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 Image: GE chief executive Jeff Immelt  (left) & South32 chief executive Graham Kerr (right). BY REUBEN ADAMS GE has signed on to help drive South32’s digital transformation as part of a three-year strategic partnership. GE’s Predix platform – connecting industrial equipment, data analysis and instant insights – will help the miner make fast, informed decisions and optimise entire operations rather than individualised assets and equipment. “Bringing the world of operational technology and information technology together to monitor equipment and systems remotely and predict future behaviour is a game changer,” South32 chief executive Graham Kerr said. “It has the potential to identify and solve a problem before it affects operations.” South32 chief technology officer Ricus Grimbeek added that “if we get this right,…

Image:  Dr  Guthrie said collaboration between METS  and resources companies was vital to maintaining Australia’s global economic position, as well as increasing its reach as a net exporter of  leading mining technologies. BY REUBEN ADAMS AUSTRALIA’S world-class mining and mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sectors must collaborate better to maintain the country’s global economic position, Minerals Council of Australia chair Dr Vanessa Guthrie has said. Ahead of her talk at the Austmine 2017: Mining’s Innovation Imperative conference, Dr Guthrie said mining and METS companies were drivers of innovation and investment and generated the bulk of Australia’s export earnings. “By collaborating and partnering at an industry level we can ensure that mining and METS continue to innovate and grow –…

The winning Digi-MIN team consisting of three Gekko representatives (graduate process engineer Eliza Craig, graduate metallurgist Barry Tuncks and mechanical designer Matt Kurtze) and Monash University student Daniel Bechaz. By Elizabeth Fabri GEKKO Systems has partnered with Rockwell Automation to develop a metallurgical software program that will account for metal content at various stages of ore processing and provide miners with analytic capabilities to audit and improve performance. In late February the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), and had now progressed to the development and pilot stage of the project. Gekko global mining and processing services manager Renaldo Maras said the company was pleased to be collaborating with Rockwell Automation; a company it had worked with at…

Image: Greenbushes. By Cameron Drummond US lithium producer Albemarle has approved the expansion of lithium concentrate production at its Greenbushes spodumene mine in WA. Greenbushes is currently the world’s largest active lithium mine, owned in a 50:50 joint venture between Albemarle and Chinese producer Tianqi Lithium. The proposed expansion is intended to more than double the lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) capacity at Greenbushes from its current 80,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) output to more than 160,000tpa. “This project is integral to our announced lithium expansion plans so that we can meet the growing needs of our customers,” Albemarle Lithium and Advanced Material president John Mitchell said. “The expansion of the mine and ore upgrading facilities is a key deliverable in…

Geoscientist unemployment and under-employment in Australia June 2009 – December 2016. Image: AIG. By Elizabeth Fabri MORE than half of Australian self employed geoscientists struggled to find work in the December quarter, latest research from Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) has found. In a survey conducted in February, AIG reported Australian geoscientist unemployment rate was 14.4 per cent and under-employment was 19.5 per cent as of 31 December 2016, marking a setback for the recovering industry following September green shoots. While the results were higher compared to the 13.9 per cent and 18.8 per cent respectively at the end of September, unemployment was still lower than results collected in the first half of 2016. “The improvement in employment prospects for…

Image: Lucara Diamonds. By Cameron Drummond A 706-carat diamond unearthed by a Pastor in Sierra Leone could be the 10th largest stone ever found. The rock was found by Emmanuel Momoh, one of thousands of self-employed diamond miners who seek their fortune in the diamond-rich Kono region famous for its manipulation by militias who swapped the rare stones for weapons during the country’s decade-long civil war in the 1990s. The discovery is the biggest diamond found in Sierra Leone for more than 45 years. In an act of selflessness, Mr Momoh handed the diamond over to the Government, saying he hoped it would help fund more development in the nation. A recent spate of large diamond finds have frenzied miners…

IF spray performance isn’t precise, product and process quality can be compromised dramatically. In critical spray operations such as dust control, Spraying Systems’ Spray Analysis and Research Services group provides specialised advanced testing in its spray labs, process modelling and/or fluid dynamics modelling, as well as dust mitigation services. Using advanced tools to simulate a customer’s operating environment enables the group to accurately predict spray performance before finalising a design solution or product recommendations. The team conducts comprehensive tests that probe into spray characterisation, drop size distribution, drop velocity, spray impact, spray coverage, evaporation, while Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling investigate gas flow, flow patterns, velocity, temperature, droplet trajectories and gas/liquid distribution to ensure optimal nozzle/lance performance. “Using state-of-the-art instrumentation and software…

Jerry Jiao has been appointed MMG’s new chief executive. Image: MMG. By Elizabeth Fabri FORMER MMG chairman Jerry Jiao has been named the company’s new chief executive, following the resignation of long-time boss Andrew Michelmore. On 15 February Mr Jiao stepped down from his role as chairman, and was replaced by former MCC Group chairman Guo Wenqing. Mr Jiao has served as director on MMG’s board since the company’s inception in 2006 and was appointed chairman in 2014. “I am excited by the opportunity to lead this dynamic company – underpinned by quality assets and talented people,” Mr Jiao said. “We remain as committed as ever to growing our business and to delivering value for our shareholders, our employees and…