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Mass exploration greenlit in Victoria

Drilling to determine Goschen’s footprint in Victoria. Image: VHM

The Victorian Government has released a raft of exploration licences for projects relating to minerals critical to the energy transition.

The new licences have now been approved to target minerals and metals including antinomy, zircon, copper and mineral sands.

Victoria has demonstrated resources of antinomy, titanium, zirconium and rare earth elements. There are also opportunities for other key raw materials including copper, high purity alumina and silica.

“We have strong critical mineral opportunities across the state – the CSIRO assessed that the Murray Basin mineral sand deposits alone, which are mostly in Victoria, contain an in-ground value of at least $200 billion,” Resources Victoria chief executive officer Matt Vincent said.

The Earth Resources Regulator has now approved 50 new minerals exploration licences this financial year with six awarded so far in June covering ground across the state.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, exploration expenditure across Victoria for the year to March 2024 was over $130 million.

In central Victoria, fresh exploration activity in the Bendigo and Nagambie areas will target gold, silver and antinomy through three new licences.

In south-west Victoria, one new mineral exploration licence near Casterton and another near Dartmoor will target mineral sands that could include titanium, zirconium and rare earth elements.

Another new licence for an area near Mortlake will target copper and zinc as well as lead and gold.

In western Victoria, a new retention licence near Maryborough will enable the assessment for zircon, gold, rutile and high purity quartz silica development.

Retention licences are the second phase of minerals development and allow explorers time to see if responsible development is feasible.

“In Victoria, we have stringent safeguards and our regulator is on hand to enforce the important provisions in place to protect the environment, community and infrastructure,” Vincent said.

Chinese Premier lands at Fortescue

KELSIE TIBBEN

Image: T. Schneider/shutterstock.com

Fortescue executive chair Andrew Forrest has welcomed Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the company’s green technology and test facility in Perth.

Qiang’s visit to the Hazelmere prototype facility gave Fortescue the opportunity to demonstrate the progress of its green iron technology.

Fortescue is aiming to work with China to establish an Australia Sino green iron supply chain, which will see equipment and technology sourced from China and Australia, and green metal and hydrogen made in Australia and supplied to the world.

Speaking at the Australia–China CEO Roundtable with Qiang and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Forrest emphasised his plan for the future.

“A fully integrated green iron metal supply chain between Australia and China is the key to China maintaining its position as the dominant global producer of steel to the world,” Forrest said.

“Our proposed Australia Sino green iron metal supply chain will bring together mining powered by large-scale renewable power and green hydrogen to produce green iron metal.

“Our ambition is to provide 100 million tonnes of green iron metal to China each year, eliminating more than 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.”

Fortescue Metals CEO Dino Otranto said a strengthened partnership between Australia and China is a natural progression.

“Today, China remains our key market for our iron ore business and we now look forward to building new relationships in a green focused world,” Otranto said.

“We believe that partnering with China to help send its steel industry green will be a major benefit to both economies and to bilateral relationships, shoring up Australia as China’s reliable and preferred commodity supplier.”

BHP: Copper is king

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BHP asset president copper South Australia Anna Wiley. Image: Austmine

BHP South Australian copper asset president Anna Wiley has laid out a copper-focused future for the Big Australian in her address to the Copper to the World conference in SA.

Wiley said SA is home to 70 per cent of Australia’s copper resources, one of only so many world-class copper resources remaining in the world.

“This places additional importance on ensuring we economically extract as much copper as possible from our current operations,” she told the audience.

Citing BHP’s Chile and South American operations, Wiley added the company’s South Australian foothold to the list of assets part of its plan for a future focused on copper.

It’s a plan that has been in the works for a while, culminating in BHP’s $9.7 billion acquisition of OZ Minerals last year, bringing the SA Carrapateena and West Musgrave copper projects into the BHP fold.

“Today, as BHP we operate three underground copper mines and a nationally significant smelter and refinery complex in South Australia’s far north,” Wiley said.

This includes the heart of BHP’s SA copper province, Olympic Dam, which Wiley said the company is hoping to grow with the help of additional smelting and refining plants.

“It’s a big operation – and it’s getting bigger,” she said.

“This has the potential to result in production of greater than 500 kilotonnes per annum of copper – and more than 700 kilotonnes of copper equivalent per annum when you include the by-products of gold, silver and uranium.

“This would constitute one of the most significant investments in copper metal manufacturing infrastructure in Australia for many decades.”

Wiley said BHP’s plan for growth relies on a range of elements coming together, like skills development, the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector, permitting and approvals, enabling infrastructure, underlying stability, and technology.

“But in one way or another they all boil down to one very important theme: partnership and collaboration,” she said.

“In recent memory it was impossible to imagine change of this pace in the mining industry, and it goes to show that amazing things can be achieved with a common ambition.

“Industry, governments, Traditional Owners, technology providers and communities working together will help bring more copper supply to market to meet global demand more quickly and more sustainably.”

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Astec extends MPS fixed plant distribution rights to NSW

OLIVIA THOMSON

Image: Astec Industries

Mineral Processing Solutions (MPS), an OPS Group company, will expand its distribution of Astec’s fixed plant and equipment to include aggregate and mining sectors in New South Wales.

Under the terms of the new agreement, MPS will supply fixed plant crushing and screening equipment to the NSW aggregate and quarry industry.

The move is an extension of a 2021 agreement between both two companies that saw MPS take on distribution of Astec Material Solutions’ products in Western Australia, the Northern Territory and South Australia, as well as the mining sector in Australia’s eastern states.

Astec regional managing director David Smale welcomed the move.

“Astec and MPS have forged a strong partnership over the years – one that has been of real benefit to our customers,” Smale said.

“The MPS team’s extensive local market knowledge and experience in mineral processing – supported by Astec’s innovative technologies and manufacturing capability – has made MPS the perfect partner to deliver outstanding products and service.”

MPS also distributes Astec Telestack mobile bulk materials handling equipment and Astec Breaker Technology International products throughout Australia, demonstrating the company’s strong presence on the east coast.

Local sales and service teams are in place, and new local support facilities in the NSW Hunter region have been stocked with the latest Astec crushing and screening equipment.

“MPS taking our fixed plant into the aggregate industry in NSW is the first step in what we expect to be a continuing expansion, with the company moving into the Queensland and Victorian markets over the next few years,” Smale said.

“For our existing quarrying customers, little will change. Through MPS, they will still have access to the complete range of Astec’s industry-leading crushing and screening equipment, plus the extensive knowledge and experience of the MPS sales and service teams.

“I’m delighted to be making this announcement, and (I) look forward to working alongside MPS as they continue to support our customers in building the infrastructure of Australia.”

Kingston Resources kicks off mining in NSW

TIM BOND

Image: Ronnarong/adobe.stock.com

Kingston Resources has commenced open pit mining at its Mineral Hill gold-copper mine in NSW.

Drilling and blasting kicked off at the Pearse North prospect, along with the delivery of first oxide ore to the run of mill pad.

Mineral Hill ceased hard rock mining in 2016 under previous owners. Since then, Kingston Resources has been working hard to recommence mining, with the object of becoming a regionally significant producer.

The commencement of mining at Mineral Hill comes three weeks after the successful completion of the tailings retreatment project.

The plant refurbishment project is also well-advanced, with the company expecting to be treating pit oxide ore in July.

Kingston continues to focus on employing and purchasing local, ensuring the benefits of Mineral Hill’s success stay within the region. Over the past three weeks, the company has welcomed 15 new employees to the Mineral Hill team within mining, processing and geology sections.

The majority of these new employees are local residents of the Lachlan Shire. The recruitment process is going well with an additional 13 people expected to commence with Kingston during June and July.

“We are delighted to announce the commencement of open pit mining at Pearse North, which signifies a major step forward for the Mineral Hill project,” Kingston Resources managing director and chief executive officer Andrew Corbett said.

“The Pearse North and Pearse South open pits will be the initial stages of our return to hard rock mining at Mineral Hill, and we look forward to continuing to develop this project and delivering value to our shareholders.”

Greenbushes bolstered by increased investment

OLIVIA THOMSON

The Greenbushes lithium mine in WA. Image: Talison Lithium.

An upsizing of the Greenbushes lithium mine’s revolving syndicated loan facility (SLF) has been approved by Windfield Holdings.

Greenbushes is known as the world’s largest hard-rock lithium mine and is located approximately 250km south of Perth in Western Australia. It recorded a profit of about $6.3 billion in 2023.

IGO and Tianqi Lithium currently share a 49 per cent stake in Greenbushes, with Albemarle owning the remaining balance. Talison Lithium, the operator of the site, is a joint venture between the three parties.

According to IGO, the mine has received strong interest from a group of leading commercial banks.

As a result, the Greenbushes SLF has increased from $US1 billion ($1.5 billion) to $US1.55 billion ($2.33 billion) with a five-year term.

The SLF upsizing will fund Greenbushes’ capital commitments, specifically the construction of a third chemical grade plant 3 and a fourth tailings storage facility.

“Given Greenbushes’ enviable position on the lithium cost curve and the significant capital investment program underway to expand production and improve productivity, IGO is supportive of Talison’s capital management initiatives and the increase to the debt facilities available to the team,” IGO managing director and chief executive officer Ivan Vella said.

“The strong appetite from leading commercial banks to support this exciting phase of Greenbushes’ transformation is indicative of the quality of the project and the strong and sustainable cash flows it will generate through the cycle.”

During the March 2024 quarter, Greenbushes saw decreased production and sales due to the management of production and inventory levels in response to the lower offtake requirements by shareholders.

Despite the lower spodumene sales and prices, IGO said Greenbushes is expected to operate at full production for the rest of 2024.

Waters run iron at Port of Esperance

ALEXANDRA EASTWOOD

Image: dudlajzov/stock.adobe.com

The Port of Esperance in Western Australia will welcome a new iron ore exporter in a deal to boost iron ore trade by up to 1.5 million tonnes a year.

The new agreement will see Gold Valley Iron Ore be granted access to critical iron ore infrastructure at the port, including rail receival facilities, conveyors, shed space and the ship loader.

Gold Valley Iron Ore is expected to export its first shipment from the port in September this year.

“Opening up Port of Esperance infrastructure to a second exporter will see iron ore trade capacity maximised, resulting in a positive boost to the Western Australian economy,” WA Ports Minister David Michael said.

“I am pleased to see the use of the rail system for this trade, which would otherwise be trucked by road to the Port of Geraldton.

“Unlocking this groundbreaking new opportunity at the Port of Esperance is backed by continued investment in our regional ports by the WA Government.”

Gold Valley Iron Ore is the second customer to be able to access the iron ore circuit through the port, and the first from the Wiluna area.

“The Port of Esperance is a vital cog in the regional economy, so this is a huge win for the local community and the wider Goldfields-Esperance region,” Agricultural Region member of the legislative council Shelley Payne said.

“Iron ore has been a vital trade commodity through Esperance port for 30 years and it is great to see that a second iron exporter has been secured.”

Weir opens $28m Port Hedland service centre

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Weir’s new world class, state-of-the-art facility in Port Hedland. Image: Weir

Global mining technology leader Weir has officially opened its new Port Hedland service centre in Western Australia.

The new facility bolsters Weir’s national network of 16 service centres and will aim to support customers and their operations across the Pilbara region.

The centre is equipped to service Weir’s broader range of products and technologies, provide engineering and maintenance support as well as critical parts storage for faster service times for customers.

Opening ceremony on World Environment Day. Image: Weir Minerals

“The new centre at Port Hedland will support our key customers in the region, providing Weir’s best-in-class service and expertise,” Weir Minerals regional managing director Kristen Walsh said at the facility’s opening.

“The Australian $28 million facility demonstrates our commitment to sustainable mining and with further investment planned, we will continue to support our ambitious growth plans in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.”

This will include Fortescue and Thiess’ Iron Bridge project, which incorporates Weir transformational flow sheets – the world’s first dry comminution circuit without tumbling mills.

Port Hedland serves as a critical hub for the mining and resources industry in Australia, driving economic growth and success for the important iron ore region.

The new service centre will work to deliver innovative engineering solutions and expertise, enhancing operational efficiencies and advancing sustainable progress across the Pilbara’s dynamic mining landscape.

With best-in-class technology and support, the centre features facilities forEnduron high-pressure grinding rolls servicing, including tyre roller assembly and Linatex rubber lining services, helping customers to extend the life of their assets.

Weir employees celebrate the opening. Image: Weir

The next stage of development, set for 2025, will see an expansion of the team and specialisation in the repair and overhaul of various Weir processing equipment including Warman pumps, Cavex hydrocyclones and Isogate valves as well as Enduron crushers and screens.

Building on trust, collaboration and integrity, Weir said it is committed to delivering innovative solutions and working together with its customers to make mining more sustainable.

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Dolphin tungsten volumes exceed expectations

OLIVIA THOMSON

The Dolphin tungsten mine. Image: Group 6 Metals.

Group 6 Metals has uncovered more ore tonnes and metric tonne units of tungsten trioxide from the Dolphin tungsten mine than originally anticipated, alongside a record month of shipments.

The company’s in-pit reconciliation methodology uses in-pit sampling, UV (ultraviolet light) lamping, and production drill hole assaying to compare mining results to the geological model.

When compared to the geological model, recoveries from the Dolphin open pit exceeded expectations up until the end of April.

Dolphin produced about 94 dry tonnes of concentrate in April at an average grade of 57.1 per cent for 5380 metric tonne units of tungsten trioxide. A total of 115.05 dry tonnes of concentrate at 57.38 per cent tungsten trioxide was shipped in April, a record month for Group 6.

“Over the past six months, our geology and mining teams have excelled at maximising ore recovery,” Group 6 managing director and chief executive officer Keith McKnight said.

“This means we’ve collected more valuable tungsten ore than forecast while working the outer areas of the Dolphin open pit. While this has caused a temporary delay in the mining sequence, the extra effort has resulted in a detailed understanding of the mine’s geology, giving us a lot of confidence in our mine forecast.

“Excitingly, the high-grade C-lens (deposit) is now accessible at -30 RL (reduced level) in the main Dolphin pit, and production drill assay results confirm the presence of high-grade ore in the mining blocks (is) scheduled for June.”

Group 6 has also made progress in sustainability. It, along with Climate Capital, has been looking into integrating a 7.5 megawatt solar panel array and a 5.5 megawatt hour battery storage system at the Dolphin mine’s power plant.

Climate Capital has finished power modelling and an extensive site assessment. If implemented, the solar power system would sit adjacent to Group 6’s process plant.

Group 6 and Climate Capital are expected to negotiate a power purchase agreement under a build own operate model to deliver the solar project.

After being closed for three decades, the Dolphin tungsten mine officially re-opened in August 2023. It is located near Grassy, a town on the south-east coast of King Island.

Conference program launches for IMARC 2024

ALEXANDRA EASTWOOD

IMARC will return to Sydney from October 29–31, with a packed conference program ready to wow attendees.

Image: IMARC

The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) will return to Sydney from October 29–31, with a packed conference program ready to wow attendees.

The main feature of IMARC 2024 will be the exploration of how industry leaders, innovators and policymakers can help the mining sector expedite its journey to net-zero.

IMARC 2024 will look at strategies for accelerating critical minerals extraction for low-emission technologies while also ensuring the value chain reduces its carbon footprint.

The conference will also emphasis responsible mining practices to adhere to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards.

“IMARC 2024 is about creating a roadmap for the mining industry to meet its net-zero commitments,” IMARC event director – content and partnerships Sherene Asnasyous said.

“The program will highlight how the sector can fast-track the extraction of vital minerals and integrate innovative technologies to decarbonise operations. Our goal is to provide actionable insights and strategies that industry leaders can implement to drive meaningful change.”

Attendees can look forward to hearing talks from organisations such as Newmont, Alcoa, the Minerals Council of Australia, and more.

“IMARC 2024 will serve as a pivotal platform for the global mining community to collaborate and share best practices,” Beacon Events chief operating officer Anita Richards said.

“By bringing together stakeholders from key mining jurisdictions such as Canada, Chile, Peru, and Mongolia, as well as countries involved in downstream and midstream processes like the UK, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Korea, and the US, we can collectively advance the industry’s net-zero agenda.”

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