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…
Aurumin Limited (ASX: AUN) has initiated a significant drilling campaign at its Central Sandstone Project in Western Australia. This project, which is wholly owned by Aurumin, represents a crucial step forward in the exploration and development of its Sandstone Operations. The Central Sandstone Project is located 520 kilometres northeast of Perth and boasts an impressive 881,000 ounces of gold (Au), contributing to the company's total resource of 946,000 ounces of gold across its Sandstone Operations, which also include the Birrigrin and Johnson Range projects. The ambitious drilling program aims to test up to nine new open pit targets, with plans to…
AngloGold Ashanti has reached an agreement to sell its remaining South African producing assets and related liabilities to Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited. Consideration for the transaction is in cash and deferred payments with expected proceeds of around $300 million, subject to subsequent performance, and with additional proceeds if the West Wits assets are developed below current infrastructure. AngloGold Ashanti announced in May 2019 that it was undertaking a process to review sale options for the portfolio of assets, principally comprising the Mponeng underground mine, where further capital, necessary to extend the mine life was in competition with other, higher-return…
Rio Tinto has announced the company will conduct a strategic review of the ISAL smelter in Iceland, to determine the operation’s ongoing viability and explore options to improve its competitive position. ISAL is expected to remain unprofitable in the short to medium term in the challenging conditions facing the aluminium industry, due to the smelter’s uncompetitive energy costs and historically low aluminium prices. Rio Tinto will continue discussions with the Government of Iceland and power provider Landsvirkjun on how the smelter can return to profitability and become competitive in the global market. Rio Tinto Aluminium chief executive Alf Barrios said…
Glencore has signed a five-year agreement for the supply of cobalt hydroxide for use in lithium-ion batteries. Under the terms of the new supply contract, Glencore will provide up to 21,000 tonnes of cobalt contained in cobalt hydroxide between 2020 and 2024 to Samsung SDI . Glencore produced 42.2 kilotonnes of cobalt in 2018, mainly as a by-product of copper mining. The cobalt will be sourced from Glencore's Katanga and Mutanda operations which are located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Glencore and Samsung SDI state that they are committed to ensuring the ethical and responsible production and procurement of…
Rio Tinto has decided to curtail operations at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) in South Africa to ensure the safety and security of its employees due to an escalation in violence in the communities surrounding the operations. RBM is South Africa’s largest mineral sands producer and beneficiation company. It produces predominantly rutile, zircon, titania slag and high purity iron. Rio Tinto noted that there has been an escalation of criminal activity towards RBM employees and one was shot and seriously injured in the last few days. As a result, all mining operations at RBM have been halted and the smelters will…
Rio Tinto has announced that it plans to conduct a strategic review of its interest in New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) at Tiwai Point, to determine the operation’s ongoing viability and competitive position. NZAS is a joint venture between Rio Tinto (79.36 per cent) and Sumitomo Chemical Company Limited of Japan (20.64 per cent). It is New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter and began operations in 1971. The plants produces primary aluminium in the form of ingot, billet, and rolling block. The majority of the plant's alumina is supplied from the Rio Tinto Yarwun and Queensland Alumina refineries at Gladstone in…
BHP has announced four new renewable power agreements to meet power demand for two of its copper operations in Chile. BHP’s Escondida mine, located in Northern Chile, is the world’s largest copper producer, while Spence is BHP’s wholly-owned open-pit copper mine, located in the Atacama Desert, in the North of Chile. BHP aims to supply Escondida and Spence’s energy requirements from 100 per cent renewable energy sources from the mid-2020s. The new contracts are expected to meet Escondida and Spence’s current energy needs and also contain the flexibility to help manage future demand as well. President of BHP Minerals Americas,…
Rio Tinto now offers independently certified responsibly produced aluminium from all of its Canadian operations, with the extension of the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative’s (ASI) Chain of Custody certification to include the BC Works smelter and Kemano Power Operations in Kitimat, British Columbia. The certification reinforces Rio Tinto’s commitment to responsible mining and metals production by providing independent verification that material can be traced through a ‘chain of custody’ which extends from Rio Tinto’s Gove bauxite mine in Australia to its alumina refinery, aluminium smelters and casthouses in Quebec and British Columbia. Being certified by the ASI means customers can be…
