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.

This has introduced immediate benefits into the project, doubling sampling capacity to 500 per day and reducing several repetitive and manual processes.

Additionally, by completing the sampling process onsite, MinRes retains greater control and oversees increased efficiencies, helping the business to make faster grade control changes in the mine when required.

Automated analysis

After drilling activities in the field, the samples are taken to the laboratory where the automated process begins.

Five-kilogram samples are bagged and tagged, with robotic arms transferring them to a crusher that reduces their size to one kilogram. The process is repeated 16 times per hour.

The samples are then transported down the line into a pulveriser mill, which self-cleans to ensure a low level of contamination.

Now reduced to 100g, the samples are automatically dispensed into vials and loaded into crucibles ready for thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and x-ray fluorescence (XFR) analysis — processes that provide critical information about iron ore grade level, as well as the presence of other elements.

Onslow Iron supply chain manager Mike Dwyer says the technology is playing an important role in the project.

“With automation, you get reliability and repeatability and that’s one of the key factors that you want in the laboratory,” he said.

“One of the added benefits is that we’ve reduced the amount of manual handling that’s required by the lab technicians, which has led to greater throughput and quicker results.

“This technology is playing a critical role in mine planning and the results are integral to ensuring we get the best out of more than 30 years’ mine life at Onslow Iron.”

Scott Technology chief executive Mike Christman says the success of the Ken’s Bore laboratory is a testament to the impact automation can have on mining operations.

“We’re proud to support MinRes with our turnkey end-to-end automated sample preparation system – it’s fast, reliable and designed to deliver high-throughput, low contamination results that mine teams can trust,” he said.

“This project showcases what’s possible when industry leaders collaborate to push the boundaries of productivity and precision in mining.”

Supported by automation and an expected mine life of more than 30 years, Onslow Iron is now ramping up production towards the project’s nameplate capacity of 35mtpa.

MinRes showcases the power of lithium

As part of the three-day Resources Technology Showcase (RTS), Mineral Resources delivered its Secret World of Lithium installation.

This year’s RTS focused on key minerals that power daily life, the perfect backdrop to highlight lithium’s place at the heart of the world’s energy revolution, enabling rechargeable batteries essential for electric mobility, renewable energy storage and portable electronics.

With demand forecast to grow in the coming decades, MinRes’ ongoing investment in world-class operations and downstream processing is positioning the company at the forefront of the global supply chain.

Through a combination of lighting, sound and storytelling, guests were transported back more than 13b years to when the earliest elements of the universe were created in the first part of MinRes’ exhibition.

The display charted lithium’s long journey to Earth, explaining how the element became embedded within hard rock deposits and concluded by introducing spodumene ore, from which lithium is now extracted.

The second tunnel experience shifted focus from science to operations, giving visitors an inside look at the company’s position as a globally significant hard rock lithium miner.

Using video, imagery and relatable facts and figures, the exhibit provided an overview of MinRes’ two flagship lithium sites in WA — Wodgina in the Pilbara and Mt Marion in the Goldfields.

Visitors also learned how lithium is mined from spodumene at these sites and how it is processed to help meet the growing demand for battery-grade materials.

The display showcased the scale and sophistication of MinRes’ operations, underlining the company’s role in fuelling the global shift towards low-carbon technologies.

MinRes lithium chief executive Joshua Thurlow says the company’s presence at RTS aimed to provide an educational and inspirational experience, especially for younger visitors.

“It’s all about showcasing to young Western Australians the breadth of opportunities in the mining industry and getting them excited about how the sector impacts our daily lives, including in the global energy transition,” he said.

“As one of Australia’s largest hard rock lithium miners, MinRes showcased how lithium was formed in our universe, how it came to be in the deposits that we mine today and how it’s used in everyday items.”

The exhibit concluded with a MEVCO-modified Rivian R1T electric ute, it’s tray laden with everyday lithium-enabled products including mobile phones, cordless tools, drones, handheld gaming consoles and cameras.

The display served as a tangible reminder of the mineral’s place in modern life, connecting it directly to the technologies people use every day.