue generation,” he said. “In November 2023, we advised the market that we…

In the realm of industrial mining, dust control stands as a persistent challenge with far-reaching implications. From environmental concerns to worker safety and operational efficiency, managing dust emissions remains a critical priority for mining companies across Australia. As the industry evolves, innovative solutions are increasingly necessary, with automation emerging as a key driver of progress. The complexity of mining operations presents unique challenges in dust control. Factors such as ore composition, weather conditions, and equipment operation contribute to the generation and dispersion of dust particles, requiring a multifaceted approach to mitigation. Traditional methods of dust control, often reliant on manual intervention and reactive measures, have proven inadequate for modern mining operations. These approaches are inefficient and pose safety risks for…

In a world where durability, reliability, and longevity are paramount, Rhino Linings stands tall as a pioneer and leader in the realm of protective coating solutions. With a rich legacy and an unwavering commitment to innovation, Rhino Linings has solidified its position as the go-to brand for those seeking top tier protective coatings. A deep dive into their offerings, as showcased on their website, www.rhinolinings.com.au, unveils a compelling narrative of excellence that cements their status as the best in the industry. One of the most significant reasons Rhino Linings shines is their exceptional commitment to research and development. Their cutting-edge technology reveals a company that thrives on pushing the boundaries of protective coatings. Rhino Linings treats protective coatings as not…

Pursuit Minerals’ (ASX: PUR) lithium carbonate pilot plant has begun the first phase of operations to produce lithium carbonate. Commissioning work has been completed and Pursuit will now begin operations with the overall goal of producing battery-grade lithium carbonate. The pilot plant will look to produce an initial sample batch using synthetic brine of around 50-100kg of product. The plant has been designed to run for both continuous and batch production for 12hrs per day at a utilisation rate of 91.5%. Evaporated brine, which is currently being sourced from the stage one drilling program, will be used to produce around two to 10t of lithium carbonate which are anticipated to be battery grade product. After this work, Pursuit will consider…