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Lithium and pathfinder anomalies confirmed at Akira Voltaic Strategic Resources (ASX:VSR) has confirmed multiple lithium and pathfinder anomalies at the Akira prospect within the Ti Tree project in WA. A 7.5km strike area of the prospective Leake Spring Metamorphic schist covering the Akria and Morpheus prospects was tested, with results from the latter pending. Samples were collected on a north-northeast oriented lines at spacing of 100m by 80m and 200m by 80m. The samples will be progressively received and reported on over the coming weeks with assays from the Morpheus prospect expected in three to four weeks. Chief executive Michael Walshe says the company is encouraged by the assays....

Wabtec’s Trip Optimizer surpasses 1.6 billion kilometres Wabtec’s smart cruise control software for trains, Trip Optimizer, used by the likes of Roy Hill and Pacific National here in Australia, has surpassed a significant milestone, operating trains for more than 1.6b km (1b miles). This is equivalent to more than 40,000 trips around Earth, with 12,000 locomotives using the system worldwide, resulting in 7.7mt in emissions reductions collectively. Wabtec Digital Intelligence president Nalin Jain says the “billion-mile accomplishment is a tribute to our customers and our team of innovators”. “Trip Optimizer has become an integral locomotive operating system and an industry standard for railroads to efficiently manage the...

Perenti secures $420m in contract extensions Perenti’s (ASX:PRN) underground mining businesses have been awarded contract extensions valued at $420m. The extensions include: A 12-month $125m contract extension to continue underground development and production at the Gold Fields Agnew underground gold mine. A 12-month $180m contract extension at AngloGold Ashanti’s Obuasi underground gold mine in Ghana. A two-year $115m contract extension of existing underground development and production work at Roxgold’s Yaramoko underground mine in Burkina Faso. Perenti managing director and chief executive Mark Norwell says the company is pleased with the extensions. “We pride ourselves on enduring relationships, so we are especially pleased to be continuing our relationship with these long-term clients,” he said. “Our...

National mine waste conference targets best practice Mining professionals and researchers from across Australia will converge in Brisbane, Queensland, on 6-7 February, to discuss the future of mine waste management. The Australian Mine Waste Symposium, organised by the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s (SMI) WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC) and the Geological Survey of Queensland, aims to produce an industry-wide roadmap to achieving best practice. BRC’s Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH) research group leader Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox says there is widespread interest in addressing the challenges associated with mine waste. “The complex environmental, social and economic challenges posed by mine...

New PPE waste management initiative With the surge in use of personal protective equipment (PPE) since COVID-19, a recycling program has been launched by Australian PPE producer Industree Group and global recycling company TerraCycle to reduce PPE waste at worksites nation-wide. The Epicycle initiatve features recycling boxes that are custom-designed for collecting used safety glasses, safety gloves and disposable respirators before they reach landfill. TerraCycle ANZ general manager Jean Bailliard says PPE has traditionally been considered a hard-to-recycle waste stream because it consists of different kinds of complex, composite materials including hard and soft plastics, leather, and fabrics. “For this reason, we are proud to join...

Cosmo Metals to acquire Kanowna gold project Cosmo Metals (ASX:CMO) has signed a term sheet to acquire La Zarza Minerals — the holder of the Kanowna gold project (KGP) in WA. The KGP lies 1km west of Northern Star Resources’ Kanowna Belle gold operations which has produced more than 5.4moz of gold since 1993 and has a current production rate of 150kozpa. It comprises of 12 prospecting licences and is situated in the Eastern Goldfields of WA, one of the world’s most prolifically well-endowed gold producing regions. The KGP includes drill ready targets at Don Álvaro, Laguna Verde and WKL with multiple additional surface and shallow air core anomalies that...

Mount Isa Mines celebrates 100 years of operation One of Australia’s most iconic mining operations — Mount Isa Mines — has celebrated its 100th birthday. Formed on January 16th, 1924, the discovery of Mount Isa Mines came almost a year after prospector John Campbell Miles discovered mineralised outcrops near the Leichhardt River that contained high grades of lead-silver. Since then, the operation has grown to be a major contributor of copper, zinc and lead to global suppliers. These minerals are used in everyday items such as phones, laptops, electric cars and renewable energy technologies. Several significant mining industry innovations were pioneered at Mount Isa Mines, including the ISASMELT smelting technology,...

West Coast Poly Embraces Latest Tech To Deliver Complete Tank Solutions Australia’s manufacturing sector has been challenged since the 1970s with rising energy costs, skills shortages and an ever-developing capability of off-shore competition. However, some businesses have leveraged in-house capabilities and innovative manufacturing processes to stay ahead of the game, while facilitating continued growth along the way. One of those businesses is WA owned and based company West Coast Poly. Founded in 1999, West Coast Poly has set the standard as one of the largest manufacturers of rotomoulded polyethylene tanks in Western Australia. The progressive Perth based roto-moulding specialist is renowned for producing quality, durable polyethylene storage tanks for the industrial, mining, rural and residential markets. Not only has it...

Dampier Salt to sell Lake MacLeod for $375m Dampier Salt has entered a sales agreement for the Lake MacLeod salt and gypsum operation in WA to salt company Leichhardt Industrials Group for $375m. Dampier Salt is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (68%), Marubeni Corporation (22%) and Sojitz (10%). Lake MacLeod is one of three solar salt sites owned by Dampier Salt with the other two operations in Dampier and Port Hedland. It lies within Baiyungu country in the Gascoyne region of WA and consists of a 1.5mtpa salt operation, 1mtpa gypsum operation and a deepwater port. Dampier Salt is the world’s largest exporter of seaborne salt with capacity...

Sandvik receives largest ever surface drill rig order Sandvik has received its largest ever order for surface drill rigs from US-based Sandvik dealer Country Boy Supply, valued at $36m (SEK 248m). The order consists of 34 surface drill rigs which will replace Country Boy Supply’s current contractor fleet in Georgia and Tennessee. The order includes 16 Leopard DI650i drills, six Leopard DI550 drills, five Pantera DP1600i drills, three Ranger DX800 drills, three Ranger DX700 drills and one Pantera DP1500i drill. Automation will play a key feature in the fleet upgrade as part of the new rigs will be equipped with Sandvik AutoMine. AutoMine is a cutting-edge tele-remote solution that enables...

Zinc and lead anomalies identified at Wellington Coincident zinc and lead anomalies have been identified within Great Boulder Resources’ (ASX:GBR) Wellington base metals project in WA. In October and November, 700 soil samples were collected and assayed by Intertek Genalysis in Perth. The sample coverage represents around 63% of project area, with the remaining sample locations yet to be completed. The assays confirmed coincident zinc and lead anomalism in the northwestern and eastern areas of the project, matching the original GSWA sample data. The zinc and lead anomalism is supported by strong pathfinder anomalism including elevated copper, cobalt, magnesium, tungsten, nickel and thallium. Furthermore,...