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Gold Hydrogen secures drilling and services contracts for Ramsay project Gold Hydrogen (ASX:GHY) has secured drilling and services contracts with SLB and Savanna Energy Services for its flagship Ramsay project in South Australia. International drilling contractor Savanna Energy will provide drilling services for Gold Hydrogen’s first exploration well at Ramsay which is designed to replicate the results of the historic Ramsay Oil Bore 1 which encountered natural hydrogen of up to 89% purity. Gold Hydrogen believes that Savanna’s minimal disturbance style of drilling will mitigate any disruptions and impacts within the local community. SLB will provide their specialist services — which includes geological services, mud logging, wireline services and cementing...

Strandline Resources completes seventh shipment of HMC Strandline Resources (ASX:STA) has completed a seventh shipment of heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) and begun the next commissioning campaign of the downstream mineral separation plant (MSP) at the Coburn project in WA. The MSP is designed to separate the HMC into valuable critical minerals of zircon and titanium as well as a zircon in concentrate product containing monazite rare earths. The beginning of the campaign follows successful refinements made to the MSP dust extraction system and several other circuits throughout June 2023. These refinements are already showing improved mineral separation efficiencies and they enable further commissioning of the downstream circuits. Chloride ilmenite product...

RocketDNA signs South32 contract in South Africa for drone surveying RocketDNA Ltd (ASX: RKT) has signed a five-year contract with South32 (ASX: S32) via Hotazel Manganese Mines (PTY) LTD in South Africa for drone surveying services at two mine sites. The contract is with RocketDNA’s subsidiary, Rocketmine (Pty) Ltd, valued at $1.18m and annual recurring revenue of $236,000. South32’s manganese operation in South Africa is located in the Kalahari Basin, home to 80% of the world’s manganese. It is made up of the Metalloys manganese alloy smelter in Meyerton, Gauteng, which remains in care and maintenance, the open-cut Mamatwan mine and the underground Wessels mine. South32 reported increased...

IperionX and Aperam Recycling to create 100% recycled titanium supply chain IperionX (ASX:IPX) and Aperam Recycling, through its American entity ELG Utica Alloys, are partnering up to create a low-carbon 100% recycled titanium supply chain. ELG will supply clean titanium scrap metal and IperionX will use its patented titanium processing technologies to produce low-carbon titanium metal for a more sustainable and fully circular supply chain. IperionX chief executive Anastasios Arima is pleased to partner with ELG. “We are pleased to partner with ELG to advance a more sustainable 100% recycled US titanium supply chain,” he said. “This agreement with ELG provides the potential to unlock a secure, long-term supply of scrap titanium feedstock to create value for our customers with...

Queensland Government gives green light for Sconi project Australian Mines (ASX:AUZ) has been granted a mining lease from the Queensland Government for its Sconi project at Greenvale. Now that it has been given the green light, around 780 jobs will be on offer in North Queensland. The $1.4b Sconi project has a planned life of 30 years, processing two million tonnes of ore per year with the project planned for commissioning in 2028. Once operational, the open-cut mine and adjoining processing plant is expected to produce around 47,000t of nickel sulphate, 7000t of cobalt sulphate and 89t of scandium oxide. Queensland minister for resources Scott Stewart said the granting of...

Glencore’s $20b impact on the Australian economy Glencore contributed just under $20b to the Australian economy in 2022, according to the company’s latest report. The mining company is the largest Australian producer of coal, zinc, lead and cobalt, employing over 18,000 staff and contractors across its 24 mines and processing facilities. Glencore head of corporate affairs Cassandra McCarthy says the company is proud of its people who make a huge contribution to Glencore’s success. “When mining does well, Australians do well and our economy does well,” she said. “We should never take that for granted.” Glencore supports more than 7,000...

Consultants engaged for rare earth element processing plant ACDC Metals (ASX:ADC) has engaged industry-leading consultants to complete a rare earth element processing plant localisation study for the rare earth processing plant (REPP) in southeastern Australia. The localisation study builds on earlier scoping studies completed by Medallion Resources to include parameters specific to a potential Australian operation. Medallion’s study was completed for a North American setting and this updated study will reflect southeastern Australian operating conditions and supporting infrastructure. It will identify locations that are favourable to the infrastructure and services required for a rare earth element processing plant and optimise potential transport routes to and from market. National consultancy JBS&G Australia have...

Saunders International awarded $9.3m contract from Ampol Saunders International (ASX:SND) has been awarded a $9.3m contract from Ampol to deliver a new fuel storage tank at its Lytton refinery in the Port of Brisbane. Work includes the design and construction of a new 31m wide and 20m high jet fuel storage tank. It will comply with the strict quality assurance requirements associated with the storage and distribution of aviation fuels to airports. The refinery will continue to operate throughout the construction phase and Saunders will work closely with Ampol’s operational team to optimise planning and ensuring the market continues to receive high-quality fuels throughout the project. The contract forms part of...

Ardea Resources signs MoU for Kalgoorlie nickel project Ardea Resources (ASX:ARL) has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sumitomo Metal Mining, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co for the Kalgoorlie nickel project (KNP). Sumitomo is a pre-eminent Japanese nickel-cobalt laterite development and production company and in partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsui & Co — Japan’s two largest trading houses — will form the consortium. Under the MoU, the companies will work together to negotiate a binding agreement to complete the Goongarrie hub definitive feasibility study, make a final investment decision and secure project development funding for the KNP. Ardea chief executive and managing director Andrew Penkethman welcomes the...

Westgold Resources to not increase Musgrave Minerals offer Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX) has decided not to increase its offer for the takeover of Musgrave Minerals (ASX:MGV) following a better offer from Ramelius Resources (ASX:RMS). In early June, Westgold announced an all-scrip off-market takeover offer for all the outstanding shares in Musgrave Minerals with an implied value of $177.3m or 30¢ per share. Musgrave shareholders were to receive one fully paid ordinary Westgold share for every 5.37 Musgrave shares held. At the time, Westgold said the combination of the companies consolidates both groups’ regional assets into a larger scale, more profitable and highly investable WA-focused gold miner. Westgold managing director Wayne Bramwell...

Southern Star Exploration signs agreement with TLaWC for Greater Fosterville exploration Southern Star Exploration has signed an agreement with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council (TLaWC) for future exploration work over the Greater Fosterville exploration licence application 7795 (ELA7795) in Victoria. The agreement defines the terms and conditions that Southern Star must adhere to when undertaking exploration on the part of the exploration licence that falls within TLaWC’s native title claim area. This agreement is the first of its kind between TLaWC and a mineral exploration company. Together with a recently signed agreement with the Dja Dja Wurrung traditional owners, this is the final agreement required by the Victorian Government...