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LATEST export figures have confirmed the resilience of some of Australia’s key resources exports as the COVID-19 pandemic grips the world. Total resources and energy exports increased by nearly 34pc in March compared to the previous month. Resources Minister Keith Pitt said exports were also up by 2c in the first quarter over the same period last year, and were valued at $68.9b. “Iron ore remains the star performer of the sector following a 36pc monthly increase during March worth $8.9b for the month, a 47pc increase on last year,” he said. “While coal exports increased in March by 15.3pc, it is down by a similar amount on last year, which is an indication of some of the challenges the...

PLATINUM is shining bright for WA-based Impact Minerals, with promising new discoveries made amid prevailing record prices for the commodity. High grades of the rare platinum group elements (PGE) rhodium, iridium, osmium and ruthenium have been returned from new assays from seven previously drilled diamond drill holes at the Red Hill prospect within Impact’s 100pc-owned Broken Hill Project in NSW. The drill holes had previously only been assayed for palladium and platinum, with a total of 12 out of the 13 drill holes completed returning robust widths and grades of these two PGEs, together with significant gold, copper, nickel, cobalt and silver credits. In the current exploration, the seven holes with high grades of palladium and platinum were selected for...

THE WA resources sector will provide half a million dollars to fund a COVID-19 population study which will undertake wide-scale asymptomatic testing of FIFO workers. The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) and its members have been working with the WA Government on the DETECT (Defining and Monitoring the Prevalence of SARS CoV2 (COVID-19) in the Community) program, which is focusing on testing targeted cohorts such as students, teachers, health care workers and police. Chief Executive Paul Everingham said CME had established a COVID-19 Resources Research Fund to financially support the FIFO DETECT project, which members had contributed more than $500,000 towards. “The resources sector is one of the state’s largest employers, employing about 120,000 people, and...

WHEN it comes to the impact of mining companies on the local community, Jack Campbell is one of the biggest supporters. Jack and his family have been part of the Narrabri Shire for generations, and together with his father, run the family business Namoi WasteCorp, started in the town 19 years ago. “Due to Whitehaven Coal and the mining industry in the area – the Narrabri underground longwall mine­­ – we have seen growth and found opportunities that would be unthinkable for small businesses in most small communities,” Jack said. “Namoi WasteCorp has provided waste collection and recycling services to all industries in the Narrabri shire since its inception, but now thanks to recent contracts awarded to us from mining...

PACIFICO Minerals Limited has announced the execution of a Native Title, Heritage Protection and Mineral Exploration Agreement for the 100pc Pacifico-owned tenement E80/5317 (‘Eight Mile Creek’) in WA, which covers an area of 21,730ha to the northeast of Kununurra and south of the Sorby Hills Joint Venture Project. There are existing sealed roads to transport concentrate from site to the facilities at Wyndham Port (150km from the Project), with established infrastructure allowing for fast-tracked production. Following on from a significant resource upgrade in Q4 2019, Pacifico is now completing an Optimised PFS targeting an increased mining rate and greater processing capacity. The study is progressing well is expected to be completed in June 2020. The area has the potential to...

  FORTESCUE Metals Group has recorded record shipments in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Reflecting strong operating performance and resilient demand, the miner’s latest Quarterly Report showed record third quarter iron ore shipments of 42.3mt, 10pc higher than Q3 FY19, and year-to-date shipments at a record 130.9mt. C1 costs of US$13.27/wet metric tonne (wmt) were 2pc lower than Q3 FY19 costs of US$13.51/wmt, while robust demand for Fortescue products delivered average revenue of US$73/dry metric tonne (dmt). Based on the strong operating performance year-to-date, guidance for FY20 shipments has been upgraded to 175-177mt. Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines said the strong operating performance in the March quarter underpinned an upgrade to its full year guidance for shipments. “Fortescue...

WA miner De Grey Mining has received firm commitments from investors to raise more than $31m to further develop its Hemi discovery within the Mallina gold project near Port Hedland. The company plans to execute a placement of about 111.4m shares at a price of 28c each, representing a 12.5pc discount to the last closing price. Executive Chairman Simon Lill said De Grey has been flooded with offers for a capital raising or direct investment since announcing positive drilling results at Hemi, with assays from section A indicating a 30m wide gold zone. The funds will be used to continue exploration activities across the Mallina, but with a specific focus on Hemi. "This is an extremely strong validation as to...

REGIS Resources is not expecting the current coronavirus restrictions across Australia to cause any significant delays to the McPhillamys project in NSW. Of five major approval phases, three remain, including a response to submissions by Regis (expected mid-2020), assessment by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, and an independent planning commission public hearing decision. The final decision for the McPhillamys project is expected in the first half of 2021. In its latest quarterly report, Regis managing director Jim Beyer said the operation performed solidly despite the pandemic, producing 86,300oz of gold for the period. While down on the December quarter’s 90,849oz, cash flow from operations increased by $7.4m to $107.4m and the company’s full-year guidance remains unchanged at 340,000-370,000oz....

THE Australian resources sector is acting to reassure communities that it’s taking strict and comprehensive measures to protect workers, families and mining communities from COVID-19. A national TV and digital campaign featuring the resources workforce is being launched this week to show how the industry is taking action to implement the resource sector’s COVID-19 national protocol. The campaign shows resource sector workers from across Australia demonstrating a range of anti-COVID protection measures including physical distancing during travel and at site, increased hygiene and cleaning, temperature testing, changes to shift start times and working arrangements. These measures are being implemented as the resources sector across Australia continues safe operations – supporting jobs and economic stability and providing royalties to fund hospitals,...