Latest News

Regis Resources approves two underground mines Regis Resources (ASX: RRL) has approved two underground mines — Garden Well Main and Rosemont Stage 3 — to support its underground growth strategy. With the inclusion of Garden Well Main and Rosemont Stage 3, Regis will operate at least three independent underground mining areas within the Duketon gold project in WA. Located around 750m north of the current Garden Well South underground mine, Garden Well Main will open a new mining domain directly below the base of the current Garden Well open pit. The mining inventory at Garden Well Main comprises of 36% indicated mineral...

High quality MREC produced from Yin monazite concentrate High-quality mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) has been produced from monazite concentrate at Dreadnought Resources' (ASX: DRE) Yin project, part of the Mangaroon project in WA. The concentrate was produced by metallurgical group ANSTO using a conventional low-temperature acid bake / leach process. The testwork was carried out on a 2kg monazite concentrate sample that was taken from combined diamond core samples from three holes drilled at Yin. The produced MREC was made up of 30.6% total rare earth oxides containing 8.3% neodymium oxide and 2.2% praseodymium oxide. It...

Surefire Resources files provisional patent for vanadium recovery process Through its wholly owned subsidiary Suretec Solutions, Surefire Resources (ASX: SRN) has filed an Australian provisional patent application to protect its proprietary vanadium recovery process. Perth-based patent attorney WRAYS was appointed to review the process and undertake a search on the subject matter of the invention. Following this, WRAYS have confirmed to application has been lodged with IP Australia. Surefire’s metallurgical application reduces the need for standard heat pre-treatment processes currently used in the vanadium extraction industry. In May 2023, Surefire appointed METS Engineering to assess the potential for recovery of a high purity...

Dense media separation produces up to 31.8% manganese concentrate Dense media separation (DMS) has produced manganese concentrate grades of up to 31.8% from Black Canyon’s (ASX: BCA) KR1 and KR2 deposits in WA. In late 2023, metallurgical sample preparation was completed on 400kg of reverse circulation drill chip samples from the KR1 and KR2 mineral resource estimate areas. The samples were processed using large-scale dense media separation (DMS) equipment that simulates beneficiation processing used across mining operations to upgrade manganese and iron ore in the Pilbara. The aim of this program was to produce a...

Better communication key to attracting Gen Z to mining industry A national survey of Generation Z, 15 to 24-year-olds, has found almost three quarters (72%), believe mining is important to a net zero emissions future. However, land rehabilitation and workplace culture top the list of their concerns (a tie at 77%), followed by renewable energy use (69%) and reducing or recycling mining waste and pollution (67%). The Gen Z Perceptions of Mining report, developed by AUSMASA in...

Orexplore’s gold detection technology begins commercial validation testing Orexplore Technologies (ASX: OXT) is conducting commercial validation tests on its new gold detection technology with multiple tier-1 gold mining companies. Orexplore’s technology detects nuggety gold on-site within 20 minutes, optimising the volumes of processed and transported core samples to laboratories which can take weeks or months to provide results. It quickly identifies nuggets larger than 100 micrometres in size through the full 3D volume of the core. It aims to reduce the required drill sample volumes and can potentially accelerate the utilisation of gold grades for operational grade control and improved nuggety deposit characterisation. Nuggety gold mines are...

QCoal Foundation awards inaugural Christopher Wallin Prize for Geology The QCoal Foundation has announced the inaugural recipient of the Christopher Wallin Prize for Excellence in Geology, established to recognise students striving for excellence in the field of geology, as Jose Pena Araya. Townsville-based Jose has just commenced his third year of a Bachelor of Geology. Originally from Chile but more recently from Mount Isa, Jose will receive the $2000 prize and the opportunity for paid work placement with QCoal Group. This prize, awarded to the second-year student studying a Bachelor of Geology at James Cook University who demonstrates a commitment to excellence by achieving...

CSI Mining Services forms joint venture with PMW Industries CSI Mining Services, a subsidiary of Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN), has formed its first joint venture with Indigenous company PMW Industries (PMWI). A Traditional Owner Banjima business, PMW Industries has over 10 years of experience delivering rail and civil services. CSI and PMWI already have an established subcontracting relationship, delivering crushing, screening and rehabilitation services to tier one mining companies. The new joint venture will help strengthen this relationship with a focus on establishing a mining services contract portfolio. CSI chief executive Mike Gray says it’s fantastic to continue building on the...

Maximising Autonomous Haulage System performance through operational knowhow Life as we know it has accelerated at an unprecedented pace. A malleable approach and the capacity for dynamic adaptability is more important than ever before. In a world where advanced technological conversions require strategic integration and methodical systemic application, the more personal aspects of this operating shift may be often overlooked. Encompassing a myriad of complexities, the transition towards an automated future is typically geared towards the mechanical efficiency aspect, whilst losing sight of the profound human factors involved in such an industrious evolution. Although there’s no doubt that our automated technologies possess an impressive degree of self-sufficiency and inherent independent ability, the bottom line is that these applications also demand...

Universal Field Robots – Australia’s Robotics and Automation R&D Powerhouse Although starting out in the competitive and price sensitive world of agriculture, Universal Field Robots (UFR), has become synonymous with mining. Its early innovations in lawn-mowing robots and avocado picking laid the foundation for a more innovative approach to technology as it transitioned into other industrial segments. The company’s commitment to technological advancement led to the introduction of UFRautonomy™, a reflection of the continuous evolution in its architecture and technology stack. UFR has quickly gained recognition as an R&D leader in the field of robotics and automation, facilitating its expansion across several industries including mining, solar farm construction, and defence. The partnership with Newmont Cadia marked a significant milestone, one...