PYBAR Cuts First Exploration Portal in 30 Years at MMG's Rosebery
Mining contractor PYBAR has cut the first exploration portal at MMG's Rosebery mine in over 30 years, marking a new phase for the 90‑year‑old operation on Tasmania's west coast. The Tom McDonald Exploration Portal will support underground drilling aimed at identifying deeper ore bodies. Rosebery, a long‑standing copper‑nickel producer, is leveraging the portal to potentially extend its mine life. The development underscores ongoing investment in the region’s mineral assets.
MEGA Delivers First Blast for Star at Tumblegum South
Star Minerals announced that the first blast at its Tumblegum South gold project in Western Australia has been successfully fired. The blast, executed by drilling contractor MEGA, cleared the initial waste rock, marking the start of bulk excavation. This milestone...
Liberty Bell Bay Workers Take Their Pay Fight to Canberra
Union delegates from the Liberty Bell Bay manganese smelter in Tasmania have taken their wage dispute to Canberra, seeking federal support for higher pay. The Australian Workers' Union says the industry faces a "cycle of uncertainty" as negotiations with the...
Yindjibarndi in Rio Tinto Power Play
Yindjibarndi Energy Corporation, a joint venture between Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and ACEN, has secured a 30‑year power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto to supply electricity from the upcoming Jinbi Solar Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. Construction of the 400‑MW solar...
Loadquip Salt Harvester for Mardie
Loadquip, a Queensland OEM, has engineered a 1,500‑tonne‑per‑hour salt harvester for BCI Mineral’s Mardie operation on the Pilbara coast. The mobile system traverses evaporation ponds, scoops salt, and directly loads it onto trailers, streamlining the logistics chain. Designed for continuous...
Earl Grey Environmental Approval Brewing
Covalent Lithium has submitted an expansion proposal for its Earl Grey lithium project in Western Australia, prompting the EPA to release a report to the state environment minister. The agency has opened a three‑week public appeal period for stakeholders to...
Core Lithium Adds Another $67M in Finniss Funding
Core Lithium announced the completion of the second tranche of its equity raise for the Finniss lithium project in the Northern Territory, securing an additional $67 million Australian dollars (approximately $44 million USD). The total capital now stands at $120 million AUD (about...
Rox Takes Youanmi Water Works Underground
Western Australian gold miner Rox Resources has completed dewatering of the Main pit at the historic Youanmi gold mine. Approximately 1.8 million cubic metres of water were pumped out, revealing the old decline and pit floor. The operation clears the...
Is This Mining's Moonshot Moment?
BHP’s vice‑president of innovation, Jess Farrell, delivered a spirited address at the GRX26 conference in Perth, urging the mining industry to embrace bold, moonshot‑style innovation. She highlighted the sector’s urgent need for digital transformation, automation, and sustainable practices to stay...
Peabody Extends Centurion Commissioning Due to 'Difficulties'
Peabody Energy announced that the commissioning of its Centurion longwall mine in Queensland has been extended. The delay stems from electrical and mechanical problems that are limiting cutting speeds and creating temporary roof‑support challenges. The mine, previously known as North...
Dingo Range Works Approval Granted
Emerald Resources has received works approval to construct a processing plant, power station, tailings storage facility and ancillary infrastructure at the Dingo Range gold project in Western Australia. The approval also clears the way for Metso’s semi‑autogenous grinding (SAG) mills,...
Metro Happy to Have Ikamba Back Home
Metro Mining announced that its offshore floating transhipment terminal Ikamba has returned from dry‑docking in Batam, restoring full transhipping capacity at the Bauxite Hills mine in Cape York. The reinstated capacity coincides with a 33% year‑on‑year increase in April bauxite...
Robo-Road Trains at Heart of Hexagon's Plan for Mining World Domination
Swedish industrial‑technology leader Hexagon announced a strategic partnership with Australian miner Mineral Resources to develop and trial autonomous road‑train trucks. The pilot, running on Mineral Resources' Pilbara operations, will deploy up to ten driverless haul trucks equipped with Hexagon’s AI...
PYBAR Primes for Sunday Creek Decline
Thiess subsidiary PYBAR has secured an underground exploration decline contract at Southern Cross Gold’s Sunday Creek gold‑antimony project north of Melbourne. The contract calls for a 680‑metre decline that will reach a depth of 115 metres, providing primary access to the...
DRA Global to Deliver Mt Lindsay Scoping Study for Critica
DRA Global has been hired to deliver a scoping study for Critica’s wholly‑owned Mt Lindsay tin and tungsten project in northwest Tasmania. The deposit holds over 80,000 tonnes of tin and 3.2 million tonnes of tungsten trioxide, resources that were originally...
Eucalyptus Bark a Natural Fit as a Filter
RMIT University researchers have demonstrated that eucalyptus bark can be transformed into a versatile filtration medium capable of cleaning polluted water, scrubbing airborne contaminants, and sequestering carbon dioxide. Using a single-step carbonisation process, the team produced a porous carbon material...
Regis and Vault Surprise with Major Merger
Gold miners Regis Resources and Vault Minerals announced a merger of equals, creating a combined enterprise valued at approximately A$10.7 billion (about $7.1 billion USD). The transaction will give the new entity a sizable cash pile, positioning it for strategic growth and...
Questions Remain over Sale of Hellyer Gold to Celestial Pacific
Hellyer Metals' subsidiary Hellyer Gold Mines was sold to Celestial Pacific Group in November 2023. A creditor‑issued report, authored by liquidator Liam Bailey, highlighted the absence of an independent receiver overseeing the transaction. The report argues that this omission raises transparency...
Northern Star's Hemi Gets EPA Approval
Northern Star Resources received Environmental Protection Agency approval to advance its Hemi gold project in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The mine, situated about 85 km from the port city of Port Hedland, cleared regulatory hurdles after Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn...
MLG Oz Extends Its Stay at Newmont's Tanami Operation
MLG Oz has secured a five‑year contract extension with Newmont Corporation worth $200 million to continue providing mining‑services at the Tanami operation in Australia’s Northern Territory. The deal covers core activities such as drilling, blasting and bulk‑earthmoving, and adds clauses for...
Multiple Preventable Failures Led to Broken Hill Underground Mine Fire
A fire erupted underground at Perilya's Broken Hill mine after a heat‑generating chemical was injected into a timber‑lined void without proper safeguards. The blaze forced the evacuation of 46 workers, with five temporarily trapped below ground. Investigators identified multiple preventable...
SSH to Acquire Elphinstone Mechanical Services
Australian equipment rental firm SSH Group announced the acquisition of Elphinstone Mechanical Services, a specialist in heavy diesel maintenance and shutdown support for the mining sector. The purchase will be integrated into SSH's Hire division, strengthening its service portfolio and...
Nexus Taps MGMS for Mining at Wallbrook
Nexus Minerals has engaged Macro Gold Mining Services (MGMS) to design, finance and execute open‑pit mining at its Crusader‑Templar gold deposit in Western Australia’s Wallbrook region. MGMS, a joint venture between Macro Metals and Goldfields Technical Services, will handle the...
BHP Brings OD OS Workers Inhouse
BHP secured Fair Work Commission approval to directly employ 38 maintenance staff at its Olympic Dam operation, moving them from the company’s Operations Services (OS) subsidiary onto a single enterprise agreement. The change ends a separate contract arrangement that had kept...
Bridge Opens in Key Qld Coal Corridor
The Queensland government officially opened the Phillips Creek Bridge on Saraji Road, creating a flood‑resilient crossing between Dysart and Moranbah in the Bowen Basin. The bridge is designed to withstand high water levels, improving safety for miners and freight operators....
Mastermyne to Appeal $7.3M Penalty for Crinum Death
Mastermyne, an underground coal contractor, has been fined $7.3 million and ordered to pay $300,000 in court costs after a judge ruled that the September 2021 death of 62‑year‑old Graham Dawson was avoidable. The conviction will be recorded on the company’s legal...
Are Nyrstar Smelter Support Package Talks in Jeopardy?
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas denied media reports that negotiations over a second round of government funding for Nyrstar’s Hobart and Port Pirie metal smelters have broken down. Nyrstar’s Port Pirie facility can produce up to 5,000 tonnes of antimony metal annually, underscoring its...
MinRes Advances Lithium Joint Venture with POSCO
Mineral Resources (MinRes) announced a critical step toward a joint venture with South Korean steel giant POSCO Holdings, granting POSCO a 30% interest in MinRes' revitalized lithium portfolio. The partnership focuses on expanding production at the Mt Marion lithium project in...
MinRes Boosts Production Targets as Debt Falls
Mineral Resources (MinRes) has lifted its production guidance for the 2025‑26 financial year as its debt profile continues to improve. The company’s balance sheet strength is underscored by a falling debt‑to‑equity ratio, giving it more flexibility for capital projects. However,...
ASIC Discontinues Liberty Bell Bay Winding up Action
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has stopped its court proceedings to wind up Liberty Bell Bay, the manganese smelter in northern Tasmania owned by GFG Alliance. The plant remains under external administration, and its financial reporting obligations have...
EPA Recommends Minister Knock Back WA Quarry Proposal
Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has formally recommended that Environment Minister Matthew Swinborn reject Doyles Lime Services’ application to develop a new quarry near Preston Beach. The EPA cited potential damage to coastal dunes, wetlands and marine ecosystems, as...
ETU Extends BHP Strike
Australia’s Electrical Trades Union (ETU) announced an extension of its industrial action at BHP’s Pilbara iron‑ore operations. The strike, now entering its second week, aims to force BHP back to the bargaining table over wage increases and broader employment conditions....
Rain, Ground Conditions Crimp Whitehaven Production
Whitehaven Coal reported a sharp drop in production for the March quarter after heavy rain in Queensland and persistent geotechnical problems at its Narrabri longwall mine in New South Wales. The wet conditions slowed haulage and forced temporary shutdowns, while...
MLG Oz Implements Growth-Focused Leadership Shuffle
MLG Oz announced a leadership reshuffle, promoting founder Murray Leahy from managing director to executive chairman. The changes are positioned to accelerate sustainable growth and pursue transformational strategic opportunities. In the latest half‑year results, MLG posted a 73.2% rise in...
Comment Sought on Ellison and Rinehart Backed Lithium Mine
A proposal for a greenfield lithium mine in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region has been released, backed by mining veterans Chris Ellison and Gina Rinehart. The project, led by Delta Lithium, entered a seven‑day public comment period, inviting stakeholders to weigh...
Western Gold Extends Toll Milling Deal with Wiluna Mining
Western Gold Resources has secured a six‑month extension to its toll‑milling agreement with Wiluna Mining. The deal allows the Gold Duke project in Western Australia to continue using Wiluna’s Matilda carbon‑in‑leach plant while the company refines its mine‑planning and development...
Put People First to Make Psychological Safety Practical, Dss+'s Gutierrez Says
Senior director Rod Gutierrez of global consultancy dss+ argues that companies must put people first to translate psychological safety from concept to practice. He highlights that managing psychosocial risks is becoming a regulatory priority, especially in high‑hazard sectors like mining....
Mining Contractors Facing 'Renewed Activity', Says Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton’s latest report says Australia’s mining contracting sector is entering a period of renewed activity, driven by strong copper and gold prices and early signs of a lithium demand rebound. The firm highlights that robust commodity markets are boosting...
Regional WA to Feel the Love in Cook's Seven Cities Plan
Western Australia’s government unveiled the Cook’s Seven Cities plan, targeting upgrades across Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Port Hedland, Karratha, Broome, Geraldton and Albany. The initiative includes 113 new homes in Kalgoorlie, 37 in Geraldton, 26 in Albany and more than 300 homes...
Metal Logic Gets Macro to Mine Its Tenements and Feed Its Smelter
Metal Logic, a developer of modular smelting technology, has signed a mining services agreement with Macro Metals to operate across its East Pilbara tenements. The partnership will see Macro extract ore and deliver it directly to Metal Logic's new smelter,...
Qld Shows Off Its Graphite Credentials
Graphinex has opened a demonstration plant in Townsville, Queensland, marking Australia’s first vertically integrated graphite‑to‑anode facility. The pilot converts raw graphite into battery‑grade anodes on‑site, showcasing a full‑scale production pathway for a critical mineral used in electric‑vehicle batteries. Queensland is...
Fortescue Tips Another $1B Into Pilbara Green Energy Infrastructure
Fortescue Metals Group’s board approved an additional US$680 million (A$954 million) to expand its Pilbara Green Energy Project, fast‑tracking a 200 MW renewable power hub in Western Australia. The investment will broaden the infrastructure to supply electricity to third‑party customers, not just Fortescue’s...
Firebird Battery Making Tech Gets $2M ARENA Grant
Firebird, an Australian battery‑manufacturing start‑up, secured a AU$2 million (≈US$1.3 million) grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to build a pilot production line. The funding will enable a 200‑kilowatt demo plant that showcases its novel lithium‑ion cell technology. The project...
Pantoro Puts up $20M for Mining at Mega's Rama Project
Pantoro Resources announced a $20 million capital injection to advance mining at Mega Resources' Rama gold project in Western Australia. The plan calls for extracting ore at Rama and transporting it to Pantoro's Norseman operation for processing, leveraging existing infrastructure. The...
Peabody Fires up 5MW Waste Gas-Burning Power Station at Centurion
Peabody Energy has commissioned a 5 MW waste‑gas‑fired power station at its Centurion mining complex. The plant captures methane and other gases that would otherwise be flared, converting them into electricity for the site and the local grid. It is projected...
Could Coal Mining Company Directors Be at Higher Risk?
A recent legal opinion warns that directors of coal‑mining firms could face heightened personal liability as climate‑related lawsuits gain traction. The analysis suggests courts may treat inadequate oversight of greenhouse‑gas emissions as a breach of fiduciary duty. It also notes...
Pilbara Ports Wants a Bypass Navigation Channel in Port Hedland
Pilbara Ports has submitted a proposal for a bypass navigation channel at Port Hedland to alleviate congestion in the existing harbor. The plan envisions a roughly 2.5‑km channel that would separate bulk‑carrier traffic from smaller vessels. The Western Australian EPA...
XRF Scientific Buys Bruker's Analytical Instruments Business
XRF Scientific announced it has purchased Bruker’s analytical instruments business, encompassing X‑ray fluorescence, inductively coupled plasma and related laboratory equipment. The transaction moves the manufacturing footprint for the acquired product lines from Bruker’s German facilities to XRF’s plant in Australia....
Rio Taps Into Monash Uni's Railway Expertise
Rio Tinto has entered a strategic partnership with Monash University to leverage the university’s rail engineering expertise for its Pilbara freight rail system. The collaboration will focus on advanced safety analytics, predictive maintenance, and performance optimization across the 1,200‑kilometre network...
BHP Puts China Sales Negotiations to Bed as WAIO Hits Record
BHP has halted ongoing price negotiations with its largest Chinese customer, opting to sell iron ore on a spot‑market basis as Western Australian iron ore (WAIO) reaches record output and price levels. The miner cited the unprecedented market conditions and...