YouthCARE

ECU to host Professional Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety Edith Cowan University (ECU) is the successful applicant for a new mining sector initiative, the Professional Chair in Mining Work Health and Safety. Funded as part of the State Government’s commitment to the mental awareness, respect and safety (MARS) program, the professional chair will bring tertiary institutions, government and industry together to develop undergraduate and postgraduate education for future mining industry workers. The initiative will also create and oversee a leading-edge research centre for mining work health and safety. Launched by the State Government in December 2021, the MARS program boosts responses to mental health, mine safety and...

A significant milestone has been achieved at Fortescue Metals Group’s Eliwana iron ore mine and rail project, with first ore going through its onsite processing facility at its Western Hub in Pilbara, WA. The celebrations were marked with an official opening event yesterday attended by Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines, Fortescue deputy chairman Mark Barnaba AM, WA Mines Minister Bill Johnston and representatives from the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura People (PKKP). Ms Gaines said Eliwana was the next important stage of development of Fortescue’s world-class integrated operations. “Exploration commenced in this area in 2006, and we have now delivered a new 30mtpa dry ore processing facility and infrastructure, along with 143km of rail which is in the final stages...

WA Premier Mark McGowan has jumped on board the Prime Minister’s plans to fast track environmental approvals for resource projects. In his recent speech at the Business Council of Australia annual dinner on November 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said environmental approval processes for major projects are overly complex, duplicative and they take too long. “We will partner with the Western Australian Government to develop a system that will reduce approvals times, allow project proponents to submit a single application via a single online portal, track its progress and access a database of biodiversity studies relevant to their project,” Mr Morrison said. “It takes approximately three and a half years for a complex major project to navigate the State and...

Orexplore’s gold detection technology begins commercial validation testing Orexplore Technologies (ASX: OXT) is conducting commercial validation tests on its new gold detection technology with multiple tier-1 gold mining companies. Orexplore’s technology detects nuggety gold on-site within 20 minutes, optimising the volumes of processed and transported core samples to laboratories which can take weeks or months to provide results. It quickly identifies nuggets larger than 100 micrometres in size through the full 3D volume of the core. It aims to reduce the required drill sample volumes and can potentially accelerate the utilisation of gold grades for operational grade control and improved nuggety deposit characterisation. Nuggety gold mines are...