Turning waste into wealth

The WA Environmental Protection Agency (WA EPA) has given its endorsement and recommendations for BHP’s (ASX: BHP) proposed Jimblebar Hub expansion.  The Jimblebar Hub combined proposal covers plans to develop mining deposits both above and below the water table surrounding the Pilbara mine.   To facilitate this, BHP plans to build new overburden storage areas, a new beneficiation plant, an overland conveyor, roads and pipelines.  EPA chair Darren Walsh says the independent authority’s report included recommended conditions to mitigate impacts to conservation-significant flora and fauna and to ensure the protection of the area’s biodiversity and ecological integrity.  “Conditioning limits of disturbance to fauna habitat, including mining exclusion zones for the ghost bat, would support the continued presence of the species within…

The Minerals Research Institute of WA’s (MRIWA) 2026 scholarships are now open to WA students undertaking postgraduate minerals research. These will be awarded to four exceptional WA students to support research endeavours into current gaps or innovations in mining that will directly benefit WA, help students to access and collaborate with the mining industry and continue the development of the minerals research workforce in WA. WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael says the WA Government is committed to supporting the growth and the diversity of the state’s research workforce. “MRIWA scholarships provide a unique opportunity for researchers to connect with industry, academia and government,” he said. “Successful applicants will join the current 22 MRIWA PhD scholarship recipients in this…

Engineers at Monash University have developed a new catalyst that could drive zinc-air batteries from hearing aids and watches to EVs and large-scale industrial applications. While zinc-air batteries are currently used in small devices, this opens the door to rechargeable, high-power applications, moving the technology closer to real-world, grid-scale and transport uses. Using microscopic heat treatment, the researchers have developed carbon sheets from 3D materials, adding a framework of individual cobalt and iron atoms to greatly increase reactivity and efficiency within the battery. Saeed Askari and Dr Parama Banerjee, lead authors from Monash University’s chemical and biological engineering department, say the breakthrough catalyst outperformed standard commercial catalysts made from expensive metals like platinum and ruthenium. “By engineering cobalt and iron…

Tivan (ASX: TVN) has fully acquired the Molyill project, a tungsten and molybdenum deposit North-East of Alice Springs. Thor Energy (ASX: THR) and joint Molyhill owner Investigator Resources (ASX: IVR) will receive $8.75m over three years from Tivan for 100% ownership over the project. Molyhill is situated next to Tivan’s Sandover fluorite project, also purchased from Thor Energy in November 2024. Molyhill boasts a JORC Code mineral resource estimate of 4.6mt with 12,100t (.26%) of tungsten trioxide, 4400t (.09%) of molybdenum, as well as 2050t (.04%) of copper. The project was exploited in a small-scale open-pit mining operation in the 1970s and early 80s and was slated to be redeveloped for the same purpose in 2005 before economic downturn made…