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 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…
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 (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…
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 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…
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.…
Rio Tinto will invest C$105 million to modernise its Port-Alfred Port Facilities in Saguenay, Quebec, Canada. The investment will improve the safety and efficiency of receiving and unloading operations for raw materials used to produce aluminium at Rio Tinto's operations in the region. In order to adapt the infrastructure to the dimensions of modern vessels, a new platform will be built at the end of the Duncan wharf to facilitate docking. The Powell wharf will also be redeveloped to receive and unload alumina. This work includes the addition of a new unloading system, the dismantling of part of a warehouse…
Anglo American's has announced that its Unki platinum mine in Zimbabwe has been assessed against the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance’s (IRMA) comprehensive mining standard, achieving the IRMA 75 level of performance. The Unki underground mine was the first in the world to publicly commit to be independently audited against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining in 2019 and is both the first mine in Africa and the first producing platinum group metals operation to complete the audit. Chief Executive of Anglo American’s Platinum Group Metals business, Natasha Viljoen, said Anglo American has a longstanding commitment as a leader in…
Rio Tinto has reached an agreement with Landsvirkjun on an amended power contract that will allow the ISAL aluminium smelter in Iceland to continue operating with an improved competitive position. The agreement will deliver a more competitive power price and energy flexibility that is mutually beneficial for both ISAL and Landsvirkjun. Rio Tinto Aluminium Chief Executive, Alf Barrios, said the company is pleased to have reached an agreement on a power price that, coupled with improved efficiencies the company has delivered at the site, makes ISAL more competitive. “This provides a stronger footing to continue operations at the smelter and…
Lepidico Ltd’s proposed Phase 1 Project involves the development of an integrated lithium mine and concentrator in Namibia along with the development of a chemical conversion plant to be built within the Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (KIZAD). Today, the company announced the Preliminary Environmental Review (PER) for the Phase 1 Chemical Plant site within the KIZAD has been approved by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD). The Phase 1 Chemical Plant is designed to process 56,700 tonnes per annum (tpa) (dry basis) of lithium mica/amblygonite concentrate at a feed grade of up to 4 per cent Li2O for…
Australian Strategic Materials Ltd (ASM) has advised that the Korean Institute of Rare Metals (KIRAM) has successfully produced and tested two kilograms of pre-sintered permanent magnets from ASM’s high-purity neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) powder from its pilot plant in Korea. KIRAM’s testing provides a strong indication that ASM’s NdFeB alloy is suitable to produce rare earth permanent magnets that are commercially in demand. This certification is further validation of ASM’s strategy to become an independent, fully integrated 'mine to manufacturer' producer of critical metals. ASM’s Managing Director, David Woodall said the excellent support and collaborative work between the Ziron Tech and KIRAM…
USA-focused diversified explorer, Hawkstone Mining Limited has announced spectacular high-grade results from the Devil’s Canyon Gold Project in Nevada, USA. The results follow the completion of further rock sampling, structural mapping and airborne UAV (drone) magnetics at the project, which is located in the highly prolific Carlin trend that has produced in excess of 195 million ounces of gold. A total of 37 rocks samples (DC015-52) were collected as both outcrop and float, focused on extending areas of known mineralisation together with reconnaissance prospecting along prospective trends and targets identified from previous sampling and geological interpretations. Anomalous rock samples were…
DeepGreen Metals, which is exploring for deep-ocean polymetallic nodules as a lower impact and more cost-effective alternative to terrestrial mining, has announced an upward revision to the nodule resource reported within the NORI-D exploration contract area held by its subsidiary, Nauru Ocean Resources, Inc. The nodule resource is now estimated as 4 megatonnes (Mt) measured, 341Mt indicated and 11Mt inferred mineral resources. As countries invest in large-scale clean energy transition programmes and begin to phase out internal combustion engines, securing the minerals required to build batteries for storing renewable energy and powering electric vehicles is vital. According to some academic…
