Tag: mining

ROBOTS IN FLIGHT

ROBOTS IN FLIGHT

Image: UNSW. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND SINCE its initial use in military applications, drone technology has evolved into a cost-saving and efficient tool for many industries, including mining. Mining majors such as BHP already recognise the advantages of drone technology for a range of applications. BMA mining production head Frans Knox said the use of drones at mine sites has made operations safer and more productive. “At some of our coal mines in QLD, they’re used to ensure areas are clear before a blast takes place and to track fumes post-blast,” Mr Knox said. “They’re also used to improve road safety on sites, by monitoring traffic, road conditions and hazards. “At our Olympic Dam mine in South Australia, the maintenance team…

Heron awards $107m EPC contract at Woodlawn

Heron awards $107m EPC contract at Woodlawn

The Woodlawn zinc-copper project site near Tarago, NSW. Image: Heron Resources. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND MULTI-commodity focused explorer Heron Resources has awarded a $107m contract for the development of its Woodlawn zinc-copper project in NSW. The engineering, procurement and construction contract (EPC) went to CIMIC Group subsidiary Sedgman for the development of a 1.5 million tonnes per annum mineral processing plant that would produce zinc, copper and lead concentrates. The design also included a backfill plant and supporting infrastructure at the project located near Tarago, 250km southwest of Sydney. More than 250 personnel would be employed at the peak of construction. Heron Resources managing director Wayne Taylor said the contract award followed the successful undertaking of a…

Salt Lake raises $17.6m for pilot plant

Salt Lake raises $17.6m for pilot plant

Salt Lake Potash intends to become Australia’s first producer of sulphate of potash. Image: Salt Lake Potash. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND WA-based miner Salt Lake Potash has raised $17.6 million for the development of a pilot plant at its Goldfields Salt Lakes project near Laverton, WA. Commitments were made by UK and Australian investors to subscribe for 41 million ordinary shares at 43 cents per share, representing a n 11.9 per cent discount to the 20-day weighted average price. Salt Lake said the funds would be used for the planning and initial construction costs of the plant, as well as ongoing resource investigation, testwork and other associated studies. “We are very pleased to have successfully put in…

South32 buys $110m Arizona Mining stake

South32 buys $110m Arizona Mining stake

The Hermosa zinc-lead-silver project. Image: Arizona Mining. BY CAMERON DRUMMOND SOUTH32 will pay $C110 million ($107m) for a 15 per cent stake in Canadian multi-commodity miner Arizona Mining. Under the agreement, South32 will acquire 45,000,000 Arizona Mining shares at $C2.45 per share. South32 also has the right to nominate a director to the board of Arizona Mining providing it maintains a minimum 12.5 per cent interest. Arizona Mining is focused on its Hermosa zinc-lead-silver project, which includes the Taylor deposit, located in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. South32 chief executive Graham Kerr said Hermosa was a highly prospective project and was another step in the company’s strategy to identify opportunities outside of its current portfolio. “We look…

Cobalt on a tear

Cobalt on a tear

Workers at the Kamoto underground mine in the Congo. Image: Katanga Mining. By Cameron Drummond COBALT – one of the fastest rising commodities of 2017 – has attracted attention from a plethora of mining companies looking to take advantage of heightened demand for the strategic metal. A key component in the production of lithium-ion batteries, cobalt flew ‘under the radar’ relative to commodity darling lithium in 2016. However, in the past few months the spot price has more than doubled year-on-year, sparking a flurry of activity from opportunistic Australian mining juniors. On 29 March, the London Metals Exchange (LME) cash price for cobalt was $US53,500 per tonne (t), representing a 122 per cent…

Road to production

Road to production

The Gruyere deposit is one of the most significant of its kind in the Yamarna Belt. All Images: Gold Road Resources. By Cameron Drummond COMPLETED in 2010, a study by the Geological Survey of WA suggested the Yamarna Belt shared geological similarities with the Kalgoorlie Terrane greenstone rocks, and studies by previous explorers such as Ausgold supported that claim. Gold Road Resources’s 5000 square kilometres of tenements in the Yamarna Belt already contain a number of discoveries dating back to 2009 when the company made its first find, Central Bore. Central Bore is contained within Gold Road’s North Yamarna tenements, with a JORC 2012 resource of 180,000 ounces (oz) of gold grading at 0.9 grams…

Research projects get industry backing

Research projects get industry backing

BHP Billiton was one of the miners that would be working together with the university research teams. Image: BHP Billiton. By Elizabeth Fabri FOUR university research projects aimed at enhancing innovation in the resources sector have received $1.875 million in funding from the Turnbull Government’s Linkage Project scheme. The University of Queensland was the recipient of three of the four grants, which included $550,000 towards Associate Professor Yongjun Peng’s research into more efficient and economical mineral separation and metal extraction with Newcrest Mining, Vega Industries and Sierra Gorda SCM; $450,000 towards Dr Steven Pratt’s project of advancing knowledge of Coal Seam Gas (CSG) water treatment; and $195,000 towards Professor Peter Hayes and Professor Evgueni Jak’s project with BHP Billiton that would provide…

Acland expansion gets Federal approval

Acland expansion gets Federal approval

New Acland mine. Image: New Hope Group By Elizabeth Fabri NEW Hope Group’s long-awaited New Acland expansion is one step closer to development after receiving Federal Government approval in January. The New Acland Stage 3 Continuation Project gained Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) approval but still required State Government Mining Lease, Environment Authority, and Associated Water License approvals before a final investment decision could be made. New Hope Group managing director Shane Stephen said the approvals proved the environmental credentials of the project “stacked up”. “It’s positive news for the local community as it provides optimism for the continuity of operations at New Acland and the increased economic activity associated with the construction of the project,” Mr Stephen said.…

Resource-rich Africa lures investors

Resource-rich Africa lures investors

Resolute Mining announced plans to construct $US95million underground gold mine at its Syama mine in June. Image: Hugh Brown. By Elizabeth Fabri HOME to some of the world’s largest untouched resources, Africa is treasure trove for foreign investment with Australia leading the chase as the region’s largest contributor. As more projects enter production, opportunities for ASX-listed miners and contractors are only expected to grow. Africa’s resource wealth is no secret; the continent produces more than 60 metal and mineral products, from high-grade gold to diamonds, platinum, bauxite, manganese, iron ore and copper. However, for many years concerns around regional stability prevented overseas companies from taking that much-needed ‘leap of faith’.. In the early 1990s Africa still only received five per…

Mining tax rate soars

Mining tax rate soars

The 2014-15 effective tax rate is the highest recorded level to date recorded by the survey. Image: 2016 MCA tax survey. By Elizabeth Fabri AUSTRALIAN miners are paying more than half their profits in taxes, according to new data released by Deloitte and the Minerals Council of Australia. The 2016 MCA Annual Tax Survey found the minerals industry faced an effective tax rate of 54.3 per cent in 2014-15; an eight percent rise from the 46.3 per cent paid in 2013-14. Minerals Council of Australia deputy chief executive David Byers said the tax ratio was the highest recorded since the survey began, and the first time it had exceeded 50 per cent. “The effective tax rate has increased markedly over…

QLD to host World Mining Congress

QLD to host World Mining Congress

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre has been selected to host the four day conference. Image: BCEC By Elizabeth Fabri BRISBANE has secured a bid to host one of the world’s largest international mining events, which is expected to attract more than 2000 delegates from 40 countries. The 26th World Mining Congress (WMC), held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) in July 2021 over four days, would put a spotlight on Australia’s innovation leadership in the mining sector. Led by CSIRO in partnership with the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), the conference was expected to generate $5 million in economic benefits to the State. CSIRO energy research director for coal mining Dr Hua Guo said mining innovation was…