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Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre has been selected to host the four day conference. Image: BCEC By Elizabeth Fabri BRISBANE has secured a bid to host one of the world’s largest international mining events, which is expected to attract more than 2000 delegates from 40 countries. The 26th World Mining Congress (WMC), held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) in July 2021 over four days, would put a spotlight on Australia’s innovation leadership in the mining sector. Led by CSIRO in partnership with the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), the conference was expected to generate $5 million in economic benefits to the State. CSIRO energy research director for coal mining Dr Hua Guo said mining innovation was...

 Geoscientist unemployment and under-employment in Australia between June 2009 and September 2016.   By Reuben Adams   EMPLOYMENT prospects are gradually improving for Australia’s professional geoscientists, who were laid off in large numbers during the commodity downturn. The latest quarterly survey by the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) found that the unemployment rate amongst Australian geoscientists was 13.9 per cent and the under-employment rate was 18.9 per cent – an improvement of 2 per cent and 1.8 per cent from the previous quarter, respectively. South Australia recorded the highest combined rate of unemployment and underemployment; at the other end of the scale Queensland unemployment and under-employment rates fell by 5.5 per cent and 3.2 per cent, respectively. More than 88...

Doray’s managing director Allan Kelly and WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum Sean L’Estrange.   By Elizabeth Fabri DORAY Minerals has officially opened Deflector, its second high-grade gold mine, which required just 14 months to bring into production. On 26 October WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum Sean L’Estrange and Doray managing director Allan Kelly attended a ceremony to officiate the opening, which marked the second project Doray had funded, developed and commissioned within a four year period. Mr Kelly said the opening of Deflector was ‘transformational’ for the company, after it culminated its first gold pour in May and first shipment of concentrate at the end of June. “We wouldn’t be celebrating this achievement, once again delivered on time...

Exploration drilling in the Pilgangoora lithium region.   By Cameron Drummond   THE purchase of Dakota Minerals’ Lynas Find lithium project has further strengthened Pilbara Minerals’ position in the Pilgangoora lithium district. Pilbara Minerals will fork out up to $8 million for Dakota’s stake, which adjoins its existing lithium tenements in the region. Under the agreement, the company will pay $4m cash up front for Dakota’s core Lynas Find package, plus an additional $1m on the granting of a term extension on one of the core tenements. A further $750,000 for each of an additional four exploration tenements currently under application by Dakota will be paid in either cash or shares. Pilbara Minerals managing director Ken Brinsden said the acquisition...

Operations at the Calabar project in Nigeria had now come to an end. Image: Macmahon.   By Elizabeth Fabri   MACMAHON has ended its Calabar contract in Nigeria two years ahead of schedule following a kidnapping incident in June involving seven staff. The contract, set to finish in 2018, was terminated early due to security concerns and ongoing low mining volumes linked to the client’s production plant. On 28 October operations at the project ceased, and demobilisation was now in progress. “We’ve been working at Calabar since January 2012 and our contract has been to undertake quarrying operations at UniCem’s 2.5Mtpa cement manufacturing plant in Mfamosing, about 40km north east of Calabar in Cross River State, Nigeria,” a company spokesperson said....

Higher Iron ore and coal prices could add an estimated $12.7 billion to Australia’s export revenue in FY17. Image: Rio Tinto.   By Cameron Drummond   THE Australian Government has increased its 2016-17 export value projections for coal and iron ore due to higher commodity prices and an unexpected uptick in Chinese construction activity. The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science’s latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report increased its FY17 outlook for both commodities, adding $12.7 billion to previous estimates. As a result the total value of Australia’s resources and energy exports for FY17 was revised up 12 per cent from the June quarter estimate of $163 billion to $176 billion. Its iron ore price outlook increased from $US43 per tonne...

All investors interviewed as part of the JUMEX Survey expressed a keen interest on new exploration opportunities. Image: State of Queensland. Photography: Ray Cash.   By Elizabeth Fabri   JUNIOR miners and explorers have much to look forward to as investor interest returns to the sector, according to a new report. Grant Thornton’s annual JUMEX Survey reported a sustained six month market improvement in investor sentiment, primarily towards commodities such as gold and lithium. “We’re seeing a strong improvement in fund raising success,” Grant Thornton Australia head of energy and resources Holly Stiles said. “Investor interest initially concentrated on certain commodities, but has started to reach out more broadly, particularly to those with low risk, advanced stage assets. “The recent...