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African -focused iron ore explorer Waratah Resources has announced updated drilling results and development progress at its Youkou iron ore project. The Youkou project is on the Ivindo Massif in the north west of the Democratic Republic of Congo and hosts a number of large-scale iron ore development areas. Since two company-owned and operated diamond drill rigs began work on site in late January, 13 holes have been completed totalling more than 649m of drilling. Waratah reported that a significant new area of potential iron ore mineralisation was encountered in hole YKD033, where mineralisation was discovered from 0m to 63m at 37 per cent iron, including 15m at 44 per cent, using the hand-held Niton XRF. “This hole is significant…

DIVERSE metals and uranium explorer Marmota Energy will undertake a non-renounceable rights issue to raise about $3 million through the placement of almost 76 million ordinary fully-paid shares, as it looks to fund a number of exploration activities around its South Australian project portfolio. The new shares are expected to commence trading on the ASX on June 27. The funds raised, together with the company’s existing cash reserves, will be used towards drilling programs at its Western Spur iron project, Melton and West Melton copper projects and Indooroopilly copper-gold project. The company will embark on a comprehensive geophysical data acquisition and reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at Western Spur to confirm the extent and quality of iron mineralisation at depth…

AUSTRALIA’s biggest diamond mine could soon be sold by mining giant Rio Tinto in a move that the company said was designed to maintain profitable assets. Rio’s wholly-owned Argyle mine is one of the world’s largest suppliers of natural and coloured diamonds, producing about 20 million carats each year from WA’s East Kimberley region. Rio Tinto Diamonds (RTD), part o Rio’s Diamonds and Minerals product group, also operates the Diavik diamond mine in Canada, in which it owns a 60 per cent stake, and the Murowa diamond mine in Africa, in which it owns a 78 per cent stake. The company also owns the advanced Bunder diamond project in Madhya Pradesh, India. Despite these projects, a strategic review of Rio’s…

WA-based Work Management Solutions (WMS) supports major projects in the oil and gas, mining, construction and power generation industries through contract recruitment of planning, engineering and project professionals. In 2007, founding partners Martin Zanetti and Shane Ricketts saw an opportunity to utilise their combined 50 years of experience, along with their extensive networks, to provide high quality staff to clients with a personal service. “Having worked in asset management within the resource sector for many years, we get what major projects teams are looking for,” Mr Ricketts said. “For this reason, we are very selective in our candidate pool to make sure the qualified person we recommend is a perfect fit for the client organisation, both in skill set and…

FIVE Cummins QSK engine-powered Hitachi excavators are clocking up impressive availability at a magnetite iron ore mine in the rugged north west of Tasmania. All five Hitachi excavators on site at Grange Resources’ Savage River iron ore mine have been hitting their availability target of 92 per cent, including all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. Three of the excavators are EX3600-6 shovels, each with a Tier 2 Cummins QSK60 engine rated at 1950 horsepower (hp) and an operating weight of 360t. An EX1900-6 shovel gets its digging force from a Tier 2 Cummins QSK38 engine rated at 1085hp, while an EX1200-6 shovel is powered by a 760hp QSK23. The excavators move about 5 million tonnes of overburden and rock per month,…

RESEARCH strongly indicates that continuity of routine and a structured schedule are very important for the overall well-being of children in their early teenage years. This structure includes a stable family life and a reliable education: two important things that every parent or guardian hopes to provide. For parents working in the resources sector, a fly in, fly out or drive in, drive out working life may be of concern due to the lifestyle’s potential impact on their children. The Glennie School offers continuity and excellence in education for girls in a secure and happy learning and living environment. Students begin boarding at Glennie from year seven and are encouraged to develop lasting friendships that will serve as their ‘other…

IN the past decade, the fluid power industry has reaped the rewards of a fast progression in technology and applications. However, what many organisations are now finding is that this rapid rate of change has created difficulties for workforces attempting to remain up to speed with current industry practices and hydraulic systems. This lag, combined with the growing number of industry experts who are retiring, has resulted in a substantial knowledge gap in the sector. When added to the existing dangers of working with hydraulics systems, this is producing a significant reduction in worksite safety. In 2010 and 2011, there were a total of 72 fluid injection injury claims made in the NSW coal industry alone: more than three times…

THE mineral sands industry consists of two core product streams: titanium minerals (also referred to as titanium dioxide feedstocks or TiO2 feedstocks) and zircon. Titanium minerals are generally far more prevalent in mineral sand ore bodies than zircon is. The titanium dioxide content of various titanium minerals varies markedly, from less than 50 per cent to more than 95 per cent, and it is this that mainly determines the value of a mineral sands deposit. Iluka Resources is the world’s major producer of zircon and a significant producer of high-grade titanium dioxide products. One of the major products of Iluka’s Australian mineral sands operations is synthetic rutile: a beneficiated product derived from the titanium mineral ilmenite. Naturally-occurring rutile generally contains…

HEALTH impact assessments are becoming an essential risk management tool for global mining companies. International SOS provides health impact assessments to a growing number of Australian mining clients, allowing them to effectively monitor and manage the impact of their operations on the communities in which they operate. A health impact assessment can either be undertaken as a standalone exercise or can be integrated as part of an environmental, social and health impact evaluation. “Often there are regulatory compliance reasons for companies wanting to carry out a health impact assessment,” International SOS director of public health services Francesca Viliani said. “For example, the Equator Principles make it a requisite for companies seeking international financing to demonstrate how they will develop projects…

THE Hyperflex range of air conditioners, the latest in vertical air-cooled packaged technology, was introduced recently by Specialized Engineering. The ambidextrous range of air conditioners were specifically designed to replace existing the vertical packaged units used by the mining and resource industry. As a WA-owned and operated air conditioning manufacturer, Specialized Engineering understands the issues the resource sector experiences with air conditioners in the state’s climate. As such, it created a range of products which addresses customers’ needs for a versatile air conditioner that can easily switch between left and right-hand supply air, to suit in-field duct configurations. Previously, the exact configurations had to be specified at time of order and could not be modified once in production. However, the…

FUNCTIONAL and safety focussed, FSE Global offers intelligent solutions for key safety activities in the mining, process and manufacturing industries. FSE Global’s success in establishing its unique presence within the functional safety arena is in part due toits independence from manufacturers,in combination with a passion for safety and the depth of knowledge and experience the company brings to its clients. FSE Global offers complete risk and safety management systems, including consulting, training and certification services, to all industrymnsectors. These services are provided to owners and operators of hazardous facilities, where compliance with relevant regulatory requirements and assistance with developing safety cases may be required. The company’s consulting services include: safety and risk management systems; process hazard analyses such as hazard…