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.…
Ardea Resources Limited has partnered with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd (SMM) and Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) to form a 50:50 incorporated joint venture named Kalgoorlie Nickel Pty Ltd (KNPL) for the development of the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP) - Goongarrie Hub in Western Australia. Under the terms of the Cooperation Agreement, the Consortium, Ardea, and KNPL will jointly fund and conduct the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), with the Consortium funding 100 per cent of the DFS costs up to the agreed budget of approximately $98.5 million. Additionally, the Consortium will assist KNPL in optimising debt financing to earn an ultimate…
Northern Minerals Limited (NTU), a key player in heavy rare earth (HRE) exploration and development, has announced the reception of high-grade assay results from ongoing mineral resource definition drilling at the Wolverine deposit within the Browns Range Project in Western Australia. The latest assay results validate the presence of wide and high-grade mineralised intervals across the Wolverine deposit, which remains open at depth. Notable new intercepts include 15.6 metres at 9.99 per cent Total Rare Earth Oxides (TREO) from a depth of 428.20 metres, alongside other substantial intercepts that highlight consistent mineralisation throughout the targeted areas. The primary objective of…
Aurumin Limited (AUN) has expanded its flagship Sandstone Gold Operations with the acquisition of five new exploration tenements. This addition reinforces Aurumin’s presence in the prolific Youanmi Terrane, located 520 kilometres northeast of Perth, as part of the company's 100 per cent owned 946 koz Au Central Sandstone Project. The newly acquired tenements, spanning an additional 60 square kilometres, include historical workings and well-defined mineralisation trends, which are key to Aurumin's ongoing development strategy. These tenements are poised to enhance the company's exploration capabilities and drive significant value for stakeholders. Aurumin Managing Director Brad Valiukas stated: “After repositioning the company…
Aurumin Limited (ASX: AUN) has completed drilling at its 100 per cent owned Central Sandstone Project, located 520 kilometres northeast of Perth. The project is part of Aurumin's Sandstone Operations, which also include the Birrigrin and Johnson Range Projects, boasting a total resource of 946koz Au. The drilling campaign, conducted with Reverse Circulation (RC) methods, comprised 38 holes and 3888 metres drilled. The primary objectives of the drilling were to test seven new open pit targets and to investigate extensions at two existing open pit resources. The drilling targeted multiple depositional models and styles, including porphyry/intrusive hosted vein style, banded…
Intra Energy Corporation Limited (IEC), an environmentally responsible mining and energy group, has announced compelling lithium, tantalum, niobium, caesium, and tin assays from rock chip sampling at the Maggie Hays Hill (MHH) project. These results significantly enhance the project's lithium prospectivity and validate IEC's exploration strategy. The latest round of sampling, conducted over the most prospective section of outcropping pegmatites, revealed averaged lithium assays of 503 ppm, indicating the presence of lithium-rich pegmatites. Additionally, encouraging caesium and tantalum values, with average assays of 139 ppm and 107 ppm respectively, suggest the potential for multiple mineralisation targets. These findings, along with…
WA Regional Development Minister Don Punch recently revealed a cutting-edge robotic welding assistant at MAS Equipment's West Kalgoorlie workshop. The innovative 'Cobot,' supported by the Regional Economic Development (RED) Grant program, is set to revolutionise the business's capacity to service the mining industry in the Goldfields while enhancing safety, productivity, and job opportunities. The 'Cobot' is designed to perform a variety of welding tasks with precision and efficiency, ensuring high-quality manufacturing and production for clients. This new technology will not only increase MAS Equipment's competitiveness in the industry but also contribute to the upskilling of workers, making the mining sector…
Mozambique-focused emerging mining company Mustang Resources (Mustang), has just agreed to merge their ruby interests with gemstone mining and marketing company, Fura Gems Inc (Fura). The agreement between the two companies was made for approximately A$10 million in Fura shares. Under the agreement, shares will be given in three tranches, over 20 months, and will give Mustang around an 8 per cent stake in the Canadian-based company, Fura, with this agreement excluding the percentage equity dilution from capital raised from today onwards. Fura is set to give Mustang shareholders a significant exposure to the rapidly growing ruby market via a…
Emerging West African gold developer, Golden Rim Resources, has just released news of a new gold discovery at Red Hill, which is located approximately 4.5km from their Kouri Gold Project in Burkina Faso (West Africa). Broad zones of significant gold mineralisation was discovered at Red Hill, approximately 4.5 km south west of the mineral resource at Kouri. Both of the drill holes completed at Red Hill returned gold intercepts that include: 11m at 2.2g/t gold from 77m, including 2m at 7.7g/t gold, and 1m at 6g/t gold from 114m in NKRC030; 16m at 1.8 g/t gold from 29m and 10m…
Eni, a leading Egyptian Oil Company, has just announced a second light oil discovery on the b1-X exploration prospect, which is located in the South West Meleiha license, in the Egyptian Western Desert, located approximately 130 km North of the oasis of Siwa. The well in question is the second drilled well by Eni, who had plans to explore the deep geological sequences of the Faghur Basin. Approximately 7 km away from their first discovery (SWM A2-X), SWM B1-X has been drilled to a total depth of 4,523 meters. Down there Eni announced that they encountered 35 meters net of…
In partnership with Shah Deniz, BP has just announced the start-up of the new $28-billion project Shah Deniz 2, a landmark new gas development in Azerbaijan which will enable the first commercial gas delivery to Turkey. The project is set to start on time and on-budget. Shah Deniz 2 is set to be the first subsea development in the Caspian Sea, also forming the largest subsea infrastructure operated by BP worldwide. The project forms the beginning of the Southern Gas Corridor series of pipelines, delivering natural gas to the Caspian Sea and directly to European markets for the first time.…
Australian Oil and Gas company Calima Energy Limited has undertaken a strategic review of current and near-term investments in gas pipeline capacity relevant to the Montney Formation in Western Canada. “Calima is fast approaching the point where it will be drilling its first wells on the Calima Lands and it was therefore considered prudent to review the factors affecting the market both in terms of price and ease of access to infrastructure,” commented Calima Energy Managing Director, Alan Stein. The review identified over C$70 billion (approximately A$72 billion) of proposed infrastructure investments which have the potential to add over…
Nautilis Minerals Inc. has just announced the commencement of their wet-testing program for a new seafloor diamond drill rig. Nautilus’ rig, which is nicknamed the ‘Hobbit’ has met preliminary targets in a series of land-based trials, of which were largely focusing on rod handling, functional drilling and stability testing. Nautilus’ wet-test program is set to occur over a two-week period, expanding the testing parameters to include submerged operations and mechanical endurance. The Canadian registered company was the first to explore the ocean floor for polymetallic seafloor massive sulphide deposit (the sulphide deposit prospect is in Papua New Guinea and…
Global engineering firm, DRA, has successfully secured a contract with Sierra Rutile Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Iluka Resources Limited, for the expansion of its mineral sands operations in the Bonthe District of Sierra Leone. Sierra Rutile’s Gangama plant, which was originally constructed by DRA in 2016, will double its capacity to 1000-1200tph at the project’s completion. The project also includes the expansion of the Lanti front end circuit; and the refurbishment of the Lanti floating concentrator. “We are excited to continue our longstanding partnership with Sierra Rutile, which has included three feasibility studies and two engineering, procurement, and…
