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By Samantha James 4 November, 2015 MANY junior exploration and mining companies have struggled with volatile and declining commodity prices in recent years, but a new survey claims the fight may be easing for gold juniors. The 2015 Grant Thornton Junior Mining and Exploration Survey (JUMEX 2015) found 63 per cent of mining executives regarded gold as the brightest investment opportunity in 2016, followed by copper (50 per cent), zinc (36 per cent) and nickel (23 per cent). “This will be a welcome ray of hope for a significant portion of junior miners given the extremely challenging conditions that persist in the sector,” Grant Thornton Australia national head of energy and resources Holly Stiles said. “Whilst there are companies who...

By Reuben Adams MINOTAUR Exploration stated it was remaining “firmly positive” about the future of copper demand despite the metal falling to six year lows in August. Mintotaur chairman Derek Carter said that the explorer’s projects in South Australia and Queensland provided “superior discovery exposure to a rising metal price” as existing mines globally drew down on their reserves. “We remain enthusiastic towards copper as a globally significant commodity, contrary to current price pressure due to softening demand from China,” Mr Carter said. “Even though ‘grassroots’ exploration continues to be out of favour with many investors our view is that discoveries will reward effort and quality deposits will reward shareholder support in multiples.” Minotaur chairman Derek...

By Courtney Pearson 4 November, 2015 SMALL-cap junior MZI Resources has begun production at its Keysbrook mineral sands mine days after completing a major capital raising. The Keysbrook mine, south of Perth, started production at the end of October, three weeks ahead of schedule and on budget, with first sales targeted for late December. “The Keysbrook project is performing exceedingly well and we now look forward to commencing product sales later this year,” MZI Resources managing director Trevor Matthews said. The mine would be progressively commissioned to reach full capacity during the December quarter, to produce more than 95,000t of leucoxene and zircon products annually. Heavy mineral concentrate from Keysbrook would be transported about 130km to Doral’s mineral separation plant...

By Samantha James October 15, 2015 THE WA State Government has vowed to work with the Mining Industry Advisory Committee (MIAC) to address several recommendations made in a parliamentary report into the mental health impact on fly in, fly out workers in the resources industry. Mines and Petroleum minister Bill Marmion said the government had carefully considered the report by the Education and Health Standing Committee, which recommended 30 actions to improve workers’ mental health. "The health and safety of workers in the resources industry is one of the government's highest priorities," he said. "Mental health is a community-wide concern and any information highlighting factors influencing the incidence of mental health issues among vulnerable sections of the community is welcomed....

By Samantha James October 7, 2015 NEW data released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) into the pay gap between men and women in management positions has highlighted the need for change in the resources sector. WGEA reported in September 2015 that 28.9 per cent of women employed in key management personnel (KMP) positions across several industries were paid at a lower rate than their male counterparts. This was followed by general managers at 27.5 per cent, then other managers and senior...

By Samantha James October 7, 2015 ROY Hill EPC contractor Samsung C&T and subcontractor Best Tech have clashed in the WA Supreme Court over failed payments associated with work at the $10 billion project. According to Best Tech, Samsung failed to make payments for the supply of about 15,000t of steel modules for the project. Samsung stated that the Thai supplier had reneged on its contract obligations, and gave notice that it would seize a bank guarantee related to contract. This was temporarily blocked by Supreme Court Justice Janine Pritchard. A number of Roy Hill subcontractors have clashed with Samsung, most in...

By Samantha James AUSTRADE is finishing up a month of mining-focused investment activities designed to boost international trade and development opportunities for Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) providers. The Government-run promotional agency for investment, trade and education was a key participant in the AIMEX conference and Africa Down Under forum in September. Its overseas offices also coordinated Australian company participation at key mining events in major offshore markets including Indonesia, Brazil, Philippines, Peru and Kazakhstan. Austrade’s Resource and Energy Trade team is supported by an international network comprising 80 offices in 60 countries that assist Australian METS...

By Courtney Pearson October 7, 2015 MCARTHUR River Mine (MRM) has agreed to pay the Northern Territory Government a sizable increase to its security bond for future site rehabilitation. Mine operator Glencore was given until 1 October to pay the “significant increase” to continue operating its Boroloola zinc mine, Chief Minister Adam Giles said. The figure was not disclosed. “The bond is one of a number of issues which we have been working hard to resolve with MRM,” he said. “We want miners to keep working at Boroloola and we want MRM to meet its obligations to protect the environment.” In...

By Courtney Pearson October 7, 2015 SPIN-off S2 Resources, which hopes to list on the ASX by mid-October, is confident that it will continue to build on the achievements of Sirius Resources. Members of the Sirius Resources management team have moved to S2, with a pay cut, in attempts to emulate and surpass past successes. “We want to do Sirius all over again, and we believe we can,” S2 Resources managing director and chief executive Mark Bennett told the WA Mining Club. “We are in a much better position as Sirius mark one than Sirius mark two.” S2 will begin a $1 million drilling...

By Courtney Pearson October 7, 2015 THE coal industry is losing in the public perception stakes because it lacks a unified message, according to BHP Billiton coal president Mike Henry. “It would be fair to say that as we stand here today, in the court of public opinion, the ‘no coal’ camp has been more effective,” Mr Henry told the American Chamber of Commerce. “Anti-coal activism has been building momentum over many years.” Groups determined to shut down coal completely were influencing public perception, he said. Greenpeace report The Energy evolution claimed that fossil fuels could be phased out...

By Rachel Dally-Watkins September 11, 2015 FEDERAL MP and Mineralogy founder Clive Palmer is suing Chinese-owned CITIC Limited for $10 billion, in the latest of a slew of lawsuits related to the Sino Iron project. Mr Palmer is seeking damages for what he alleges is a breach of commercial arrangement between CITIC and Mineralogy, resulting in a lack of royalty payments on the $500 million of iron ore concentrate already shipped to China. Mr Palmer was also suing for royalties covering the life of the project. In 2006 the companies signed an agreement which relied on the annual benchmark iron...