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First-of-its-kind automated lab technology at Onslow Iron An automated laboratory at Mineral Resources’ Ken’s Bore site is providing accurate, real-time data to help the Mining and Technical Services (MTS) team make mine planning decisions to efficiently develop the project’s deposits. The Automated Modular Solution (AMS) Prep Line technology was developed and installed by industry-leader Rocklabs, a New Zealand-based business part of the international robotics and automation company, Scott Technology. The technology uses a series of collaborative robots to easily take samples from the field, reduce their size and efficiently provide information to the project’s MTS team. The technology has introduced immediate benefits into the project, doubling sampling capacity to 500 per day and reducing several repetitive and manual processes. Additionally, by...

WA sees biggest reforms to State Development framework since 1952 The WA Government is introducing a new State Development Bill 2025 aimed at establishing a framework for improved interagency coordination and the ability to mandate assessment timeframes for projects and areas of strategic significance. The bill builds upon the WA Government's recent commitment to establish a WA Productivity Commission, as well as the planning and environmental approvals reforms delivered during the last term of government. The new laws are aimed at future-proofing WA’s regulatory system, ensuring high standards of protection are maintained while streamlining...

Mining mogul jailed for fraud A WA man has been sentenced to 7 years and 10 months imprisonment for fraudulently obtaining more than $1.13m in GST refunds. According to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Adam John Waterman, the sole director of mining companies Fortuna SL Mining and Advent Exploration WA, submitted 27 false Business Activity Statements (BAS). ATO assistant commissioner Jade Hawkins says the outcome sends a clear message to anyone thinking of defrauding the tax system. “This was not an honest mistake; it was a deliberate and calculated attempt to steal from the Australian...

Contractor fined $540,000 after fatal rock fall An underground mining contractor has been fined for a rock fall incident that resulted in the death of an employee at Hamlet underground gold mine in WA in October 2022. The contractor, RUC Mining Contractors, pled guilty to two counts of the same offence — exposing a worker to a risk of death, injury or harm to health, contrary to sections 19(1) and 32(1) of the Work Health and Safety Act 2020 — which resulted in the death of a driller and the injury of a probationary offsider. This offence does not indicate that the breach caused the...

UQ researchers identify methane ‘super-emitter' Researchers from The University of Queensland (UQ) have found a coal borehole is releasing the same amount of greenhouse gases as 10,000 cars.  The researchers used advanced gas detection technology to determine 235t of methane were released per year from the abandoned borehole at a farm in the Surat Basin revealing a potentially underreported source of methane in the atmosphere.  With an estimated 130,000 similar boreholes across Queensland, where the quality of sealing by coal explorers is unknown, sealing high-emitting sites could offer a cost-effective way to reduce emissions.  [caption...

North Stawell ready to drill at Darlington  North Stawell Minerals (ASX: NSM) has secured a Victorian diamond drilling company’s service to commence drilling to investigate the high-grade gold results intersected at the Darlington prospect in Victoria.  A diamond rig is scheduled to commence drilling in the second half of September with the company scheduled to commence 600-900m of planned drilling.  Drilling will target extensions of a recently drilled brecciated, quartz-sulphide vein with multiple occurrences of visible gold that returned 2.3m at 29.2g/t gold from 108.2m from...

Dawson Mine digs deep to support regional cancer care  Anglo American Dawson Mine workers and contractors have raised more than $40,000 to help regional families while they access vital cancer treatment.  The funds raised will sponsor three accommodation rooms for 12 months at the Cancer Council Queensland’s Rockhampton lodge where some of the mine’s current and former employees have stayed during their own treatment journey.   In the past year, Cancer...

Wind turbines begin 1,000km journey to St Ives Seven wind turbines destined for Gold Fields’ landmark $296m St Ives renewable energy project have been unloaded at Geraldton Port in WA. The cargo includes 80m long turbine blades — weighing more than 24t each and reaching a combined length of 1.7km if laid out end-to-end — and is now ready for transportation by road to the St Ives gold mine near Kambalda. Gold Fields principal specialist and project director Simon Schmid says arrival of the wind turbine components marked a major milestone for the project...

NRW announces $200m acquisition NRW Holdings (ASX: NWH) has executed a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Fredon Industries for an enterprise value of up to $200m on a debt free cash free basis. The acquisition provides core capabilities, with a proven delivery platform with scale to access opportunities driven by energy transition, electrification, automation and digital innovation, according to NRW. NRW chief executive and managing director Jules Pemberton comments on the acquisition. “Fredon represents a strategically and financially compelling acquisition for NRW, with the potential to drive further growth across the business and create long-term shareholder...

Pearl Gull to sell Cockatoo Island project for $4.5m  Pearl Gull Iron (ASX: PLG) has executed a binding asset sale and purchase agreement (with Buccaneer Resources, Crestlink and JCA WA Nominees.  Under the agreement, Pearl Gull Iron Company will sell 100% of its interest in the tenements which comprise its Cockatoo Island project (including mining lease 04/235), together with all mining information, plant and infrastructure and the benefit of certain contracts relating to those tenements for $4.5m in cash, a 4% equity interest in Crestlink and a royalty payable on materials extracted from the Cockatoo Island project.  Cockatoo Island is situated off the Northwest...

Greenfields exploration takes a hit  The release of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) June 2025 quarterly data for mineral exploration and expenditure show some solid numbers, along with reason for concern.  There was significantly stronger performance of gold exploration during the June quarter, with expenditure up 36% from the March 2025 quarter to $400.1m.  An extra $100m, or a jump of 35%, was spent on gold exploration compared to the previous corresponding period.  AMEC chief executive Warren Pearce says gold has been on an incredible run of late and these stats back it up.   “It’s also a sizeable...