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Inca Minerals (ASX:ICG) has completed its inaugural 10-hole reverse circulation drilling program at the Wallaroo prospect at the MaCauley Creek project in North Queensland. Drilling initially targeted a strong magnetic geophysical anomaly, spatially associated with outcropping copper mineralisation occurring as malachite and azurite. Drill collars for six of the holes were designed to target outcropping copper mineralisation. Limited visible copper was observed in the reverse circulation chips and logging of the drill chips has demonstrated that the strong magnetic anomaly which defines Wallaroo can be explained by the mass effect of a mafic intrusion. Although drilling initially targeted a strong magnetic anomaly with outcropping copper mineralisation, four holes were also drilled in a low magnetics area but where there was…

The next phase of exploration is underway at Sipa Resources’ (ASX:SRI) Wolf Basin project to test a rare earth elements (REE) target area. Initial mapping and surface sampling has now been completed with a focus on peak thorium anomalies that are coincident with a magnetic anomaly. The historic drillhole CRA026 was also located and drill chips from this hole were collected. Examination in the field of the drill chips identified basement rocks in this location as a syenite. Syenites are felsic intrusive rocks that can be enriched in REEs and this is a likely source rock for the REEs observed in the immediately overlying and enriched weathered material. All samples have been sent for assay for the full suite of…

Canada’s largest diamond producer, the Diavik mine, 100%-owned and operated by Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO), will build the largest solar power plant across the country’s territories, as the mining giant moves towards achieving net zero across its operations by 2050. With more than 6,600 solar panels generating about 4,200MW-hours of carbon-free electricity annually for the mine, the solar power plant will provide up to 25% of Diavik’s electricity during closure work that will run until 2029, with commercial production from the operation expected to end in early 2026. Diavik Diamond Mine president and chief operating officer Angela Bigg says she is delighted the mine will be significantly increasing its renewable power generation with the largest solar power plant in Canada’s…

First Nation Engineering Pty Ltd (FNE) is celebrating the completion of its first contract, providing engineering design and procurement services to Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) in relation to borefields expansions at Northern Star’s Thunderbox, Carosue Dam and KCGM Operations. FNE is a registered Supply Nation Indigenous business, an incorporated joint venture (JV) between a subsidiary of the Carey Group — Australia’s leading Aboriginal commercial enterprise, with over 27 years of project delivery excellence in the mining, civil and training industries — and CPC Engineering — which began in the Goldfields more than 50 years ago and now offers end-to-end mining and infrastructure services for clients State-wide. FNE is the first Indigenous company to offer comprehensive design, construction and…

Commissioning has been completed and operations have begun at Westgold Resources’ (ASX:WGX) first of four new hybrid power facilities across its WA operations. The new 17.9MW facility at Tuckabianna replaces the existing diesel fired power station and delivers a reduction of 15kt of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and 10Ml of annual diesel fuel consumption. The Tuckabianna hybrid power facility incorporates a 6MW solar farm with 11,088 photovoltaic panels, a battery energy storage system with 2.4MW installed capacity and a 9.5MW gas-fuelled power station. In addition to this facility, a further three are being constructed at Bluebird, Big Bell and Fortnum. These facilities are central to Westgold’s clean energy transition initiative, with the gas-fired power stations, battery storage and solar farms…

Polymetals (ASX:POL) has received $250k of a $500k grant from the NSW Government Critical Minerals Activation Fund. Cobar Metals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Polymetals, will use the grant to assist in the delivery of the Endeavor mine restart study. Polymetals non-executive director Alistair Barton said the company is grateful to receive the grant. “Polymetals and its wholly owned subsidiary, Cobar Metals, are grateful to receive this generous support from the New South Wales Government to assist our restart of the Endeavour Mine, one of the state’s largest silver-zinc-lead mines,” he said. “The funding has been allocated for work undertaken as part of the Endeavor mine restart study which will be completed during the December quarter. “The Endeavor mine is…

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) and H2 Green Steel have signed a multi-year agreement for the supply of iron ore pellets from Rio’s Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) operations.   Rio will also purchase and on-sell a part of the surplus low carbon hot briquetted iron (HBI) produced by H2 Green Steel during the ramp-up of its steelmaking capacity. The reduction pellets will account for a significant part of the iron ore supply to H2 Green Steel’s flagship plant in Boden, Sweden, which will be one of the world’s first large-scale producers of low carbon iron and steel. The plant is expected to start operations in 2025, processing direct reduction pellets into HBI and then making steel through electric arc furnaces…

Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) has awarded Metso Corporation a detailed design and engineering contract for its continuous pilot plant (CPP) for the BioIron process. This contract is an extension the work that Rio and Metso have being doing regarding the development of the BioIron process. Metso director of ferrous metals Matthias Gabriel said the company is excited to continue working with Rio. “We are very excited to continue the close working relationship with Rio Tinto and to provide engineering and design support as we move to the next phase of development of the BioIron technology,” he said. Rio’s BioIron process uses raw biomass instead of metallurgical coal as a reductant and microwave energy to convert Pilbara iron ore to metallic iron…

UGL, a member of the CIMIC Group, has been awarded several contracts with energy and minerals processing clients in WA, including Albermarle’s Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant and Alcoa Australia’s bauxite and alumina operations. Albemarle is constructing two additional processing trains at its Kemerton plant to increase production to up to 100,000tpa of lithium hydroxide, supporting the manufacturing of an estimated 2.4 million electric vehicles annually. UGL’s contract with Albermarle include the provision of construction services at the Kemerton plant near Bunbury, in WA’s southwest, which will generate up to 400 jobs with UGL through the construction phase and revenue for UGL of over $300m. CIMIC Group executive chairman Juan Santamaria is positive about the UGL-Albermarle contract. “We are proud to…

Bowen Coking Coal (ASX:BCB) achieved its goal of shipping four vessels in July 2023, exporting 179kt of coal from its Bluff mine in Queensland. Chief executive Mark Ruston commented on the export. “Our July shipping performance follows 199kt being shipped in June across four vessels,” he said. “External coal supply chain issues have eased and the company is confident recent momentum will continue in the near-term with an increase in coal tonnes for the quarter, and a higher percentage of metallurgical coal over time.” Hillalong South resource upgrade Bowen has also reported a 45% upgrade in the resource estimate for its Hillalong South project on the back of the 2022 exploration program. The total resource new stands at 106Mt, of…

Applications have opened for round 28 of the Exploration Incentive Scheme’s (EIS) flagship co-funded drilling program and series 6 of the Energy Analysis Program (EAP). This application round follows the state budget 2023-2024 funding increase of $1m per year. A total of $7m is now available across the two application rounds each year. Launched in 2009, the EIS program supports innovative exploration in greenfields and underexplored areas of WA. The EAP program encourages exploration of petroleum and geothermal resources using existing state resources, including drill core, sidewall core, cuttings and existing data. WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston commented on the funding programs. “Mineral exploration is one of WA’s most important sectors, which is why the Cook Government will…