Crusader moves to Borborema BFS
PERTH, Feb 22 – Crusader Resources has begun a bankable feasibility study evaluating a 4Mtpa, 10-year mining operation at its potential company-maker, the 100% owned Borborema gold project in Brazil.
Solid Energy hit by closure
WELLINGTON, Feb 22 – New Zealand’s Mines Inspectorate has ordered the immediate shutdown of Solid Energy's Spring Creek underground coal mine at Greymouth.
Medusa says Co-O doing ok
LONDON, Feb 22 – Medusa Mining is promising shareholders an exciting ride as it emerges from the period of expansion and development at its Co-O gold mine and mill in the Philippines.
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Alara confirms Saudi project base
PERTH, Feb 22 – Alara Resources is confident it has a confirmed base for a 10-year mining operation following the announcement of the maiden resource for the Khnaiguiyah zinc-copper project in Saudi Arabia.
AmmLeach may work at Turkey zinc project
LONDON, Feb 22 – Canadian junior explorer/miner Red Crescent Resources is looking at the use of AmmLeach technology for the primary recovery of zinc and copper from oxide mineralisation at several base metals projects in Turkey.
Gindalbie lands 1.48Bt resource
PERTH, Feb 22 – Gindalbie Metals has boosted its hopes of building a regional iron ore presence in the Mid West of Western Australia with the announcement of a maiden mineral resource estimate of 1.48Bt at 27.15% Fe for its 100%-owned Lodestone magnetite project.
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Canwealth looks to extend James Bay reach
NEW YORK, Feb 22 – Canadian explorer/miner Canwealth Minerals and its management/funding partner ICBS have filed mineral claims over six new sites showing concentrations of gold and copper in the James Bay area of northern Quebec, Canada.
Ortac to update Sturec model
LONDON, Feb 22 – High grades and encouraging widths continue to encourage explorer/developer Ortac Resources at its Šturec gold-silver project in central Slovakia.
Horseshoe funding to reboot exploration
PERTH, Feb 22 – Drilling and other exploration activities will get a kick along at Horseshoe Metals’ highly prospective Horseshoe Lights copper-gold and Kumarina copper projects in Western Australia from the proceeds of a A$4.1M placement.
Touchstone finds Colombia gold
LONDON, Feb 22 – Explorer Touchstone Gold is reporting a new zone of high-grade gold mineralisation at its 100% owned Rio Pescado property in the highly prospective Segovia Gold Belt of Colombia.
Strategic values magnetite
LONDON, Feb 22 – An independent technical report has given an insitu value of A$140M for the magnetite and silver deposits on Strategic Minerals’ Iron Glen prospect, 40km south of Townsville in Queensland, Australia.
Orvana gold reserve boost
TORONTO, Feb 22 – Orvana Minerals has lifted gold reserve estimates at its El Valle-Boinas/Carles gold-copper mine in northern Spain by 95,000oz to 1.3M oz measured and indicated.
Natasa eyes London listing for Alberta Coal
LONDON, Feb 22 – Natasa Mining is contemplating a London Stock Exchange main board listing of its new subsidiary Alberta Coal Corporation following the acquisition of six coal leases in Alberta, Canada.
Santander potential evident
VANCOUVER, Feb 22 – Intersections of high-grade, polymetallic mineralisation in exploration of the Santander Pipe in west-central Peru are underscoring the significant potential of the historic mining area for zinc-lead-silver-copper deposits.
Steel production down worldwide
BRUSSELS, Feb 22 – Falling production of crude steel in China led a world-wide decline in output last month, the World Steel Association reports.
Landdrill lands orders
MONCTON, New Brunswick, Feb 21 – Canadian driller Landdrill International has secured record drilling commitments from mining companies in Canada and internationally for 2012.
Noble secures final Bibiani funding
PERTH, Feb 21 – Noble Mineral Resources has completed a A$10M placement to fund the final commissioning of the 3Mtpa Bibiani gold mine in Ghana in preparation for the first gold pour next month.
Minas Chanca review starts
VANCOUVER, Feb 21 – Resource estimation of high-grade shoots has begun at the Minas Chanca project in the Central Peru Polymetallic Belt after Compañia de Minas Buenaventura returned bonanza silver grades of up to 9.3kg/t Ag over 35cm in underground diamond drilling.
Paulsens resource lift
PERTH, Feb 21 – Australian gold miner Northern Star Resources has raised the JORC-compliant resource estimate for its flagship Paulsens project in Western Australia by 41% to 318,000oz.
Contractors win nuclear plant work
LONDON, Feb 21 – A joint venture of Keir Group and BAM has been signed up for GBP100M-plus worth of site preparation works for the new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset, UK.
Conway to start bulk sampling
QUEBEC, Feb 21 – Canadian explorer Conway Resources will begin extracting a 30t bulk sample at the Belleterre gold mine in Quebec, Canada in mid-March ready for processing in early April.
Central Asia producer switch imminent
PERTH, Feb 21 – They’re keeping the caustic warm at the Dalabai gold project in wintry Kazakhstan, where Australian gold explorer/developer Central Asia Resources is just days away from its first production.
Coalbank to speed Blackall drilling
BRISBANE, Feb 21 – Energy investor/developer Coalbank will accelerate drilling at its Blackall coal project in central Queensland, Australia with the proceeds of a A$5M placement with institutional and sophisticated investors.
Rio appoints e2v to drive power switch
LONDON, Feb 21 – Rio Tinto has appointed specialist technology firm e2v technologies to develop large-scale ProWave microwave and radio frequency generators for use in mineral recovery.
Gryphon grabs share of Papillon
PERTH, Feb 21 – The potential of Papillon Resources’ early stage gold projects in Mali has attracted Gryphon Minerals to grab a 6.72% equity holding through the acquisition of 16M shares.
Jatenergy wins maiden coal sale
SYDNEY, Feb 21 – Jatenergy has secured its first coal sale for its East Kalimantan mines in Indonesia, a contract to deliver 8000t of thermal coal to a Singaporean buyer.
Cape Range backs off Camarines Norte
SYDNEY, Feb 21 – Cape Range is on the hunt for new project opportunities after pulling the pin on its proposed acquisition of the Camarines Norte gold project in the Philippines.
Minotaur raises Mutooroo sights
ADELAIDE, Feb 21 – Minotaur Exploration has raised its exploration sights at the Mutooroo magnetite project 75km southwest of Broken Hill in South Australia.
Caledonia agrees Zim mine divestment terms
TORONTO, Feb 21 – Caledonia Mining Corporation has agreed terms with the Zimbabwe Government for the indigenisation of its 40,000oz pa Blanket gold mine, in the southwest of the country.
Barminco wins Dugald River race
PERTH, Feb 20 – Underground mining contractor Barminco has added a fourth Queensland mine contract, for Minerals and Metals Group (MMG) at Dugald River, to its Australian order book. The $A100 million contract is for 2.5 years of development work at the zinc-lead-silver project. Barminco also works for MMG at Rosebery in Tasmania.
Rio to switch on Auto-trains
LONDON, Feb 20 – Rio Tinto has set a starting date of 2014 for the first driverless trains on its 1500km Pilbara iron ore rail network in Western Australia after signing off on a US$518M investment in automated train systems. Rio’s share of the cost is $478M.
OZ to sell Okvau
MELBOURNE, Feb 20 – OZ Minerals has abandoned its aim of establishing a mid-tier gold mine in Cambodia, electing instead to sell its Okvau gold deposit for A$17.8M to explorer Renaissance Minerals.
ARM, Anglo to test Modikwa ruling
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 20 – African Rainbow Minerals and joint venture partner Anglo American Platinum plan to challenge the award of a mining right to Nkwe Platinum over the Modikwa Deeps properties in South Africa’s Bushveld Complex.
Ventnor sharpens Thaduna picture
PERTH, Feb 20 – Ventnor Resources’ production scenario for its Thaduna/Green Dragon copper project near Meekatharra in Western Australia is clearer after obtaining high-grade near surface intersections close to its primary target.
African Queen generates targets
VANCOUVER, Feb 20 – Favourable results from preliminary field work and airborne geophysics are generating drill targets for African Queen Mines at its Odundu property in southwest Kenya’s Rongo Goldfields.
Carrick posts Lindsay's reserve
PERTH, Feb 20 – Carrick Gold is closer to a late 2012 start to mining at its LKK gold project near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia after releasing an initial probable open-pittable reserve of 42,995 oz (664,000t @ 2.2g/t) at the Lindsay’s project.
OM output could be derailed
SINGAPORE, Feb 20 – The Edith River bridge in Australia’s Northern Territory, seriously damaged in a train derailment that followed Cyclone Grant in late December, will not be back in action until the end of this month.
Downer wins more Karara work
PERTH, Feb 20 – Gindalbie Metals has awarded the electrical and instrumentation contract to Downer Australia for the 8Mtpa processing plant at its Karara iron ore project in the Mid West region of Western Australia.
Altona to buy China coal properties
LONDON, Feb 20 – AIM-listed Altona Energy hopes to move into sustainable coal production in the near future after reaching agreement to purchase a 95% indirect interest in two advanced coal exploration licences in the People's Republic of China.
Blackwood resource boost
BRISBANE, Feb 20 – Blackwood Corporation has confirmed the Chinchilla coal project in the middle of the Surat Basin in Queensland, Australia as a priority after releasing a JORC compliant estimated exploration target of 190-240Mt.
Papua Mining takes AIM
LONDON, Feb 20 – UK investors will be offered access to a range of Papua New Guinea exploration areas when Papua Mining makes its AIM debut next month.
Midas looks to extend reach
PERTH, Feb 20 – Midas Resources expects three of its four tenement applications in the Western Desert region of Western Australia to be issued within weeks following the conclusion of an access agreement with the native title holders.
Alpha to look for coal in Tasmania
LONDON, Feb 20 – UK firm Alpha Prospects has established a new Australian subsidiary to explore a 500sq.km area prospective for coal and coal bed methane at Mt Lloyd in southern Tasmania.
Extorre abandons finance deal
VANCOUVER, Feb 16 – Queries over a technical report on the Cerro Moro project in Argentina have forced Extorre Gold Mines to call off the US$50M bought deal financing package announced on January 30.
Minera starts Ollachea drive
LONDON, Feb 20 – Latin America gold miner Minera IRL has begun excavation of the 1.2km exploration drive at the Ollachea gold project in Peru.
Botswana Diamonds raises funds
LONDON, Feb 20 – Botswana Diamonds has conditionally raised GBP1.51M mainly to fund work on its exploration projects in Botswana, Cameroon and Zimbabwe.
Taurus delisting
LONDON, Feb 20 – Kalahari Minerals will apply for the delisting of Taurus Minerals on the AIM after resolving to proceed to compulsory acquisition. Taurus holds 94.8% of Kalahari shares.
EMED EGM to approve transfer
NICOSIA, Feb 20 – An extraordinary general meeting of EMED Mining will be held on 12 March in Nicosia, Cyprus to approve the allotment of 105.4M shares to a subsidiary of Yanggu Xiangguang Copper pursuant to the proposed US$30M aggregate funding package.
NEWS DESK: Hecla silver boost
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho, Feb 17 – Exploration at four major US and Mexican land packages has helped lift Hecla Mining’s silver reserves to 148M oz and resources to 281M oz, both the highest figures in the history of the largest US silver miner.
Tulla's job now to right Norseman
PERTH, Feb 17 – Norseman Gold is handing management and operational control of its Western Australian gold mine to resource specialist Tulla Resources Group seeking to restore the historic project to past glory.
Wildhorse aims for Mecsek Hills restart
LONDON, Feb 17 – Wildhorse Energy is linking up with Mecsek-Öko and Mecsekérc in Hungary with the aim of restarting uranium mining at the Mecsek Hills uranium project in the south of the country.
POSCO to explore with Legend
PERTH, Feb 17 – International miner POSCO Africa has signed a non-binding and non-exclusive agreement with Legend Mining to explore its 90%-owned Ngovayang iron ore project in Cameroon.
Excelsior ready to excel
SYDNEY, Feb 17 – Excelsior Gold has banked the cash to progress the development of the Kalgoorlie North gold project in Western Australia through its prefeasibility stages with a A$4.8M institutional capital raising.
Paragon recovers big whites
LONDON, Feb 17 – African-focused diamond explorer and developer Paragon Diamonds has recovered five large, high quality white diamonds from its first bulk sample at its 84%-owned Lemphane kimberlite project in Lesotho.
Elsienora doesn't disappoint Balamara
PERTH, Feb 17 – Balamara Resources says follow-up deep diamond drilling at its Elsienora prospect 80km south of Bathurst in New South Wales, Australia has given further evidence of the potential for a large-scale gold system.
Talvivaara steps up
HELSINKI, Feb 17 – Talvivaara Mining Company has marked 2011 as a significant step in its development into a fully producing mining company, recording a 21% increase in operating profit to E30.9M for the year to the end of December.
Coalworks steps out
SYDNEY, Feb 17 – Coalworks says it is a step further towards its aim of becoming an independent Australian coal producer with the announcement of an inferred resource of 743Mt bituminous coal at the Ferndale exploration licence in the Upper Hunter region of New South Wales.
ACCC steps in
CANBERRA, Feb 16 – Coal miners from the Bowen Basin and Galilee Basin in Queensland have been granted an exemption from Australian competition laws to collectively bargain their rail and coal terminal access agreements.
Vale lifts iron sales
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 17 – Vale reports its iron ore and pellets sales reached a record 299.1Mt for the year to December 2011, exceeding the previous record of 296.4Mt in 2007 and the 294.4Mt sold in 2010.
Coal contribution grows for Vale
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 17 – Vale reports revenues from coal product sales were a record $1.1B in 2011, 37.5% higher than the previous record $770M in 2010.
Capital expects Mayfield boost
CANBERRA, Feb 17 – Capital Mining anticipates significant growth to the established in-ground resource estimate of 77,000 oz gold, 1.2M oz silver and 16,000t copper following a positive drilling program at its 51%-held Mayfield joint venture near Canberra, Australia.
Jatenergy receives Atan Bara licence
SYDNEY, Feb 17 – Australian energy company Jatenergy has received an IUP Produksi production licence from the Indonesian Government for its Atan Bara coal project in East Kalimantan.
Kingsgate to post Teterita resource upgrade
SYDNEY, Feb 17 – Kingsgate Consolidated plans to release an upgraded resource by the end of the March quarter after resource drilling intersected consistently higher grades than previously achieved from the Teterita prospect at the Nueva Esperanza silver project in Chile.
More Copper Bore targets
PERTH, Feb 17 – Southern Cross Goldfields says it has identified a series of new drill targets from recently completed geophysics at its Copper Bore VMS copper-gold project, 400km northeast of Perth in Western Australia.
Vale's broken records
RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 16 – Global mining giant Vale has broken just about every record it can in the year to December 2011.
BMA strike starts
BRISBANE, Feb 16 – A strike over a grab bag of issues by 3500 workers will stop production at seven BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance coking coal mines in central Queensland, Australia until Wednesday next week.
Goldcorp posts record earnings
VANCOUVER, Feb 16 – Goldcorp has marked its eighth successive year of growth in gold reserves by reporting record adjusted net earnings of US$1.8B for the year ended December 2011.
Mbalam gets high-level help
PERTH, Feb 16 – The Cameroon Government has set up a top-level ministerial steering committee to co-ordinate and oversee planning for Australian miner Sundance Resources’ Mbalam iron ore project in West Africa.
Forte confirms extensions
LONDON, Feb 16 – Early assay results from reverse circulation drilling have confirmed extensions at depth at international uranium company Forte Energy’s A238 prospect in Mauritania.
FMG profit surge
PERTH, Feb 16 – Weather and lack of accommodation in Western Australia’s Pilbara region have delayed the construction of the Fortescue Metals Group’s vital harbour expansion by three months and added $200M to its bill.
Decmil wins more Pilbara work
PERTH, Feb 16 – Fortescue Metals Group has moved to ease the accommodation problems affecting the T155 Rail Expansion Program at its Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia by awarding a A$28M rail camp construction contract to Decmil Australia.
AngloGold lifts dividend
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 16 – South African global gold giant AngloGold Ashanti has doubled its dividend to shareholders after recording record annual operating cash flow and headline earnings for the 2011 year.
Metals Finance enters Homeville JV
SYDNEY, Feb 16 – Resources investor Metals Finance has added a third Australian nickel development project to its portfolio, signing a joint venture with Augur Resources over the Homeville nickel-cobalt laterite project near Nyngan in central New South Wales.
Ausenco wins key Barrick deal
BRISBANE, Feb 16 – Barrick Gold has appointed engineer/project manager Ausenco to manage the expansion of its US$246M Goldstrike gold project in Nevada, USA on an engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance basis.
Bokoni mine stoppage
JOHANNESBURG, Feb 16 – South Africa’s Mineral Resources Department has issued a safety stoppage notice at the Bokoni platinum mine following the death of an employee at the Vertical shaft on Tuesday.
Focus extends Treasure map
PERTH, Feb 16 – Reconnaissance drilling has indicated a 4km strike length for a recently discovered gold bearing system at Focus Minerals’ Treasure Island gold project at Lake Cowan in Western Australia.
Chanach hopes rise
PERTH, Feb 16 – Final results from 2011 drilling support the hopes of joint venture partners White Cliff Minerals and T2Gold for a large potential gold-copper resource at the Chanach project in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Lachlan Star books profit
PERTH, Feb 16 – Chile-focused gold and copper miner Lachlan Star has turned around its fortunes with an A$5.2M profit for the December 2011.
ZYL expands team
PERTH, Feb 16 – Emerging Australian coal producer ZYL has strengthening its focus on South Africa with key appointments to the geological team responsible for bringing its key Mbila and Kangwane projects to production.
Broker cool on Emeco Chile move
SYDNEY, Feb 14 – Australian mining services group Emeco has another test of its offshore management mettle on its hand with its latest Chile move. The company hasn’t acquitted itself well on this front so far, according to one broker.
VIEW FROM THE WEST END
Oops
“IF YOU don’t make mistakes you’re not working on hard enough problems,” said Frank Wilczek, Nobel Laureate for physics 2004.
FROM THE CAPITAL
Weaknesses show up in results from market leaders
THE strengths and weaknesses of BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto were on show when the companies posted results last week. The big challenge for resource sector investors is to decide whether the strengths or the weaknesses will dominate investment outcomes now that earnings growth sourced from higher commodity prices has run its course.
ASIA DESK
Ampella boss stands his ground
AMPELLA Mining’s pre-Indaba release of mixed metallurgical testwork results from its flagship Batie West project in Burkina Faso hurt not only Ampella’s share price, but also the share price of other up and coming West African gold plays. But are the results as bad as the market would suggest they are? And does Ampella’s now deflated share price make it the next West African play up for grabs?
AFRICA
Shaw certain Otjo will be worth the wait
FAIR to say the end of 2011 couldn’t come fast enough for Shaw River Resources and its shareholders, but the past is history and the company’s managing director sees plenty of reason to be optimistic in the year ahead and beyond.
AFRICA
Apples and pairs
SCOTT Lowe concedes comparisons can be problematic when referring to $A700 million Discovery Metals and the sub-$A100 million company Blackthorn Minerals that he runs, but between the jigs and the reels there are similarities to be seen all the same.
SOUTH AMERICA
Sticking with the planner
AIM-listed Herencia Resources hasn’t exactly set the market alight over the past few years despite being one of the very first movers into what has become one of the real destinations of choice for juniors trawling the globe looking for opportunities. However, the ongoing backing for the company by established shareholders illustrates its bona fides and the next year or two are set to be transformational years for the junior.
SOUTH AMERICA
Lachlan’s star still rising
DESPITE rising more than 40% since duel listing on the Canadian market late last year, big appreciation is seen as still to come in Lachlan Star’s shares based on peer comparisons and a significant new gold development at the company’s CMD operation in Chile.
AFRICA
Indaba's sweet timing
THE organisers of this year’s Mining Indaba could hardly have timed it better. The event happened to find the sweet spot that occurred between the misery that marked the end of last year, and what looks like it may have been the end of the New Year optimism in the past few days.
EXPLORATION
Weighing up Sandfire odds
TERRY Burgess at OZ Minerals would have mixed feelings about an analyst report late last week which, in the vernacular of the market, is more “conservative” than most with regards the exploration potential offered by Sandfire Resources.
COAL
Mozambique aspirations
TAKING inspiration from the Riversdale story, Shiv Madan headed to Africa with aspirations to become a major coking coal player in the burgeoning Mozambique coal industry.
PROJECT WATCH
Kaolin prospect looks good on paper
GIVEN the opacity of industrial minerals not to mention the history of kaolin in Australia – think Skardon River – Minotaur Exploration probably has a bit of a tough sell on its hands with the Carey’s Well kaolin project in South Australia. But given the potential money that can be made, it’s not surprising the junior is having a crack.
EXPLORATION
Sheffield looks for luck of Iluka
COULD mineral sands explorer Sheffield Resources enjoy some of the luck Iluka had some years back in South Australia’s Eucla Basin at the junior’s Dampier project in the Kimberley region of Western Australia?
FINANCE
New name, direction
THE obvious move of listing in North America is now firmly on the agenda of Richmond Mining, which, with a new board, funds, and a new name, will hopefully start kicking some goals in 2012 for patient backers of the story.
EXPLORATION
Minnow takes aggressive line on copper project
LOW profile Mining Group claims to have a very exciting copper gold project in the Philippines, though until some visibility on resource estimates and scoping work emerges investors will have to make do with their own assumptions as to what exactly could be on offer.
FINANCE
IFM momentum challenged by power cut
FEBRUARY 21 - LONDON-listed International Ferro Metal’s half-yearly interim financials were well received by the market on Monday as cost cutting measures continue to grip, development programs continue unabated and the ferrochrome market shows signs of recovery. The only dark cloud hanging over the company is a potential power cut by troubled state utility, Eskom.
EXPLORATION
Silver lining in IOCG hunt
IT’S one eye on the market’s reaction to recent drilling success at the Peterlumbo epithermal silver prospect, one on the bigger picture for John Anderson, who must be pleased with what he’s seeing with the former over the past week or so.
RUSSIA
Barrick to divest Russian miner stake
HIGHLAND Gold Mining has lost investment but not support from the world’s largest gold producer, Barrick Gold Corporation, which has told the Russian-focused junior that its 20.4% stake in the company no longer fits with its “core business operations and strategy”.
FINANCE
Big opening for Altona
ALTONA Mining’s delivery of first copper concentrate from its Outokumpu operation in Finland to New Boliden has officially converted its status to producer and ticked a key box in its quest to win stronger market favour.
COAL
NuCoal expands Hunter Valley foothold
FEBRUARY 21 - NUCOAL took another step toward its vision of becoming a significant Hunter Valley coal producer this week, signing a binding heads of agreement to acquire the neighbouring exploration licence to its existing Doyles Creek and Savoy Hill projects.
GOLD
‘Best looking gold project I’ve come across’
BOB Pett has been around the block once or twice and seen a gold project or two in his time! He was, after all, the bloke that floated Resolute all those years ago. So when he labels the Katanning gold project as “the best looking gold project I’ve come across”, gold investors should presumably sit up and take notice.
EXPLORATION
Straits focus turns to exploration
STRAITS Resources’ recent $A45 million institutional placement attracted “exceptional” support, according to the company’s CEO Milan Jerkovic. Seeing that interest translate into market performance will be what shareholders now want to see, and Straits can point to a number of factors as to why this could be expected to happen in the months ahead.
EUROPE
Scotgold helps change UK mining landscape
AUSTRALIAN junior Scotgold Resources has received formal planning permission from a Scottish National Park Authority on Monday for its proposed Cononish gold-silver mine, marking the end of a lengthy permitting campaign and highlighting the UK as a surprise alternative address for mining companies to consider.
ISSUES
Flying or digging – it’s all tiring work
WHAT do an air force pilot, cabin crew member and dragline operator have in common? They are dead tired after working in 24/7 industries. Dr Graeme Peel, who over the past 38 years has worked in all three industries, offers unique insight into how the mining industry can chip away at the hardest occupational health and safety issue of them all – fatigue.
EVENTS
Craig Oliver Award nominees announced
ONE of Australia’s best emerging miners will be recognised with the Craig Oliver Award at the 2012 RIU Explorers Conference in Fremantle, Western Australia, expected to attract more than 700 delegates this month.
EVENTS
ASX plans Perth mining conference
THE once clear Perth mining exhibition calendar has another new entry with the Australian Resources Conference and Trade Show due to run from November 12 to 14 this year in the Western Australian capital.
AUSTMINE
Vale sponsors Australian mining supply mission
AUSTRALIAN mining supply industry group Austmine will partner with Vale and Trade & Investment Queensland to take a trade mission party to visit Brazil mines and meet with industry executives in April.
AFRICA
Getting past first base
BASE Resources timed its entry into the mineral sands industry perfectly. Now the challenge is proving it can bring its flagship Kwale project in Kenya into production in time to take advantage of the sweet spot in the market.
EVENTS
UPDATED: Mining events diary 2012
HIGHGRADE presents a comprehensive listing of upcoming mining investment and technical events scheduled around the world.
HEAVY METAL
Hunter investment bonanza continues
A NEW $A40 million investment by Joy Global in a Hunter Valley ‘centre of excellence’ is the latest significant announcement by a major mining equipment supplier about service renewal in the coal mining district.
VIEW FROM THE WEST END
Just chatting
XCORE – I do like that name, sounds like a drill bit or a B-grade porno – very appropriate name for a mining company I think.
EUROPE
EU risk undermines gold merger
THE merger of small-scale Swedish gold producer, Gold-Ore Resources, and promising Spanish gold developer, Astur Gold, fell over early this month as the Swedish miner gave in to the power of the almighty dollar and lingering doubts over the future company’s ambition to consolidate European gold assets.
MINING IT
Wiggins Island selects Active ERM
THE $A2.5 billion Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET) project in Queensland, Australia, due to commence operations in 2014, will use project management software developed by a UK firm.
CONTRACTING
Top-to-bottom surge by mining service firms
CHRISTMAS came early for many mining services companies – and the unveiling of a stack of new contracts is a long way from being finished.
