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DESPITE a downturn in iron ore prices towards the end of last year, the WA Government saw a 21 per cent increase in mining applications for the December quarter. However, the WA Department of Mines and Petroleum also reported a drop in mineral prospecting and exploration applications; which, at 472, was nearly 200 less than the September quarter figure of 653. The DMP quarterly report stated this was the lowest figure the department had seen since late 2009. “This decreasing trend in mineral prospecting and exploration activity from record levels of exploration activity during the two years reflects uncertain global market conditions and the high costs of operating in WA,” the report stated. According to Mines and Petroleum minister Norman...

THE WA Department of Mines and Petroleum has given Mutiny Gold the green light for its Deflector copper-gold project in the Murchison region, clearing the way for mining operations to begin. In an ASX release, Mutiny managing director John Greeve said that with the approvals process complete, the company could now focus on implementing plans leading into production. Following a definitive feasibility study (DFS) carried out late last year, Deflector has been highlighted as a highly profitable, low-cost project with significant gold recoveries of a high grade. The DFS forecast that Deflector would generate a profit of $223 million, with an initial production rate of 65,000 ounces of gold equivalent. The initial mine plan allows for a seven- and-a-half-year mine-life,...

ALMOST 24 years after the suspension of mine operations at Paguna mine due to militant attacks, Bougainville Copper (BCL) has updated its resource estimate of the area. The open pit mine and adjacent processing facility were operational between 1972 and 1989, when mining was suspended because of consistent militant attacks on company personnel and operations. However, BCL – owned by Rio Tinto (53.83 per cent), the Government of Papua New Guinea (19.06 per cent) and 27.11 per cent publicly owned – remains committed to reopening the Bougainville Island mine, which hosts a large porphyry copper-gold deposit. In 2009, BCL prepared an order of magnitude study (OMS) with a resource estimate of around 1 billion tonnes grading 0.33 per cent copper...

DUAL-listed Alacer Gold is selling its minority stake in the Frog’s Leg mine as well as two exploration projects near Kalgoorlie for $141 million, following the completion of a major strategic review. The company has entered into a binding asset sale and purchase agreement with La Mancha Resources Australia for its 49 per cent interest in Frog’s Leg; its 24.5 per cent interest in the Lake Greta joint venture; and its 40 per cent share in the Avoca JV. Once the acquisitions are completed, La Mancha will own 100 per cent of Frog’s Leg and continue as operator. Under the deal, Alacer will also provide La Mancha will toll milling services for 18 months using its Jubilee processing facility at...

AUSTRALIAN nickel producer Western Areas has extended its partnership with China’s largest nickel company, Jinchuan Group, through the signing of a non-binding strategic alliance deed. The alliance was established to further the relationship between the two companies, which began with a nickel concentrate offtake agreement three years ago. It will allow the partners to work together to evaluate possible development of global mining opportunities, including exploration and development and, if successful, cooperating right through to the operation phase of base metal projects. According to Western Areas, the non-exclusive agreement will not involve any upfront contributions, with future contributions limited to the sharing of agreed assessment and due diligence costs for potential projects of mutual interest. Western Areas managing director Daniel...

AUSTRALIA’s Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) is demanding that the benefits of the mining boom be shared more equally, with the launch of a new advertising campaign. The union is calling for more jobs to be delivered to Australians, along with increased investment in mining communities and better management of the impact on various job sectors. “The mining boom has created opportunities for many Australians, but it has left many more behind, badly hurting job-rich sectors such as manufacturing, tourism and education,” CFMEU construction and general division secretary for Queensland Michael Ravbar said. “While thousands of Queenslanders are losing their jobs, and unemployment has leapt to 6.2 per cent, big mining companies want to bring in temporary foreign...

WITH more than 34 years of experience, Rapid Crushing and Screening Contractors is a leading provider of crushing and screening services to clients in the civil contracting, mining and resources industries. WA owned, the company specialises in the crushing and screening of all types of mineral ores including iron ore, gold, nickel and special class site preparation fill materials, as well as concrete and road aggregates, roadbase, rail ballast and armour rock. Rapid has created a wide range of high production mobile and fixed crushing circuits, ranging from modular and mobile plants with capacities of up to 600 tonnes per hour, and fixed plants of capacities of up to 1000t/h. With a modern head office and workshop facility in Maddington,...

ENCOURAGING preliminary results for nickel and copper indicators have been returned from exploration on a “small portion” of Thor Mining’s tenement holding at the Dundas gold project in southern WA, according to a recent announcement from the company. Thor reported that analysis of surface geochemical cross sections of calcrete samples from a 25 square kilometre area of exploration tenement had been completed, as part of exploration being conducted in conjunction with the ongoing gold exploration program at Dundas. According to the company, three areas of elevated nickel and one of copper, plus one site of coincident copper and nickel, were revealed in the analysis. “This is an encouraging start in assessing the nickel prospectivity of the Dundas project,” Thor executive...

AUSTRALIAN iron ore explorer Sherwin Iron has been given the all-clear to mine at its Roper River project in the Northern Territory after reaching an historic agreement with the National Land Council (NLC). In a recent statement, the company said the NLC contract, which is subject to ministerial approval, was a critical milestone in securing the future of the mine and providing substantial benefits to the Traditional Owners. Sherwin estimates that direct investment in the mine, which will create 400 jobs once fully operational, will be about $800 million. The agreement, which was ratified at a NLC council meeting in November 2012, covers mining and exploration across all of Sherwin’s tenements and includes royalty payments. Sprawling more than 4000 square...

AUSTRALIAN miner Iron Road has announced a half a billion tonne resource upgrade at its Central Eyre Iron Project (CEIP) in South Australia. The total mineral resource, which covers the Murphy South, Boo-Loo and part of the Rob Roy areas, now stands at 2.6bt grading 16 per cent iron, 54 per cent silicon dioxide, 13 per cent aluminium oxide and 0.08 per cent phosphorous. Iron Road believes the upgrade, which is part of an ongoing drilling program, demonstrates the size, scale and potential long-term production life for the project. In 2009, Coffey Mining established a global exploration target of between 2.8bt and 5.7bt of magnetite gneiss grading between 18 per cent and 25 per cent iron at the project. Managing...

A definitive feasibility study has proven successful for Alliance Mining Commodities (AMC), which expects to be named the world’s fifth-largest bauxite producer after announcing positive results for its 90 per cent-owned Koumbia project in Guinea, West Africa. The company stated that the results confirmed “the financial and technical viability of a world-scale, long-life bauxite operation” at the site, which measures 728 square kilometres and is in the Boké Bauxite Belt. With a mine life of 40 years, Koumbia is expected to produce a high-grade measured and indicated resource including 305 million tonnes grading 48 per cent aluminium oxide and an inferred resource of 250Mt grading 48 per cent aluminium oxide, with low reactive silica of 1.7 per cent and high...