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.…
BlackEarth Minerals NL has received confirmation from the Port d’Ehoala SA that the company has been granted a Right to export its graphite concentrate from the Port. BlackEarth’s Maniry Graphite Project is located in Southern Madagascar, approximately 250 kilometres from the Port. The Port d’Ehoala SA is jointly owned and operated by Rio Tinto and QIT Madagascar Minerals (a company jointly owned by Rio Tinto and the Madagascan government). The Right to export from Port d’Ehoala SA relates to all graphite related products produced from Maniry and the provisions of the services to be provided by the Port include: The…
Rio Tinto has approved a US$108 million investment in underground development to enable early orebody access and undertake orebody characterisation studies for underground mining at its Kennecott copper operations in the United States. The investment builds on US$25 million approved early last year to complete a pre-feasibility study to determine the viability of underground mining operations at Kennecott. Potential underground mining would occur concurrently with open-pit operations and result in increased copper output. Kennecott holds the potential for a significant and attractive underground development, with declared Mineral Resources of 20 million tonnes at 3.65 per cent copper and 1.62 grams…
Canyon Resources Limited has announced that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the Minim-Martap Bauxite Project was submitted on 1 June 2021 to the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Technological Development (MINMIDT). Canyon’s 100 per cent owned Minim-Martap Bauxite Project is a globally significant direct shipping ore (DSO) project. The project is located in central Cameroon and situated adjacent to the main rail line linking the region to the Atlantic port of Douala. ESS (Environmental and Social Sustainability), an Africa-based advisory services firm focused on Health, Safety, Environment and Communities (HSEC) management, managed the development of the ESIA…
Walkabout Resources has commenced construction prestart activities at its Lindi Jumbo Graphite Mine in Tanzania, in order to bring into production what is scheduled to be one of the highest margin graphite projects in the world. Chief Operating Officer of Walkabout Resources, Allan Mulligan, said the Lindi Jumbo Mine is rapidly materialising and on track for first production in the second quarter of 2022. "Our focus in stage 1 and 2 construction are on those items on the critical path including the civils required for plant erection and the continued manufacture and shipping of plant equipment from our EPC contractor…
BlackEarth Minerals NL has processed 60 tonnes of graphite material as part of a Stage 2 Pilot Program at the Maniry Project in Southern Madagascar. According to the company, test results have indicated that the designed flowsheet can achieve an average fixed carbon (FC) level of 96.5 per cent for all large and jumbo flake product testing, grades which are currently attracting significant price premiums in the graphite market. Over the next two weeks, BlackEarth plans to dry and screen the final concentrate prior to packaging samples for further downstream test work associated with the company’s strategic offtake plans. BlackEarth…
Lucapa Diamond Company Limited and its partner, the Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho (GoL), have announced the results of the third diamond sale in 2021 from the Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho, Southern Africa. The 3,617 carat parcel of rough diamonds was sold for US$420/carat or US$1.5 million (A$2 million or A$543/carat). As per the Diamond Sales and Purchase Agreement with Safdico International [1], Mothae will receive a minimum average cash flow value of US$630/carat for the first 12 months of the agreement. The difference between minimum average cash flow value and the selling price will be recouped by…
Rio Tinto’s ISAL smelter in Iceland has been certified by the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI) for meeting the highest internationally recognised standards for responsible aluminium production. The ISAL smelter commenced operations in 1969. It now produces approximately 184,000 tonnes of aluminium per year and employs around 500 workers on-site. The smelter recently achieved ASI Performance Standard certification with provisional status, following an independent, third party ‘desk top’ audit by ERM CVS. An on-site audit is expected to be completed following the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions. Rio Tinto was the first company to offer ASI Aluminium in 2018. The company…
