Mines and Quarry – Page 3 – Ying Hui International

AIMEX: The next generation of Australian mining

Image: AIMEX

Australia’s longest-running mining exhibition returns to Sydney Showground from September 2–4 2025, bringing the country’s mining suppliers and professionals together under the one roof.

As the key event on the mining calendar, the Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) is an internationally renowned platform showcasing the latest technology, equipment and services, pushing the envelope for what’s possible in mining innovation.

As Prime Creative Media general manager – events Siobhan Rocks attests, AIMEX 2025 is all about defining the next generation of Australian mining.

“After a successful 2023 edition, AIMEX 2025 will be bigger than ever, with opportunities to connect with some of the most important decision-makers in the Asia-Pacific region,” Rocks said.

“This is a truly international event, with exhibitors from China, India, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Italy and Germany.

“It’s an ideal opportunity for Australian miners to connect with some of the most prominent industry minds from all over the world.”

AIMEX 2025 will offer a unique opportunity for leading suppliers and buyers to conduct face-to-face business, learn about the latest trends, and network in an interactive forum.

Attendees will come from all corners of the resources sector, from senior leaders to site management to engineers to maintenance personnel to digital innovators and everything in-between.

“There is something for everyone at AIMEX,” Rocks said.

“The 2025 event will feature more than 250 local and international suppliers, as well as a free-to-attend multi-stream conference with leading experts examining the most pressing issues in the mining industry.”

AIMEX 2025 will also feature an extensive Meet the Buyers platform, providing exhibitors with the opportunity to connect directly with the industry decision-makers most important to them.

“Our Meet the Buyers platform offers people the chance to schedule invaluable meetings to ensure they can get the most out of their time at AIMEX 2025,” Rocks said.

The AIMEX 2025 program will have a strong focus on women in mining, with keynote speakers and panel discussions challenging the status quo, generating new ideas and solutions for a more inclusive mining industry. The annual Women in Industry Awards will also be co-located at AIMEX 2025, celebrating the achievements of women in traditionally male-dominated fields.

At the Mining House Pavilion, attendees will be able to rub shoulders with the sector’s leading miners and understand the operational landscape of Australia’s vast resources industry.

As always, there will be lots of networking opportunities, while a Decarbonisation Showcase will highlight the latest electrification concepts and technologies helping the industry drive down carbon emissions.

Now under new ownership, AIMEX 2025 will showcase the best of the Asia-Pacific mining sector and provide attendees with the ultimate destination to source the latest insights, products and innovations.

Sales are now open for returning exhibitors to secure early bird prices, with spots assigned on a first come, first serve basis.

For more information on rebooking, or if you are a new exhibitor looking to secure your spot on the waiting list, visit aimex.com.au/exhibitors

True North’s Cloncurry commences operations

OLIVIA THOMSON

Overlooking the Great Australia mine within the Cloncurry project. Image: True North Copper

True North Copper (TNC) has commenced clearing activities and blast hole drilling at the Wallace North deposit that sits within the Cloncurry copper project (CCP) in north-west Queensland.

TNC’s personnel is set operate the dry hire equipment at Wallace North, most of which is already on-site. The company is currently recruiting for the operations team, which is close to finalisation, with a supportive technical team already in place for when mining begins.

Dewatering of Wallace North’s pit area is already well advanced, with all blast hole drilling expected to be in dry holes.

Leading TNC during this next phase of operations is newly appointed managing director Bevan Jones, who commenced his role on June 10.

“We have commenced mining operations at Wallace North, which will allow our CCP to restart copper production,” Jones said.

“This has been our major goal since listing on the ASX (in June 2023). I thank our team for their efforts in moving towards this goal to allow TNC to become Australia’s next copper and critical metals producer.”

The mining ramp-up at Wallace North will initially build ore stockpiles, with road haulage expected to start within a few weeks of start-up.

Oxide ore will be transported by road train to True North’s Cloncurry heap leach. Sulphide ore will then be transferred to a nearby concentrator for toll treatment under True North’s toll-milling agreement with Glencore.

“CCP is estimated to deliver free cash flow of about $200 million at current prices over its 4.6-year initial mine life, based on existing JORC reserves,” Jones said.

“Cash flow from mining will be used to explore further opportunities to build this inventory.”

Wallace North is one of four open-pit deposits that makes up Cloncurry. The deposit currently holds an ore reserve totalling 0.7 million tonnes (probable) grading 1.01 per cent copper and 0.46 grams per tonne gold for 6800 tonnes of copper and 10,000 ounces of gold.

An upgrade for Mt Ida gold

ALEXANDRA EASTWOOD

Image: Phawat/Shutterstock.com

Delta Lithium (18 RICHARDSON STREET, WEST PERTH Western)has upgraded the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Mt Ida project in Western Australia.

The miner described the MRE upgrade as “major” as it represents an 82 per cent increase in contained gold at the project.

“This is a wonderful result for Delta shareholders, reaffirming our long-held belief that the gold system at Mt Ida has significant scale and upside,” Delta Lithium managing director James Croser said.

“The Baldock is fast becoming one of the very few, large high-grade undeveloped gold deposits in WA in excess of 500,000 ounces.”

Mining approval has already been granted for Phase 1 open pit mining at Mt Ida, with significant potential for further resource growth now being tested as drilling gets underway.

“The commencement of open pit mining has been approved, and the underground approval with the department is submitted and pending,” Croser said.

“We are investigating the best options for Delta shareholders to crystallise value from our gold, which can then be applied to further developing our core lithium business.

“The efforts of Delta’s geology team have been tireless and driven toward this success. We have already started follow up gold drilling at Mt Ida to target resource growth beyond one million ounces.”

Holcim announce ‘transformative’ AI plan

ADAM DAUNT

Holcim will expand its usage of AI technology. Image: Holcim

Holcim will use artificial intelligence to include more than 100 plants worldwide over the next four years under a new plan announced recently.

The announcement is an expansion of the company’s current use of artificial intelligence, which has already been deployed in 45 plants. The technology is used to predict and prevent failures as part of the company’s approach to preventive maintenance. The inclusion of AI technology is part of Holcim’s Plants of Tomorrow program, which involves over 140 integrated plants and grinding stations across more than 40 countries.

The new plan will see Holcim roll out its AI preventative maintenance solution and pilot a generative AI program. The solution was developed in collaboration with C3 AI, which is a well-known AI software provider.

“AI is a transformative technology that will revolutionise our industry,” Holcim chief executive officer Miljan Gutovic said.

The company will continue to upskill its maintenance teams to use the AI technology to carry out asset management and optimisation in real time.

Overall, Holcim has AI initiatives in several other areas including product quality and process optimisation to autonomous vehicles and computer vision. These initiatives also include the use of unmanned drones for enhanced inspection and safety practices, and smart control systems for efficient energy consumption.

“Already widely embedded across Holcim, AI catalyses operational efficiency and enhances customer service. We will ultimately scale up our use of AI to hundreds of sites worldwide,” Gutovic said.

More rare earths from Lynas Malaysia

KELSIE TIBBEN

The Mount Weld rare earths project. Image: Lynas Rare Earths.

Lynas Rare Earths has announced its Malaysian arm will become a producer of two new separated heavy rare earths (HRE) as soon as next year.

A new process will produce separated dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb) at Lynas Malaysia for the first time and will complement Lynas’ existing light rare earths product range.

Dy and Tb are both essential to high performance rare earth permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and high-tech applications such as micro-capacitors which are essential to all electronic devices.

Currently, Dy, Tb and other HRE oxides from Lynas’ Mount Weld ore body are sold as a mixed HRE compound known as SEGH.

The reconfiguration of one of Lynas Malaysia’s solvent extraction circuits will facilitate the production of Dy and Tb.

The new circuit is designed with capacity to separate up to 1500 tonnes of SEGH per year.

“Lynas’ Mount Weld deposit is remarkable for its endowment of heavy rare earth minerals as well as light rare earth minerals,” Lynas managing director and chief executive officer Amanda Lacaze said.

“This circuit reconfiguration at Lynas Malaysia provides a pathway to accelerate our commitment to processing all of the elements in the Mount Weld ore body.

“Dy and Tb are important inputs to high performance magnets and electronic devices and we are pleased to enhance our product range to meet current and prospective customers’ needs.”

As a result of the separation of Dy and Tb from the SEGH compound, Lynas’ HRE product range will increase to include Dy, Tb, unseparated samarium, europium, and gadolinium, as well as holmium concentrate and unseparated SEGH.

Lynas is also progressing pre-construction activities for its planned US rare earths processing facility.

Both Lynas Malaysia and the planned US rare earths processing facility have been designed to accept third party feedstocks as they come online.

A new global uranium power

TOM PARKER

uranium mineral isolated on black background. Highly radioactive and dangerous ore.

Paladin Energy is looking to grow its global uranium footprint through the acquisition of Canadian-focused Fission Uranium. (PDN收购优质铀矿后复盘补跌5.1%，本次配股收购稀释股东权益，在股东将要看到拉格矿有收益的时候再添新吞金兽，2029年计划投产的帕特森湖项目未来5年间预计非常烧钱，这也是股东们没有因该溢价收购就立即炒高股价的原因。)

Fission shareholders would receive 0.1076 Paladin shares for each Fission share as part of the deal, which represents an implied value of $C1.30 per Fission share and an implied equity value of $C1.14 billion.

This is a 25.8 per cent premium to Fission’s closing share price of $C1.03 on June 21.

Fission shareholders would own 24 per cent of Paladin if the transaction closes, with the enlarged Paladin holding a market capitalisation of $US2.5 billion.

The two companies hope to create a “clean energy leader” and deliver several benefits to shareholders of both companies:

Enhanced project development pipeline
Multi-asset production expected by 2029
Diversified presence across leading uranium mining jurisdictions of Canada, Namibia and Australia
Increased exposure to highly attractive long term uranium fundamentals
Increased scale and global profile of Paladin with TSX listing

Fission owns the Patterson Lake South (PLS) project, which proposes a high-grade uranium mine and mill in Canada’s Athabasca Basin.

Paladin is a uranium producer once again through its Langer Heinrich mine in Namibia, with which it holds a 75 per cent stake. The company also holds exploration assets in Canada and Australia.

“The acquisition of Fission, along with the successful restart of our Langer Heinrich mine, is another step in our strategy to diversify and grow into a global uranium leader across the top uranium mining jurisdictions of Canada, Namibia and Australia,” Paladin chief executive officer (CEO) Ian Purdy said.

“Fission is a natural fit for our portfolio with the shallow high-grade PLS project located in Canada’s Athabasca Basin. The addition of PLS creates a leading Canadian development hub alongside Paladin’s Michelin project, with exploration upside across all Canadian properties.”

Fission president and CEO Ross McElroy echoed Purdy’s sentiment.

“The combination of Fission and Paladin will create a world class diverse uranium producer, adding a class leading development project in a Tier 1 jurisdiction with the ability to expand production and cash flow profiles in the near term,” he said.

“The culture and assets between Fission and Paladin are very complimentary. Shareholders will have exposure to a producing asset with a long life of mine, located in a politically stable and globally significant uranium jurisdiction with a long history of uranium production.”

The Fission board recommends its shareholders to vote in favour of the transaction.

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EQ hits tungsten production high

OLIVIA THOMSON

Tungsten. Image: Björn Wylezich/stock.adobe.com

EQ Resources hit new weekly production records in June at its Mount Carbine and Saloro tungsten operations in Queensland and Spain respectively.

The Mount Carbine operations produced a record 70.4 tonnes of 50 per cent tungsten oxide (WO3) concentrate over a seven-day production period, with a daily record of 13.6 tonnes of 50 per cent WO3 concentrate produced within a 24-hour period.

According to EQ, this marks a 16 per cent improvement over the previous weekly production record at Mount Carbine. It also builds off the production record achieved in the March 2024 quarter.

The Saloro operations also achieved a weekly production record of around 50 tonnes of 50 per cent WO3-equivalent concentrate within a seven-day period at the beginning of June.

EQ credited the higher recovery and final concentrate production at Saloro to significant upgrades implemented during the June 2024 quarter.

“I am very pleased with the progress seen at both operations specifically throughout June,” EQ chief executive officer Kevin MacNeill said.

“Mount Carbine faced a major rebuild of our main screen, which allowed us to implement the previously announced upgrade of one of our XRT sorters. Technology is evolving quickly and given our good relationship with TOMRA and considering that we just commissioned the new generation sorters at Saloro, we could finish the upgrade in less than a week.”

Looking ahead, the Saloro processing plant de-bottlenecking program is scheduled for completion by the end of the September 2024 quarter.

The plant improvements implemented so far include the crushing and screening circuit, modification of jig ragging, spiral circuit optimisation and a rearrangement of the shaking table circuit to capture a higher proportion of fine scheelite previously lost in the tailings stream.

The Queensland Investment Corporation will also fund the expansion of Mount Carbine via a $20 million loan to be received by EQ in two instalments over a three-year period.

How BHP looks to prolong an iconic Australian copper mine

TIM BOND

Anna Wiley speaking at Copper to the World 2024. Image: Austmine

BHP’s planned expansion of Olympic Dam could be one of the most significant investments in Australian copper infrastructure in decades.

Speaking at the recent Copper to the World conference, BHP asset president copper Anna Wiley discussed the mining giant’s aspirations for the important metal in South Australia.

“To date, we have unlocked synergies of more than $US50 million ($75 million) per year from our newly combined operations in South Australia,” she said.

“At Olympic Dam, we have invested $1.8 billion over the past five years improving the safety, stability and reliability of our surface processing facilities.

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

Olympic Dam churned out 212,000 tonnes of copper in the 2022–2023 financial year, and BHP is still making discoveries at depth.

“It’s one of the amazing things about Olympic Dam – we haven’t found the bottom of it yet,” Wiley said.

What’s next?
Wiley touched on BHP’s plans for its copper portfolio in South Australia, which includes:

Progress and completion of the Prominent Hill shaft that will haul ore to surface from 1.3 kilometres deep
Transition to a block cave at Carrapateena following the recent commissioning of a second underground crusher this year
Further underground development at Olympic Dam
Ongoing studies into a smelter/refinery expansion at Olympic Dam
A new decline at Oak Dam to complete underground exploration and pave the way for a potential underground mine development.

“In the coming years, we hope to make a final investment decision on an expansion of our existing copper refining facilities at Olympic Dam, to construct a two-stage smelter and associated refinery complex,” Wiley said.

“This has the potential to result in production of greater than 500,000 tonnes per annum of copper – and more than 700,000 tonnes 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.”

To achieve its copper aspirations, Wiley said it all boils down to partnership and collaboration.

“Investment in skills, training and innovation and a thriving METS (mining equipment, technology and services) sector that builds our collective capability to lead the next generation of technologies and systems will be critically important to South Australia across a range of sectors.”

Mass exploration greenlit in Victoria

KELSIE TIBBEN

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.”