Rio Tinto releases fourth quarter production results
Rio Tinto has revealed its fourth-quarter production results, with CEO Jakob Stausholm claiming that the business has been fatality-free for four consecutive years.
In the second half, Stausholm reported that the Pilbara iron ore mine and rail infrastructure set several operating records. With the exception of aluminium and alumina, the deployment of Rio Tinto’s Safe Production System resulted in enhanced performance, and total production was greater than in 2021 across all commodities.
Rio Tinto announced that its Pilbara operations produced 324.1 million tonnes (on a 100 per cent basis) in 2022, 1 per cent over in 2021. Shipments were 321.6 million tonnes (100 per cent) higher than in 2021. Meanwhile, despite equipment reliability difficulties at Weipa and Gove in Australia, bauxite production of 54.6 million tonnes was 1 per cent higher than in 2021.
BHP Xplor select seven companies to accelerate copper and nickel exploration
BHP’s accelerator program, BHP Xplor, has announced its first cohort of seven companies, chosen from hundreds of applications, all with the goal of discovering copper, nickel, and other critical minerals needed to drive the energy transition.
The seven companies are set to receive funding and support under the BHP Xplor program, which is intended to provide participants with the opportunity to accelerate their growth and the potential for a long-term engagement with BHP and its global network of partners. Candidates will be offered financing, in-kind services, mentorship and coaching, and chances with BHP’s network of suppliers and service providers.
The seven companies are as follows:
- Tutume Metals,
- Impact Minerals,
- Asian Battery Metals,
- Red OX Copper,
- Bronzite Exploration Corp,
- Nordic Nickel, and
- Kingsrose Mining.
Lithium mineralisation confirmed in North Big Smoky soil sampling results
Morella Corporation Limited has announced that the soil sample programme undertaken at the North Big Smoky Lithium Project (NBS) in September 2022 discovered a significant zone of increased lithium grades across the project region.
A 259-auger-hole drilling program was carried out in September 2022 to better understand the distribution of lithium in the soils over the NBS deposit. Mineralogical and geochemical samples were transported to ALS USA Inc, an accredited laboratory in Twin Falls, Idaho, for analysis.
ANSTO testing demonstrates high extractions of rare earth minerals
VHM Limited has been progressing with metallurgical testwork and has announced the metallurgical test findings from static trials (pre-pilot testwork) undertaken by the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, a leading rare earth research and testwork facility (ANSTO).
In a statement, VHM said the results revealed that remarkable leach extraction rates (>99%) are attainable from the Goschen Project deposit’s Rare Earth Mineral Concentrate (REMC). The testing is being carried out to finalise the plans and inform the final evaluation of the Hydromet Plant (Phase 1A) at the Goschen Project.
NAIF increases financial support for Yangibana Rare Earths Project to A$220 million
Hastings Technology Metals Ltd has announced that it has been approved for expanded financial support for the Yangibana Rare Earths Project (Yangibana) in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region.
The Federal Government’s Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has decided to enhance previously announced financial support for Yangibana development to A$220 million over a 12½-year term. The NAIF Board has authorised the loan, and will be evaluated by the Honourable Madeleine King, Federal Minister for Northern Australia.
Shipping of coal from Krajan Jetty to market to commence
Cokal Limited has provided updates with respect to transporting coal to market and the first coal sales for Cokal.
According to Cokal, it will soon start loading coal at the Krajan Jetty where it will be transported to BBM Permanent jetty for stocking. At the Batu Tuhup jetty, preliminary infrastructure for coal unloading, stock stacking, and loading onto larger barges is in place. According to the underlying contractual provisions, coal stockpiles at Batu Tuhup Jetty would be sold in the domestic market under the existing offtake agreement with PT Sumber Global Energy.
Unseasonably low water levels in the upper Barito River have slowed coal loading, but things are nearly back to normal. Cokal has been stockpiling coal at the Krajan Jetty in anticipation of better river conditions.
Minerals resource expansion drilling commenced
Latin Resources Limited has reported that field crews and drilling rigs have arrived on site for the start of the Company’s 100 per cent owned Salinas Lithium Project’s 2023 drilling program.
Six man portable/modular diamond drilling rigs with small environmental footprints capable of drilling to depths of 400-450m below the surface have arrived on site and have begun drilling. The Company has a 65,000m diamond drilling program scheduled for 2023, and it is committed to reducing the environmental impact of this activity by employing these innovative and low-impact rigs.
New Century provides operational update
New Century Resources Limited announced two key operational milestones: a rolling 12-month TRIFR of zero at its operations (the Century Mine and Karumba Port Facility) and the production of 1Mt of zinc concentrate since the resumption of operations at Century in 2018.
In addition, New Century Managing Director and CEO Robert Cooper said following a final evaluation of the additional work conducted in recent months, the results of New Century’s Mt Lyell Copper Mine Prefeasibility Study (PFS) are expected to be disclosed around the end of January 2023.
Bonanza gold results from Northern Flats and Tura primary lodes beneath Bombora Discovery
Breaker Resources has unveiled the results of six additional deeper diamond drill holes completed as part of the resource development program at its Lake Roe Gold Project beneath the Bombora Discovery.
According to Breaker CEO Sam Smith, the results continue to demonstrate how constant the underground lodes are. Smith stated Breaker’s earlier mining investigations have shown that the Tura lode has what it takes to sustain a meaningful underground production source beneath any potential Bombora open pit. The lode continues to expand at deep, with the results indicating that it has more room to grow, he noted.
Regional review enhances lithium potential of Widgie’s tenure
Widgie Nickel Limited has provided an update on its lithium exploration activities.
Following the lithium potential exhibited at the recently discovered Faraday project, Widgie has continued to analyse all available datasets suggesting potential for lithium-containing pegmatites.
In an initial evaluation of drill data, previous assay findings of up to 14m @ 0.95 per cent Li2O from 13m at the Voyager prospect on the southernmost drill line were noted. Drilling 50 metres to the north failed to intersect pegmatite. Reinterpretation and confirming surface mapping indicate a new orientation, implying that previous drilling at the Voyager potential was unproductive.
