Projects
Pinnacle Minerals Ltd (ASX: PIM) has announced the approval and scheduling of a significant drilling program at the Capel Mineral Sands Project in Western Australia. The program, comprising 93 air core drilling holes over approximately 2,000 metres, is set to begin on 20 May 2024. The Capel project, a brownfield heavy mineral (HM) exploration site, has already shown promising shallow mineralisation in previous drilling efforts by Iluka Resources. Noteworthy results include a mineralisation of 21 metres at 3.3 per cent HM from the surface, including 9 metres at 6.1 per cent HM from 11 metres depth. The project is strategically…
Alliance Nickel’s NiWest project granted major project status by Australian government
Alliance Nickel Limited (ASX:AXN) has announced that its NiWest Nickel Cobalt Project has been granted Major Project Status (MPS) by the Australian federal government. The project, located near Leonora, WA, is 100 per cent owned by Alliance and is considered strategically significant, with the potential to significantly contribute to Australia's economic growth and employment opportunities. The NiWest Project, boasting one of Australia's highest-grade undeveloped nickel laterite mineral resources, is targeting annual production of 90,000 tonnes of nickel sulphate and 7,000 tonnes of cobalt sulphate. The project is expected to create approximately 600 jobs during the construction phase and an additional…
Groundbreaking metallurgical recoveries at North Stanmore project
Victory Metals Limited (ASX: VTM) has announced a significant milestone in Australia's mining sector with groundbreaking metallurgical recoveries of critical magnet metals at its North Stanmore Project in Western Australia. Achieving an exceptional recovery rate of 93 per cent, the results set a new benchmark in the rare earth sector and position North Stanmore as a leader in Australia’s critical minerals landscape. The recent leach tests conducted on beneficiated samples showcased remarkable recoveries of Praseodymium (Pr), Neodymium (Nd), Terbium (Tb), and Dysprosium (Dy). These high-purity elements are integral to advanced technological applications, including renewable energy solutions and electronic devices. Utilising…
St George Mining identifies exciting new targets at Destiny project
St George Mining (ASX: SGQ) has unveiled promising new targets at its wholly-owned Destiny project in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields region. The exploration efforts have identified potential carbonatites and mafic intrusions, raising the prospect of hosting niobium (Nb), rare earth elements (REE), or nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation. A gravity survey program conducted by St George over six prominent magnetic features at the Destiny project has yielded significant results. Four of the six magnetic features have shown a high-gravity signature, suggesting they could be intrusions such as carbonatites or mafic intrusions, both known globally for hosting valuable mineralisation. These features, ranging from 0.9km…
Green light for major phosphate mine in northwest Queensland
The Queensland government has granted mining leases for a significant phosphate mine in northwest Queensland, marking a major step forward for the region's economy. North West Phosphate's Paradise South complex, located 130 kilometres northwest of Mount Isa, has been given approval, with expectations to create substantial employment opportunities and boost the local economy. The project is anticipated to generate 200 jobs during the construction phase and employ 245 workers once operational. North West Phosphate has committed to utilising local services, providing a further economic boost to northwest Queensland. Phosphorous, a key product of the mine, is essential for fertiliser production…
Rincon Resources confirms IOCG-style mineralisation at West Arunta project
Rincon Resources Limited (ASX: RCR) has reported a significant breakthrough in its exploration activities at the West Arunta Project, with recent diamond drilling confirming the presence of Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG)-style mineralisation. The company's second diamond drill hole at the Pokali prospect, labelled '24WADD002,' has intersected multiple zones with moderate to intense magnetite alteration, along with quartz and sulphide veining containing copper sulphides such as chalcopyrite, bornite, and traces of native copper and rare visible gold. These findings suggest the potential for a major IOCG deposit within the Pokali area. The drill core is currently being transported to Perth…
Sector shows its upside as Tasmania’s market gathers momentum
Iron ore continues to be a significant part of Tasmania’s mineral landscape, with the state’s leading operation undergoing some expansion works to ensure it maintains its annual production of two million-plus tonnes of magnetite concentrate. Meanwhile, a short-lived project to the south is ready to recommence mining once economic conditions improve. Located 60 kilometres southwest of Burnie, Grange Resources Ltd’s (ASX:GRR) Savage River has been subjected to a definitive feasibility study (DFS) into underground extraction below the north pit and its integration with the company’s current open-cut operation. According to the miner this document has revealed some robust financial outcomes.…
Hemlo transitions to underground mining
Barrick Gold Corporation has advised that plans to extend the life of the Hemlo gold mine in Canada by transitioning it to a modernised Tier Two [1] asset with a purely underground operation are 'well underway' as open-pit mining at the mine starts winding down. The Hemlo open pit has been mined since 1989 and has produced over 2.8 million ounces of gold. It was originally used to produce blasted rock for the backfilling of the mine’s underground stopes but in 2002 a truck fleet and key personnel were seconded from Barrick’s Nevada mines to establish the pit as a…
Endeavour restarts Boungou mine
Endeavour Mining (Endeavour or the Company), has announced that mining operations have successfully restarted at its Boungou open-pit gold mine in Burkina Faso, following the mobilisation of the West African mining contractor and completion of infrastructure and operating improvements. Endeavour has also confirmed potential annual synergies of $35 to $40 million during its SEMAFO integration process. The identified synergies are in the areas of procurement and supply chain optimisation, corporate and in-country G&A savings, centralisation of technical services and functions across the group. It is estimated that 60 per cent of these synergies will be progressively unlocked by year end…
Rio Tinto and China Baowu celebrate shipment milestone
Rio Tinto and China Baowu Steel Group have celebrated a significant milestone reached by its landmark Bao-HI Ranges iron ore joint venture (JV) with more than 200 million tonnes of iron ore now shipped from the Pilbara to mills in China. The 200 millionth tonne of iron ore sold under the partnership was mined at Eastern Range, located approximately 10 kilometres south of Paraburdoo. It departed Rio Tinto’s Cape Lambert port on board the Baosteel Li Da last month before arriving at Majishan, China, on 19 September. The shipment followed a broader milestone for Rio Tinto with the company shipping…
ASM successfully produces zirconium metal in Korea
Australian Strategic Materials (ASM), through its partner Ziron Technology Corporation (Ziron Tech), has successfully produced 8.6kg of a high purity zirconium metal at its commercial pilot plant in South Korea. The planned flowsheet for ASM’s 100 per cent owned Dubbo Project, located in central-western NSW, incorporates the production of both industrial-grade zirconia and dehafniated zirconia (ZrO2) and hafnium oxide (HfO2) using a process patented by Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) with ASM having an exclusive global licence. Successful production of this high purity zirconium metal from commercial-grade zirconia is an important milestone for ASM. ZironTech has received confirmation…
Engineering Scoping Study for Tajiri completed
ASX-listed mineral exploration and development company, Strandline Resources, has revealed the results of the Engineering Scoping Study on its 100 per cent owned Tajiri Mineral Sands Project in Tanzania. Tajiri’s deposit is a large northerly trending zone comprising a series of titanium-dominated mineral sands deposits stretching along 30 kilometres of Tanzanian coastline. The Engineering Scoping Study indicates that Tajiri will generate strong financial returns over a long mine life, underpinning Strandline’s long-term production outlook in Tanzania. Some highlights from the Study include: Project pre-tax NPV of US$205 million (pre-debt, real, 10 per cent discount rate); Project pre-tax IRR of 36…
Montem completes geological field mapping at Isola Project in Canada
Montem Resources Limited has completed a preliminary geological field mapping program at its Isola Project in the Crowsnest Pass of southwest Alberta, Canada. Montem’s Isola Project totals 4,832 hectares (ha) and is bordered to the south by Atrum Coal Ltd.’s Isolation South Project and to the west by the Cabin Ridge Project. In July 2020, Dahrouge Geological Consulting Ltd. estimated a coal Exploration Target for the project based on historical drilling, trenching and mapped surface outcrops ranging from 275Mt to 900 Million tonne (Mt) [1] [2]. The program also located historical coal seam trenches and multiple access routes into the…
Company ventures into uranium and vanadium markets
Last week, Adelaide-based company, Thor Mining PLC, announced the acquisition of American Vanadium Pty Ltd and its two US mining projects. The projects add to Thor’s diverse portfolio of mining interests, which include copper, gold, molybdenum and tungsten. The company already has stakes in South Australian copper and gold projects in Kapunda and Moonta, but this acquisition is Thor’s first venture into the uranium and vanadium markets. Thor Mining Executive Chairman Mick Billing said the project represents an exciting opportunity for the company. “We are very pleased to complete the acquisition of 100 per cent of American Vanadium and its…