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GOLD and copper explorer GBM Resources has announced two milestones for its Milo rare earth elements project in Mt Isa, North West Queensland. A major upgrade of the total rare earth element and yttrium oxides (TREEYO) resource has been completed, and the production of a large concentration of TREEYO through heavy medium separation and metallurgical test work is underway. The Milo project area has grown to more than 1km in length, with the inferred resource increasing to 187 million tonnes containing 113,000t of rare earth oxides. The Milo resource is now 200m wide and contains elements that are considered to be in undersupply, including neodymium and dysprosium. Recent drilling indicated significant results on its northern and southern limits, and confirmed...

THE NSW Government has approved the development of the Tomingley gold project, Alkane Resources has announced. Scheduled to begin production in the second half of 2013, the project is expected to generate $570 million in revenue during its 10-year lifetime. Tomingley is estimated to contain 812,000oz of precious metals, and will produce around 60,000oz of gold per year for a minimum of seven years. The project will comprise three open pit mines that will be followed by the development of an underground operation three years into the project. Alkane is focussed on mining heavy rare earths in NSW, and is also involved in the nearby Dubbo zirconia project. Cash flow generated from Tomingley will help fund the Dubbo operation, which...

GLOBAL chemical giant BASF has opened a new research and development centre at the CSIRO’s Australian Minerals Research Centre in Perth, WA. The increase in funding for mining related chemicals research marks a shift in focus for the company as it looks to capitalise on the booming resource market in Australia and New Zealand. As part of a long term lease agreement signed with the CSIRO last year, scientists at the centre will study mineral processing technology, looking at topics including advanced rheology modifiers for improved thickening processes for valuables and tailings, and the modification of the crystallisation process in alumina production. BASF vice chairman Dr Martin Brudermueller said the research would also focus on energy efficiency and water recycling....

THE exploration target at Cape Lambert’s Marampa iron ore project in Sierra Leone, West Africa, has been increased following the receipt of encouraging drill results. The new exploration target for the project now stands at between 300 million tonnes and 550mt grading 21 to 32 per cent iron for an aggregate of between 1 billion tonnes and 1.25bt of ore grading 20 to 38 per cent iron, when including the Marampa resource estimate. The indicated and inferred mineral resource of 680mt grading 28.2 per cent iron covers the Matukia, Gafal, Mafuri and Rotret deposits and is based on drilling and assaying completed up until May 30, 2011. The exploration target estimates between 230mt and 430mt grading 20 to 35 per...

The short, medium and long-term future for mid-tier Australian copper-gold producer Sandfire Resources seems fairly assured. While not immune to the fluctuations of the market, its high-grade, high-margin DeGrussa project lies in a region that boasts well-established infrastructure. The world-class DeGrussa project, in the northeast part of Sandfire’s Doolgunna project tenements and about 900km east of Perth, began first production from both open pit and underground operations in February 2012, less than three years after its first exploration holes were drilled. The project’s copper-gold resource was one of Australia’s more exciting greenfield discoveries in recent times, with Sandfire expecting copper production of 77,000 tonnes per annum during the first three years. The company expects that about 143,000t of direct shipping...

SINCE 1985, Townsville-based exploration and mining services company Gnomic Exploration Services has specialised in placing highly motivated and talented geoscience experts with clients throughout the international resources industry, for both short and long-term contracts. In the past two decades Gnomic general manager Chrissy Maguire has built the company’s reputation for reliability, efficiency and personal service. The business is now the longest-standing geoscience contracting group in North Queensland. The Gnomic team offers excellent training and development opportunities to people in the industry, and many graduate geologists who begin their careers with Gnomic go on to become highly valued clients and industry leaders. The services offered by Gnomic’s new consultancy branch include: tenement data compilation reviews; mineralogy, petrology and microanalysis; map production...

THE new waterproof, shockproof, snowproof, mudproof, dustproof and sandproof iPhone 4 case developed by Proteus Protective Technologies allows users to take photographs and record video under water, during a blizzard, on dusty work sites or during muddy hiking trips. The Proteus PRO-Case is sleek and lightweight (only 150g) and allows iPhone users access to all normal functionalities, including their phone’s touch screen and cameras, with a scratchproof lens. The case has three quick lock-in screws and five inner impact-absorbing rubber bumpers to ensure that it is lock, block and shock-proof. Studies have shown that 3.43 million Australians use iPhones and, as a nation with a great love of the outdoors, the protective iPhone case has the ability to save customers...

A new system that detects belt damage and breaks in the steel cords of conveyor belts was recently introduced to themarket by Veyance Engineered Products. Known as Cord Guard, the scanning system enables continuous monitoring in real time and delivers a report that is easily understood and accurately interpreted. Earlier scanning procedures produced a report as a wave form graph line that could be left open to interpretation. The new system, however, produces a coloured image that easily enables accurate belt assessment and leaves no doubt about whether a belt requires maintenance or repairs. The technology also allows for accurate planning of belt changes and dates for repairs and maintenance. The Veyance system has the advantage of monitoring belt speed...

LEADING safety footwear company Blundstone recently released a new range of premium rubber-soled safety work boots that feature a host of leading innovations. The boots, known as the XFoot Rubber, have received high praise during wear tests, with one tradesman claiming them to be the “the most comfortable boots” he’d ever worn. The boots feature bamboo lining, which provides revolutionary thermal regulation in addition to deodorising, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. In addition to these properties, the boot design incorporates breathability and allows for fast drying. “Keeping the foot dry and cool is an important factor in promoting overall foot health,” Blundstone chief executive officer Steve Gunn said. “A number of innovative features combine to place this new range of boots...

AUSTRALIA’s largest independently owned fluid power solutions provider, Custom Fluidpower is looking forward to showcasing its capabilities at Stand 9410 at QME 2012. From its Mackay branch on Diesel Drive in Paget – a large, modern facility – Custom Fluidpower offers a wide range of fluid power solutions ranging from complete system design through to product sales, field service, workshop repairs, and installation and commissioning. The company’s four sales and service centres in Queensland (Brisbane, Emerald, Gladstone and Mackay) demonstrate Custom Fluidpower’s long term commitment to its Queensland customers.

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...