Category: Technology & Innovation

ORICA and Epiroc Rock Drills are jointly developing a semi-automated explosives delivery system, enabling safer and more productive blasting operations in underground mines. As mines go deeper and ore bodies become more remote, the case for blasting automation becomes clearer. The partnership brings together the deep expertise and experience of two global industry leaders to address the growing demand from customers mining in increasingly more hazardous and challenging underground operations. Orica chief commercial and technology officer Angus Melbourne said the partnership with Epiroc allowed Orica to leverage its exclusive wireless initiating system, WebGen, to deliver the critical first steps towards the automation of drill and blast operations. “Automation is a key pillar of our technology strategy and supports our vision...

RESEARCHERS have developed new methods for recognising potential mineralisation hidden beneath barren cover rocks in under-explored areas of WA. A major collaboration between the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA), the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) and sponsor Gold Road Resources, the project seeks to apply new computational technology to solving the challenges of mineral exploration below barren cover rocks. The work targeted WA’s Eastern Yilgarn Craton and Albany-Fraser Orogen, where highly-endowed regional geology known to host world-class mineral deposits is buried and hidden from view by later sediments. Led by geophysicist Mark Lindsay at the University of WA, the CET research team developed innovative processing techniques to improve the quality of conventional geophysical constraint, and applied cutting-edge machine...

AFTER 18 months of successful field trials conducted across three WA mine sites, MineWare has announced the launch of its Argus Wheel Loader (WL) system—an OEM independent wheel loader monitoring system that lifts productivity and reduces cost per tonne in real time. Argus WL delivers real-time feedback to the wheel loader operator via an intuitive touchscreen to make material handling and loading jobs safer, faster and more accurate. MineWare marketing and sales vice president Roy Pater said Argus WL extended the company’s portfolio of monitoring systems as customers continue to digitise their operations and leverage real-time information across more of their ground engaging equipment. “Building on the success of our world-leading Argus and Pegasys monitoring systems for electric rope shovels,...

AOG bigger than ever THE Australasian Oil and Gas Exhibition is shaping up to be a whopper, with 118 new exhibitors signed up for the event at the Perth Convention Centre, from March 11-13. Businesses catering for the oil, gas and energy industry are gearing up to showcase a range of innovations and services. Renewable energy is making its presence felt with a Renewables and Energy Storage zone included for the first time. The dedicated exhibition floor will be promoting Australia as a leading investment destination for renewable energy products. As part of the renewables energy discussion, conference sessions around the path to energy transition, and energy diversification will be chaired by industry leaders. A raft of energizing and valuable...

Automation training in Pilbara schools THE Resources Challenge, an initiative aimed at teaching school kids coding and automation skills for jobs in the mining sector, was signed this week and will be implemented in schools in the Pilbara this term. Year 5 and 6 students in 26 primary schools in the region as well as students at Karratha Senior High School and the Port Hedland School of the Air will take part in the program, which has been funded and developed through the Pilbara Collaboration Charter. Signatories to the charter consist of WA Premier Mark McGowan, CME and its members BHP, Chevron Australia, CITIC Pacific Mining, Fortescue Metals Group, Rio Tinto Iron Ore, Roy Hill, Woodside and Yara Pilbara. Chamber...

IMDEX impresses LEADING global mining-tech company IMDEX has delivered its best half-yearly revenue result of $127.9m, reflecting the strong interest in tech and exploration industries. The company develops cloud-connected sensors and drilling optimisation products to improve the process of identifying and extracting mineral resources for drilling contractors and resource companies globally. The figure was up 2pc on the first half of 2019 and comes after seven consecutive halves of growth. With a solid balance sheet and strong net cash position of $25.5m, the company issued a fully-franked interim dividend of one cent per share declared, up 25pc on the first half. IMDEX managing director Bernie Ridgeway said the positive performance was largely driven by increased activity within Asia Pacific, a...

Caterpillar first for Collie LEADING Caterpillar dealer WesTrac is to build a technology training facility in the WA town of Collie focused on providing courses in autonomous operations. The centre will be the only Caterpillar Autonomous Training Facility in the world apart from Caterpillar’s own testing and training ground in Arizona, USA. The facility will be developed on land owned by Bluewaters Farm Holdings in Collie’s Coolangatta Industrial Estate. The project is supported by a grant through the Collie Futures Fund, awarded to WesTrac by the State Government’s Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. The announcement was made at a ground-turning event in Collie attended by WA Premier Mark McGowan, Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan, Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray...

Lithium Australia teams up with CSIRO ASX company Lithium Australia’s subsidiary VSPC has been selected to be part of the Australian government’s $5m research program to develop fast-charge lithium-ion batteries for use in transportation. VSPC will develop advanced cathode materials with research partners CSIRO, The University of Queensland, and Soluna Australia. Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin said the research aims to deliver an Australian product that puts the country at the forefront of battery development. “This is an unparalleled opportunity to combine VSPC’s battery-materials technology with some of the world’s leading research,” Mr Griffin said. For participating in the Co-operative Research Centres project, VSPC will receive grant funding of $1.6m, with similar amounts going to the other research partners....

LITHIUM Australia has secured up to $6.3m funding from New York-based institutional fund manager, The Lind Global Macro Fund, under a convertible security and share purchase funding agreement. The initial $3m investment and a $100,000 share placement will help fund growth of the Soluna Australia battery business, commercialisation of the company’s cathode business (owned by its subsidiary VSPC) and growth of the company’s battery recycling business (owned by its subsidiary Envirostream Australia) and costs of the funding, as well as general working capital. Lithium Australia also has the option to repay the convertible security in cash, subject to Lind Partners’ buyback conversion rights for up to 30pc of the outstanding Face Value. Lind managing director Jeff Easton said the fund...

AUSIMM has launched an International Women's Day campaign to celebrate the successes and raise awareness of the challenges women face in the resources sector,  in the lead-up to International Women's Day in March 2020. The campaign will culminate in an event series in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Hobart. Expected to attract more than 2000 participants, the luncheons will bring together keynote speakers including former Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and ABC deputy chair Dr Kirstin Ferguson. AusIMM chief executive Stephen Durkin said that as the peak body for resources professionals, AusIMM understands that being a champion of change is about more than one week a year. “At AusIMM we are committed every day throughout the year, to creating...

IT seems Rio Tinto is getting into the Christmas spirit, announcing a $749m (or A$1b) investment in its existing Greater Tom Price operations to help sustain the production capacity of its world-class iron ore business in the Pilbara. The hub includes Tom Price, Western Turner Syncline Phase 1 (WTS1) and Western Turner Syncline Phase 2 (WTS2) satellite hubs, with main investment in WTS2 expected to facilitate mining of existing and new deposits, and includes construction of a new crusher as well as a 13-kilometre conveyor. The new conveyor system will help lower greenhouse gas emissions from the mine by 3.5pc compared to road haulage and, pending final government approvals, is expected to start construction in early 2020 with first ore...