Australian Mining February 2024 by Prime Creative Media

DECISION-MAKERS COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT VOLUME 116/01 | FEBRUARY 2024

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DECISION-MAKERS COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT VOLUME 116/01 | FEBRUARY 2024

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COMMENT

A DEFINING YEAR AHEAD AS WE MOVE ANOTHER YEAR CLOSER TO 2030, THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY’S NET-ZERO IMPERATIVES ARE BECOMING MORE PRESSING BY THE DAY.

TOM PARKER tom.parker@primecreative.com.au

he Australian mining industry has seemingly never been subject to more inconveniences, with cost hikes compounding with supply chain disruptions, extreme weather events and an industry-wide skills shortage. Then, in order to atone for more hostile business conditions, operations are being asked to produce more ore at a faster rate. This hardly seems fair, but it appears to be the new reality, and it can’t distract mining companies from fulfilling their environmental, social and governance (ESG) obligations. Whether it’s implementing strategies to drive down emissions, employing measures to solidify relationships with Traditional Owners and other stakeholders, or exploring new methods of improving tailings and waste management, there are a myriad of ways mining companies can improve their ESG performance. And it’s a holistic ESG strategy that will resonate best with the stakeholders and investors that hold mining companies to account. Being the first issue of 2024, the February edition of Australian Mining tackles some pressing themes for the year ahead, including ESG and critical minerals. PwC Australia national mining leader Marc Upcroft lends his thoughts on the world’s critical minerals imperative, while mining companies, Arcadium Lithium, Global Lithium Resources and VHM, discuss their critical minerals strategies for the years ahead. But looking with a more on-the-ground perspective, crushing and screening takes centre

stage in the February edition, with solutions from the likes of Wirtgen, FLSmidth, Epiroc, Lincom, Martin Engineering, McLanahan and Minprovise front and centre. We sit down with AusCrush to chat about its work at the Peculiar Knob iron ore mine in South Australia, where Wirtgen’s Kleeman machinery has proven critical to the success of this case study. FLSmidth highlights its end-to-end crushing and screening offering, while Lincom puts its Powerscreen Premiertrak 760 under the microscope. The Premiertrak 760 is considered one of the largest mobile jaw crushers on the market. Elsewhere, Australian Mining shines a light on the next wave of autonomous mining solutions, with case studies to boot, while this edition also showcases mining companies going above and beyond to solidify their relationships with Traditional Owners. It seems we say this every year, but 2024 is already shaping up to be a big one for the Australian resources sector, and we’ll be here to bring you all of the news and trends, as well as the latest products, services and innovations that keep the wheels of this vital industry turning.

Tom Parker Editor

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FRONT COVER

Lincom Group is the parent company for a specialised range of businesses, supplying quarry, mining, recycling and forestry with the sales, service and hire of screening, crushing, bulk handling, shredding, grinding and water treatment equipment. As Powerscreen’s exclusive Australasian supplier, Lincom has been a supporter of the Australian mining industry for decades, consistently bringing new crushing and screening solutions into the local sector to improve safety and boost throughputs. With operations throughout Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, Lincom has service hubs, warehouses and offices in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. The company’s head office in Queensland is supported by a fully equipped manufacturing facility. Cover image: Lincom

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IN THIS ISSUE 22

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

The need for speed How can Australia best capitalise on its critical minerals opportunities? Australian Mining enlists an expert for the inside word.

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

Chasing grade in Cloncurry An advanced private explorer has been operating largely under the radar in northwest Queensland, with two new mines due to enter production within three years.

Crushing it AusCrush has deployed Wirtgen machines at the Peculiar Knob iron ore mine in South Australia, leading to exceptional results.

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

Your end-to-end partner FLSmidth harnesses the smarts of digitalisation to provide a crushing and screening offering that covers all bases.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

On the competitive edge The mining sector is a fundamental economic driver in Australia, but it’s not immune to challenges. BHP’s recent Recapturing Australia’s Competitiveness report breaks down the facts.

COMPANY PROFILE

The big four VHM is set to produce the four most important rare earth elements for an electrified world. And the company’s upside doesn’t stop there.

COMMODITY SPOTLIGHT

Emerging lithium players Australian Mining spoke with two companies who could play a critical role in Australia’s future lithium hopes.

EQUIPMENT

At home in the Hunter When Bengalla Mining Company took delivery of a Liebherr R 9800 excavator in August 2023, it marked the beginning of an exciting business relationship.

AUTONOMOUS MINING

Harbingers of automation A new era of innovation has taken hold of the Australian mining industry. And it’s only just getting started.

REGULARS 5 COMMENT 8 NEWS 88 PRODUCTS 90 EVENTS

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NEWS

THE LATEST MINING AND SAFETY NEWS AUSTRALIAN MINING PRESENTS THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE BOARDROOM TO THE MINE AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN. VISIT WWW.AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING.

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FORMER RIO MINING TOWN TO BECOME TOURISM HUB

THE RANGER URANIUM MINE.

Former Northern Territory mining town Jabiru is continuing to make progress towards its transition to a sustainable Indigenous-led tourism and regional services hub. Once Australia’s longest continually operating uranium oxide producer, the Ranger mine near Jabiru ceased all mining and processing activities in 2021 after 40 years of operation. The now-shuttered mine is owned by Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), a subsidiary of Rio Tinto which holds an 86.3 per cent stake.

The NT Government has committed $135.5 million to the transition of the town, with another milestone hit recently. The NT Government and Jabiru Kabolkmakmen (JKL), a collaboration between the Government and the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation to provide services that progress the repurposing of Jabiru, signed an agreement to move the organisation to a wholly community-controlled housing entity. The organisation will be renamed Jabiru Property Services,

and will aim to provide the local Mirarr people with a stronger voice in relation to housing in Jabiru. “Jabiru is an iconic Territory town – the gateway to Kakadu national park and the west Arnhem region,” NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said. “This new transition ticks another milestone and gives the community of Jabiru control of the homes that are built in their community and the best place for them.” Gundjeihmi chief executive officer Thalia van den Boogaard

AUSTRALIAN MINING GETS THE LATEST NEWS EVERY DAY, PROVIDING MINING PROFESSIONALS WITH UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION ON SAFETY, NEWS AND TECHNOLOGY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN MINING AND RESOURCES INDUSTRY.

thanked the NT Government for its ongoing support, which included the opening of the Jabiru hybrid power station in 2021. “JKL’s success in supporting the transition of the town would not have been possible without the clear vision of the Mirarr Traditional Owners and funding support from NT Government,” she said. “In light of progress made in Jabiru and the establishment of the township entity Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation Jabiru Town, now is the right time for a wholly communitycontrolled housing entity to focus on housing as a crucial requirement to enable the Mirarr vision of Jabiru.”

MINRES REACHES AUTONOMOUS ROAD TRAIN MILESTONE Mineral Resources (MinRes) has provided Hexagon with the first custom off-road triple road train to convert into an autonomous operation. To celebrate the milestone, MinRes director of technology and innovation David Geraghty and Hexagon chief synergy officer autonomous solutions Gordan Dale presented the keys to the highly customised Kenworth C509 prime mover at Hexagon’s Perth workshop. Hexagon executive vice president core autonomy Mike Verheyn

and Hexagon vice president core autonomy engineering John Buszek also travelled to Perth to honour the achievement. “This is a significant milestone for (the) Onslow Iron (project), with autonomous trucks forming an essential part of the project’s supply chain,” Geraghty said. “Automation brings many benefits, including enhancing road safety, increasing operational efficiencies and reducing emissions.” In late 2021, MinRes and Hexagon signed an agreement that involved

developing an autonomous road train solution for MinRes’ haulage fleet in the Pilbara region of WA. From January, 10 vehicles per month will be converted over the ensuing year to meet the requirements of the Onslow Iron project. Once deployed, MinRes will have a fleet of 120 fully autonomous road trains. “This is a complimentary partnership, with MinRes leading the way in mining services and Hexagon leading the way in autonomous technical capability,” Dale said.

AUSTRALIANMINING 8 FEBRUARY 2024

“We are excited to commence installing the autonomous technology in our Perth workshop, with the aim to complete a fit out of a truck in just two-tothree days.” The world-first technology has been designed and developed jointly by MinRes and Hexagon. Safety is at the forefront of the technology’s design, with grade separation ensuring there is no interaction between the road trains on the haul road and vehicles using public roads.

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NEWS

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VANADIUM FLOW BATTERY LANDS IN WA

VSUN’S NEW VANADIUM FLOW BATTERY WILL BE USED FOR A LONG-DURATION ENERGY STORAGE PILOT IN KUNUNURRA.

Australian Vanadium Limited (AVL) subsidiary VSUN has welcomed the arrival of its highly-anticipated vanadium flow battery (VFB). The battery arrived in Fremantle, Western Australia, and will be transported to AVL’s newly completed vanadium electrolyte manufacturing facility for factory acceptance testing (FAT). From there the battery is destined for utility company Horizon Power’s site in Kununurra, WA. “The arrival of the vanadium flow battery for VSUN Energy’s Horizon Power project demonstrates another key step in AVL’s ‘pit to battery’

strategy,” AVL chief executive officer Graham Arvidson said. “We are looking forward to working with Horizon Power to successfully deliver this project, allowing the utility to benefit from the role that VFBs can play in enabling decarbonisation and providing reliable, low cost, long duration grid energy storage, with the potential for high levels of local content when coupled with AVL’s WAmade vanadium electrolyte.” Horizon Power entered into a contract with VSUN Energy in July 2023 to purchase its first VFB. The battery, which was supplied by leading global manufacturer Invinity

Energy Systems, will be used for a long-duration energy storage pilot in Kununurra. Western Australia Energy Minister at the time the project was first announced, Bill Johnston, said the delivery will help the state lead the way in clean energy technology. “Vanadium redox flow batteries are specifically designed to deliver energy over a long period of time, which is crucial for achieving the high levels of decarbonisation we are after,” he said. “If the pilot is successful, there is potential to expand the use of long-duration, 100 per cent renewable energy across Horizon

Power’s 2.3-million-squarekilometre network.” The 220kWh battery, which can deliver up to 78kW of power, will undertake FAT early this year. During the FAT process, VSUN Energy will host a number of industry participants to view the battery. Tests of the VFB will be held in conjunction with Horizon Power and will aim to demonstrate a variety of use cases. After final project components are received by Horizon Power, the battery will be deployed to a site in Kununurra for VSUN Energy to install and commission.

Regulator executive director Anthony Hurst said. “Recreational prospecting is a great way to introduce friends and family to the state’s historic gold regions and the enjoyment of searching for gold using metal detectors or hand tools like sieves and pans. “Buying a miner’s right for $27 could be the best investment you ever make.”

While it is easy to get set-up to search for gold in Victoria, hobbyists should remember that the use of mechanical equipment and explosives is not allowed, and vegetation and Aboriginal objects must not be removed or damaged. All other public land rules must be obeyed when prospecting, including taking all rubbish home and restoring the area by backfilling any holes.

VICTORIA’S GOLDEN SUNRISE There could be more gold on the horizon for Victoria, with Resources Victoria urging would-be gold prospectors to get outdoors in search of treasure. One of the latest finds for the state was a nugget weighing 119g, found between Inglewood and Wedderburn in Victoria’s north-west. The nugget was found seven months after a metal detector-using prospector dug up a 4.6kg nugget

in February 2023, worth around $240,000. Victorian hobby gold hunters possess a miner’s right which allows them to keep any gold they find. Currently, there are over 83,000 active miner’s rights in the state. “Recreational prospecting has a long and rewarding history in Victoria and can result in Eureka moments, with valuable finds made in recent years,” Earth Resources

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NEWS

WA GOLD DETECTOR WINS INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR Portable PPB took out the prize for WA Innovator of the Year for its high-tech portable gold detector in late 2023. The company was one of 17 finalists in the running for the title and will share in a total prize pool of $220,000 with the five winners of the other categories. Portable PPB uses pXRF technology to find gold concentrations that are too low and dispersed to be picked up through other means. In this way, users are able to find gold faster and cheaper.

“On behalf of the WA Government, I congratulate our six winners as well as all the other finalists that took part in this year’s Innovator of the Year awards,” WA Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson said. “It was a very tough job for the judges to choose the winners from such a wide range of amazing high tech and innovative solutions and full credit to Portable PPB for coming out on top with their gold detector. “All participants are well deserved and for me as the State Minister for

The other five winners from the night: • Rio Tinto Emerging Innovation: Earflo for a device that treats chronic ear infections in children at home

• Rio Tinto Growth Innovation: Leisure Technologies for a wireless towing and anti-theft system • Business News Great for the State Platinum Award: Reliis for its Aqueous Quetiapine solution • Wesfarmers Wellbeing Platinum Award: Inspiring Holdings for its Novel Universal Spacer System • Woodside Energy Platinum Award for Energy Innovation: Innovation Energy Solutions for its autonomous solar cleaning robotics

road construction and other projects. “This iconic site holds a lot of memories for the thousands of people who worked here over the last five decades,” Rio Tinto Gove closure general manager James Low said. “But even more significant is the immemorial connection that the Gumatj Traditional Owners have with the land. We are excited to be part of the work that returns the site to them.” “The Gumatj are integral to what we are doing at the refinery. They are

the key decision-makers for how the site will be left in the future, including whether infrastructure like the wharfs and warehouses will be handed over for ongoing use. Their business arm is also supplying equipment for the demolition.” The Gove refinery processed bauxite mined nearby into alumina from 1972 to 2014. In 2017 the decision was made to permanently close the refinery, and work began to prepare the site for demolition and remediation.

Innovation, it’s fantastic to see such a variety of innovation solutions that are being developed here in WA.” The awards were primarily sponsored by Rio Tinto, with other sponsors including Woodside Energy, Business News, Wesfarmers, Griffith Hack, Nexia, Wrays and CERI.

GIVING GOVE STEEL A NEW LIFE decade after more than 40 years supplying the global aluminium industry. The first shipment, containing about 15,000 tonnes of scrap steel, recently left the Gove wharf for Asia to be converted into new steel wire, bar and beam products. In total, 142,000 tonnes of steel in 10 shipments will be exported to Asia from the Gove refinery site, where demolition began in 2022. Around 300,000 tonnes of concrete will also be recycled for local

IMAGE: BOYLOSO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Rio Tinto is undertaking what is says will be the largest demolition project in Australia’s history at its Gove alumina refinery site in the Northern Territory. The major has begun shipping the equivalent of three Sydney Harbour bridges, or 21 Eiffel Towers, in scrap steel for recycling. The demolition is part of the broader closure program at Rio Tinto’s Gove operations in east Arnhem land. Bauxite mining is expected to cease at the operations later this

THE GOVE ALUMINA REFINERY SITE IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.

AUSTRALIANMINING 12 FEBRUARY 2024

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RIO TINTO KENNECOTT WAVES GOODBYE TO DIESEL

RIO’S KENNECOTT MINE IN UTAH.

Rio Tinto’s Kennecott copper site in Utah is set to get a sustainability makeover as the major prepares to replace its entire fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel from early 2024. The fleet of 90 haul trucks and heavy machinery will begin the diesel transition in the first quarter of 2024, and will be joined by the concentrator, smelter, and refinery. “Transitioning Kennecott completely to renewable diesel builds on a suite of decarbonisation initiatives that have reduced carbon emissions from the operation by 65 per cent since 2019,”

Rio Tinto copper chief operating officer Clayton Walker said. “This is an important next step in our commitment to finding new and better ways to reduce operational emissions, while producing materials essential to the global energy transition.” The transition is set to reduce Kennecott’s Scope 1 carbon emissions by approximately 495,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per annum. The renewable diesel will be made from renewable biogenic materials sourced in the US and will be supplied through the existing diesel supply chain as part of a continuing partnership

between Kennecott and HF Sinclair. “As a long-time supplier of Rio Tinto and a fellow operator in the Rocky Mountain region, we are pleased to support Rio Tinto’s sustainability journey with a low-carbon fuel made at our facilities,” HF Sinclair executive vice president, commercial Steven Ledbetter said. “This is a great step demonstrating our continued progress to meet the evolving energy needs of our customers.” Rio’s plan is to reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.

“Combined with Rio Tinto’s US Borax operation – which completed the full transition of its heavy machinery from fossil diesel to renewable diesel in May 2023 – this initiative would replace 11 per cent of Rio Tinto’s global fossil diesel consumption with renewable diesel,” Rio Tinto chief decarbonisation officer Jonathon McCarthy said. “The use of drop-in fuel such as renewable diesel will allow Rio Tinto to reduce emissions in the short term, complementing ongoing work towards the commercial readiness of longerterm technical solutions such as battery electric haul trucks.”

“NJE is rapidly becoming the first port of call for resource companies seeking premium, safe and reliable air services in modern aircraft with a greatly reduced carbon footprint.” NJE has added a De Havilland Dash 8-499NG aircraft to its fleet to keep up with the expansion. The company also plans to add

additional aircraft to its Dash and E190 fleets before the end of the 2023–24 financial year. “NJE and Rex are well placed to support each other’s networks and this means that corporate clients that choose NJE for air charter services can be assured of the best possible level of reliability and integrity,” Hine said.

REX WINS NEW FIFO CONTRACTS Rex Group member National Jet Express (NJE) has secured two longterm mining contracts to service the WA fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) market. New twice-weekly chartered flights will run between Perth and Kalgoorlie and Kambalda for a mining company in the Goldfields. Consolidated Minerals will also benefit from new three-time weekly

charter flights between Perth and Woodie Woodie. “These two new contracts in our largest base in Western Australia demonstrate that the mining and resources industry recognises the Rex Group and NJE as a premier provider of FIFO services in Australia,” NJE managing director Chris Hine said.

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CLONCURRY COPPER PROJECT GETS THE GO-AHEAD True North Copper (TNC) will combine the Great Australia Mine Reserve (GAM) and the Wallace North Reserve into the Cloncurry copper project, a single proposed mining operation. The project is located in north-west Queensland and TNC has found high reserves of both copper and gold present in the area.

TNC managing director Marty Costello said it has been a six-month journey to get to this point, but the company is confident in its plan. “We have reached a point where the TNC board can confidently commit to restart mining at our Cloncurry copper project,” he said. “As shown in the initial GAM Reserve announcement, the

fully permitted project presents an opportunity for a low capital expenditure and cashgenerative opportunity.” TNC will release an update on economics for the expanded project on completion of the updated GAM Reserve and the maiden Wallace North Reserve in early 2024. “We also plan to reinvest expected

free cash flows into the further exploration and development of what we believe to be one of Australia’s most promising critical mineral copper projects – the Mt Oxide project,” Costello said. Also located in north-west Queensland, the Mt Oxide project produces copper, cobalt and silver and is 100 per cent owned by TNC.

van Jaarsveld was first appointed to the BHP board in September 2020, and he will replace chief technology officer Laura Tyler, who will leave BHP on February 29 2024. Catherine Raw has been appointed in van Jaarsveld’s place as chief development officer, commencing in the position on April 29. All other roles will commence on March 1. “These new appointments ensure that we continue to build organisational capacity, with the right mix of skills, experience and perspectives to deliver BHP’s strategy and pursue our growth agenda,” BHP chief executive officer Mike Henry said.

“Our operating environment is increasingly complex, but also rich in opportunity for companies that are best able to positively engage stakeholders, deploy capital to the right opportunities in a disciplined way and deliver safe, reliable operational performance. “BHP continues to make significant progress on its strategy, delivering strong operating performance, an enhanced portfolio more strongly leveraged to the megatrends shaping the world, improved growth options, and a differentiated approach to social value creation – all in support of strong long-term shareholder returns.”

MAJOR LEADERSHIP SHAKE-UP AT BHP BHP made significant changes to its executive leadership team in December 2023. The major’s current chief commercial officer Vandita Pant has been appointed chief financial officer. Pant first joined BHP in 2016 and previously served as the company’s group treasurer and head of Europe. She will replace current chief financial officer David Lamont, who will remain with BHP until February 2025 as a senior executive officer in an advisory and projects capacity. BHP president of Americas Rag

Udd has been appointed as chief commercial officer. Udd was first appointed to the BHP board in November 2020. Since his appointment, he has held senior roles in BHP’s Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) business and BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. Current WAIO asset president Brandon Craig will replace Udd as BHP president of Americas. Craig first joined BHP in 1999 and has previously held aluminium, coal and corporate leadership roles. BHP chief development officer Johan van Jaarsveld has been appointed as chief technical officer.

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BHP MADE SEVERAL LEADERSHIP CHANGES IN DECEMBER 2023.

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GOLD FIELDS MOVES THE GREEN GOALPOSTS

GOLD FIELDS EXPANDED ITS EMISSIONS REDUCTION COMMITMENT IN NOVEMBER 2023.

Gold Fields, one of the world’s largest gold mining companies, expanded its emissions reduction commitment in November 2023. Already working towards a 30 per cent cut in its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, Gold Fields has now set its sights on its Scope 3 emissions with a target to slash 10 per cent by 2030 from a 2022 baseline. Gold Fields arrived at its Scope 3 target after spending 18 months working with key suppliers to establish a baseline of its emissions profile.

The investigation revealed Scope 3 emissions accounted for 36 per cent of the company’s 2022 emissions, up from 25 per cent previously reported. The new figures are based on standards set by the greenhouse gas protocol and a new methodology by the International Council on Mining and Metals, launched in September. Unlike Scope 1 and 2, Scope 3 emissions are generated outside a company’s direct influence both upstream and downstream of the value chain.

Gold Fields said that meeting its target will require collaborative engagement with its suppliers and the successful implementation of decarbonisation efforts. “We will be working with our suppliers to ensure that we jointly address our climate change impacts and actively engage those suppliers who have not yet committed to emission reductions,” Gold Fields interim chief executive officer Martin Preece said.

“Other strategies include switching to greener products, moving to greener suppliers, and making emission reductions part of the company’s procurement criteria.” The study found the company’s most significant upstream contributors to Scope 3 emissions were suppliers of fuels, mining services, cement, and explosives. Gold Fields now has plans to intensify its engagement with the majority of its suppliers to reassess its decarbonisation progress and targets in 2025.

be operating on renewable electricity in the future.” Fortescue said all electrified mining equipment will eventually be powered by renewable energy. “This R 9400 E excavator marks a significant milestone, with our decarbonisation partnership with Fortescue now extending to electric excavators,” Liebherr Australia mining managing director Trent Wehr said. “The debut of Australia’s first operational electric excavator is a big achievement for our local team who will provide ongoing service and support for these machines.

“Our local teams are actively enhancing their skills to keep pace with the changes that accompany our expanding line-up of zero-emission mining equipment, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.” Fortescue recently executed another renewable landmark moment with its ammonia-powered ship, the Green Pioneer, setting sail for Dubai from its base in Singapore. Heading to COP28 with a message for delegates, the company said the voyage was a symbol to the world of the technology solutions and regulatory changes needed to decarbonise shipping.

FORTESCUE BREAKS GROUND ON EV MILESTONE Australia’s first newly built electric excavator debuted at Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine in Western Australia in December 2023. Marking a significant milestone in the company’s decarbonisation journey, the excavator is powered by a 6.6 kilovolt substation and more than 2km of high-voltage trailing cable. The excavator is the first of an initial three R 9400 E electric excavators set to be commissioned by Liebherr over the next 12 months. “The commissioning of this fully electric excavator is a massive achievement by the team and is the first of its kind in Australia for

the mining industry,” Fortescue Metals chief executive officer Dino Otranto said. “It’s a true demonstration of industry collaboration where we’ve been fortunate enough to work with industry experts who have been using trailing cable for decades, and then repurpose this in our own operations as part of our decarbonisation journey. “Already, our Chichester operations, which include Cloudbreak, run partially off solar enabling this first excavator to be powered using renewable electricity. “Once we decarbonise our electricity grid, all these excavators will

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FOLLOW THE LEADERS

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: THE LATEST EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST EXECUTIVE MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE MINING SECTOR, FEATURING BHP, RIO TINTO AND IGO. HP has made significant changes to its executive leadership team, with the

company’s chief commercial officer Vandita Pant having been appointed chief financial officer. Pant first joined BHP in 2016 and previously served as the company’s group treasurer and head of Europe. She will replace current chief financial officer David Lamont, who will remain with BHP until February 2025 as a senior executive officer in an advisory and projects capacity. In addition, BHP president of Americas Rag Udd has been appointed as chief commercial officer. Udd was first appointed to the BHP board in November 2020. Since his appointment, he has held senior roles in BHP’s Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) business and BHP Mitsubishi Alliance. Current WAIO asset president Brandon Craig will replace Udd as BHP president of Americas. Craig first joined BHP in 1999 and has previously held aluminium, coal and corporate leadership roles. BHP chief development officer Johan van Jaarsveld has been appointed as chief technical officer. van Jaarsveld, who was first appointed to the BHP board September 2020, will replace chief technology officer Laura Tyler, who will leave BHP on February 29.

BHP said all of these leadership changes will take effect from March 1. Rio Tinto has welcomed Elias Scafidas, current chief financial officer, copper and diamonds, into the role of managing director of battery materials. Scafidas replaces Marnie Finlayson, who is taking extended leave to spend time with family. Based in London, Scafidas has held multiple positions with Rio Tinto since 2016, beginning with president, energy and minerals before moving into the role of managing director, group corporate strategy and development. He has been serving as chief financial officer since 2018. Former Rio Tinto aluminium chief executive Ivan Vella officially commenced as managing director of IGO in late 2023. Vella commenced in the role despite being terminated from Rio before the end of his contract. In a statement, Rio said Vella’s contract termination was due to “failing to follow guidance on acceptable management of confidential information”. But IGO assured Vella that his incoming role would remain unchanged. “I’m delighted to have joined IGO and incredibly excited about the impact we can have as we pursue our purpose of becoming a key player in the global transition towards green energy,” Vella said. “I’m honoured to follow in the footsteps of Peter Bradford and more recently Matt Dusci, who

have bot done an outstanding job of stewarding IGO through the company’s recent transformation.” After WA Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston announced he would step down from Cabinet in late last year, the Western Australian Government announced first-term Member for Victoria Park Hannah Beazley would fulfil Johnston’s spot in Cabinet. The portfolios Johnston previously held – Mines and Petroleum, Energy, Hydrogen Industry, and Industrial Relations – will be shared between several experienced ministers. WA Environment and Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby will add Energy to his portfolios, allowing him to lead WA’s energy transition and drive the state’s future as a clean energy powerhouse. WA Premier Roger Cook will take responsibility of the Hydrogen Industry portfolio, alongside his State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade portfolio. WA Ports Minister David Michael will take care of the Mines and Petroleum portfolio to deliver close synergies with his Ports portfolio. WA Minister for Training Simone McGurk will serve the Industrial Relations portfolio, helping to oversee the state’s work health and safety regime while leading negotiations under the public sector wages policy.

AUSTRALIANMINING 20 FEBRUARY 2024

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has appointed seasoned industry leader Janette Hewson as its new chief executive officer (CEO). Replacing Ian Macfarlane, who retired at the end of 2023, Hewson brings more than 25 years of resources experience at a senior executive level. “Janette will lead the QRC at a time when the industry faces changes, challenges and opportunities as the sector continues to power Queensland’s economy while providing the minerals and materials needed for decarbonisation,” QRC board president Adam Lancey said. “Under her leadership, the QRC will continue to prioritise and promote the highest industry standards in health and safety, diversity and inclusion and environmentally responsible operating practices.” Perenti last year announced changes to its group executive committee, with two new appointments. Former Mincor Resources managing director and CEO Gabrielle Iwanow has taken over as president of Perenti’s contract mining division. Perenti underlined Iwanow’s experience as one of Australia’s leading mining executives, having spent time working at senior operational and executive levels within the resources sector. Perenti will move its current president of contract mining, Paul Muller, to a new role within the group executive committee. AM

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INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

THE NEED FOR SPEED HOW CAN AUSTRALIA BEST CAPITALISE ON ITS CRITICAL MINERALS OPPORTUNITIES? AUSTRALIAN MINING ENLISTS AN EXPERT FOR THE INSIDE WORD.

ustralia is fortunate enough to hold a commanding position in the global critical minerals race, but such a standing won’t be properly realised without fast and targeted action. That is the opinion of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Australia national mining leader Marc Upcroft. Australian Mining spoke to Upcroft following the release of PwC’s 2023 ‘Aussie Mine’ report, which outlines the key decisions the country must make if it is to best harness its critical minerals opportunity. Upcroft said the report is designed to “raise questions rather than answers”, empowering Australia to navigate its own path through these largely uncharted waters. “It’s a really complicated puzzle,” Upcroft said of Australia’s critical minerals opportunity.

“It’s very different to the complexity of the past and it is much more than just finding more stuff in the ground, digging more stuff out of the ground, and sending it off for processing.” The exploration, mining and processing of critical minerals is considered a more capital-intensive process than the bulk commodity mining of the past. And while Australia is a world leader in the extraction of critical mineral ores, China has a monopoly over the downstream processing of these high-value products. And many of the end users – the manufacturers of electric vehicles (EVs) – are located in Europe and the US. A diversified and streamlined critical minerals supply chain is not yet fully established, which gives mining-friendly and geopolitically stable nations like Australia plenty of opportunities to commercialise. But while Australia has been proactive in realising its critical minerals capabilities, PwC believes more action is needed.

Critical choices

The latest ‘Aussie Mine’ report details six areas where Australia must make key choices if it is to grab its critical minerals future with both hands: • Funding and incentives to significantly increase exploration activity • Infrastructure to support and incentivise critical minerals investments • Direct market interventions to address potential market failures • Collaboration across industry and geographies • Untangling regulation to accelerate critical minerals supply • Access to talent and skills to deliver critical minerals projects In contemplating Australia’s current critical minerals funding model, PwC said while Federal Government agencies such as the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Export Finance Australia and the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility are

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/JOHN CARNEMOLLA

AUSTRALIA MUST FIND WAYS TO EXPEDITE MINE PERMITTING AND APPROVALS TO ENABLE CRITICAL MINERALS PROJECTS TO COME ONLINE FASTER.

serving an important purpose, “the speed and scale of developments in Australia is not keeping pace with international competitors”. In fact, the key underlying theme of PwC’s message in the 2023 ‘Aussie Mine’ report is acknowledging that the development of a global critical minerals supply chain is indeed a race. This theme imbues each of the six critical choices central to the report, as speed cannot be achieved without Australia addressing these shortfalls. Take infrastructure, for example. PwC believes establishing shared infrastructure within Australia’s critical minerals industry can reduce capital expenditure (capex) across multiple companies and improve investment cases as a result. Mines are then more likely to be funded sooner and be constructed earlier. This could involve the construction of shared processing facilities for a region, with various companies feeding their minerals through the same plant.

AUSTRALIANMINING 22 FEBRUARY 2024

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/RHJPHTOTOS

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

Similarly, untangling regulation – such as removing red and green tape to reduce bureaucracy without compromising on environmental, social and governance (ESG) outcomes – can accelerate project development timelines.

The Inflation Reduction Act

The introduction of the US Government’s $US500 billion Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has kicked the global critical minerals industry into gear, with hefty investment opportunities on offer. Under the Act, for EV buyers to achieve a tax credit they must purchase a vehicle whereby 40 per cent of the materials used in the vehicle’s battery are sourced from the US or from a free-trade partner such as Australia. “Money talks, and by putting that prize (IRA financing opportunities) out there to companies generally, and by putting a timeframe and some geographical boundaries around it, that has, in a short period of time, created a lot of activity,” Upcroft said. Other US free-trade partners that also double as emerging critical minerals jurisdictions include Canada, Chile and Peru, consolidating the fact that the global future of critical minerals is no one-horse race. “We’ve recognised that we’re not the only country that has critical minerals,” Upcroft said. “And whether it’s the IRA

or other countries with different policy settings, there’s a lot of activity being done elsewhere. “If I reflect on global supply chains, if you don’t get your policy settings right to be part of that upfront supply chain, what gets created can become a barrier of entry. “And for Australia, we’ve got a great advantage of having a great endowment of critical minerals in the ground, and more that hasn’t been discovered yet. But our disadvantage is that we’re further away from those larger markets. “This is an advantage to Canada, for example, in being adjacent to the US and having closeness to that large market.” As a mining-friendly jurisdiction, Canada has indeed become a lithium hotspot in recent times, with a suite of advanced projects coming to the fore. This includes Patriot Battery Metals’ Corvette project in Quebec, which has the backing of former Pilbara Minerals chief executive officer Ken Brinsden. Allkem’s James Bay project, Cygnus Metals’ Pontax project and Winsome Resources’ Adina project are other emerging lithium assets in Quebec. If Australia is to account for its disadvantages, it comes back to the need for speed. “If I look at our messages to the global economy, we’re drawing on one: our endowment,” Upcroft said. “We’ve got this stuff in the ground and it’s the right

CRITICAL MINERALS SUCH AS GRAPHITE ARE GOING TO BE INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT FOR THE WORLD’S DECARBONISATION.

stuff, it’s the stuff you need, and we’re prepared to invest to get it out of the ground and process it and supply it to meet your needs. “We can then draw on our history as being a reliable supplier. It might have predominantly been different minerals in the past, but we do have a long track record of being a reliable partner and supplier of minerals. “The third piece is recognising that geopolitical tensions today are different to what they were a few years back, and our message to some of our stronger

AUSTRALIANMINING 23 FEBRUARY 2024

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/SSAWPICS

CANADA HAS BECOME A LITHIUM HOTSPOT IN RECENT TIMES, WITH A SUITE OF ADVANCED HARD-ROCK PROJECTS COMING TO THE FORE.

allies is that we will be there for them as part of this. “But these are the same messages we hear from the Canadian Government, the same messages we hear from countries in South America, and the same messages we hear perhaps from some others. “It’s not a unique sales pitch, and that’s where the speed really comes in. You can’t just talk about it; we’ve actually got to deliver on it. “If you just talk about it, there’s a risk that other people might take your place.” AM

DECISION MAKER

A NEW GENERATION OF MINING ALLKEM’S CHAIR PETER COLEMAN RECENTLY TOOK TO THE STAGE AT THE MELBOURNE MINING CLUB TO TALK THE SKILLS SHORTAGE AND THE REPUTATION OF MINING.

n the lead up to its highly anticipated merger with Livent, Allkem non-executive chair Peter Coleman addressed the Melbourne Mining Club luncheon in early December 2023 with a message for the industry. “The key for companies is to make mining a choice, make mining something that people want to go into,” he said.

in the western world only has a market capitalisation of $14 billion, you have to think there’s a big opportunity there at some point,” he said. “We thought the Livent merger integrates the company and allows us to go through the value stream up to the point of the cathode … but also get access to a differentiation in the product streams, so different products coming out the back end.” Coleman said Livent was a “competent organisation” that has been around a long time, knows how to operate chemical plants, and has access to a unique customer base from Allkem. “You kind of look at all those things and say, this makes sense to put it together,” he said. “We want to be the offering that those original equipment manufacturers or car manufacturers … must talk to in the marketplace.” Livent has an established footprint in the lithium chemical industry, with manufacturing facilities in the US, the UK, Argentina and China. Combining Allkem and Livent has created a global behemoth that has capacities up and down the lithium supply chain. And with the longevity of lithium hinging on the energy transition, prioritising environmental, social and

governance (ESG) is becoming more important than ever. Pointing to efforts made at the Olaroz asset in the remote Jujuy province of Argentina – a lithium brine operation now at Arcadium’s disposal – Coleman emphasised the responsibility and opportunity miners have to establish lasting relationships with communities. “We’ve had to get into these communities, we’ve had to help them develop their education,” Coleman said. He highlighted the success of the Continuing Education Program, which has enabled the Olaroz operation to increase its percentage of secondary school-educated employees from 25 per cent to 75 per cent. Coleman believes the key to combatting a skills shortage lies with getting the next generation interested in what mining has to offer. This interest needs to be sparked in kids long before they apply for university. “It’s about getting the kids in secondary school to make those choices, particularly in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) type subjects,” he said. “That’s where I think industry really needs to be working.” Coleman said mining companies are working to make the industry a place ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: ARCADIUM LITHIUM

PETER COLEMAN WILL BE THE CHAIR OF ARCADIUM LITHIUM FOLLOWING THE MERGER.

But how to attract talent in an industry that sits on the precipice of major change? Softened lithium prices incited a buying frenzy in the Australian mining industry in 2023, with majors putting their money where their mouth was as they strived to gain a seat at the table. This included a major transaction involving Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting – traditionally an iron ore miner – and Chris Ellison’s Mineral Resources increasing its presence by establishing significant shareholdings in emerging lithium miners. Even Bill Beament’s Develop Global got in on the action, acquiring Essential Metals and its Pioneer Dome lithium project. But Allkem chose to steer clear. Instead, the company was focused on its $9.7 billion merger with Livent, which closed in January. Coleman said the establishment of Arcadium Lithium – the new merged entity of which he will be chair – would offer the renewable energy industry the opportunity to work with a new vertically-integrated partner. “If you think about a sector that’s trying to grow and is going to be such a large part of the energy transition, and the single biggest player that’s traded

ARCADIUM LITHIUM’S OLAROZ LITHIUM BRINE OPERATION IN THE REMOTE JUJUY PROVINCE OF ARGENTINA.

AUSTRALIANMINING 24 FEBRUARY 2024

DECISION MAKER

where curious young minds can find a challenge with a new age of technology, robotics and artificial intelligence. “It’s not simply about digging it up and putting it on a ship anymore,” he said. “Mining companies are far more sophisticated in that regard.” And with that step up in sophistication comes an opportunity for a shift in governance that Coleman said will fortify a social licence to operate for years to come. “There’s a little bit of demonising going on at the moment in the mining industry, particularly on our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions and some of the environmental impact, that we could be better as an industry,” he said. “We need to listen to that. “We can improve our game across the board.” For Coleman, this goes back to connecting with the next generation of leaders. “We’ve got to lift everybody up together,” he said. “As an industry, that’s about sharing and making sure that we share what great best practices look like.” Coleman explained how a group of local school kids recently visited Arcadium’s Mount Cattlin lithium mine in Western Australia as part of a community outreach program. He underlined the value of involving the next generation at a young age to foster passion in the workers of tomorrow.

ARCADIUM LITHIUM’S MOUNT CATTLIN HARDROCK LITHIUM MINE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

“The kids come, they’re fascinated, they see things,” he said. “Our engineers, our accountants and so forth of the future are coming through the gate. They get that feeling for what we’re doing, they go home, and they talk to their parents and others. “It’s not just grabbing the guys after they’ve finished their degree. You’ve got to get back and start doing these grassroots

things and making sure that you are part of the community again.” Coleman said leaders have a duty to take control and lead future generations into an industry of which they can be proud. But those future generations don’t only need to feel valued; they need an attractive workplace. Coleman pointed to measures taken to address the fact Mount Cattlin’s attrition rate was once over 65 per cent.

“We weren’t providing a workplace that people really wanted to be in,” he said. “We weren’t really telling the workforce that we cared about them.” The company established a permanent residence for local workers and, as a result, attrition went down and productivity went up. “They need to feel safe,” Coleman said. “They need to feel valued in what they’re doing.” AM

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AUSTRALIANMINING 25 FEBRUARY 2024

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: WIRTGEN AUSTRALIA

AUSCRUSH COMMENCED A 12-MONTH CONTRACT TO OPERATE KLEEMANN MACHINERY AT PECULIAR KNOB IN NOVEMBER 2023.

CRUSHING IT AUSCRUSH HAS DEPLOYED KLEEMANN MACHINES AT THE PECULIAR KNOB IRON ORE MINE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA, LEADING TO EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS.

usCrush first commenced crushing and screening iron ore at Peak Iron Mines’ Peculiar Knob operation in South Australia in November 2021. And the mobile crushing and screening services provider isn’t slowing down. In November 2023, AusCrush commenced a 12-month contract to operate Kleemann machinery at Peculiar Knob, a high-grade hematite iron ore deposit that has some residual magnetite. AusCrush’s set-up comprises a Kleemann MC120PRO jaw crusher, MSS802EVO mobile reclaimer, MC0110PRO cone crusher (secondary), MSC953EVO classifying screen, MC090EVO2 cone crusher (tertiary) and a MSC953EVO classifying screen (secondary), as well as a stockpile conveyor that feeds back to the MC0110PRO for all oversize.

This creates a closed-circuit loop to maximise throughput. “We are currently producing two direct shipping iron ore products: a -32mm+13.2mm lump and a -13.2mm+0mm fines product,” AusCrush general manager Morgan Taylor told Australian Mining. Once the ore is crushed by AusCrush, it is transported to the Whyalla Port, where it is exported for steel manufacturing. AusCrush understood that because the feed material, the hematite ore, is a high-grade, abrasive product, it would need to be proactive about its maintenance measures. “The feed is relatively easy for crushing but it’s very abrasive, so maintenance is of the upmost importance,” Taylor said. “If you don’t get that right, the rock can wear a hole in the side of the hopper within hours.

“We made up four modular wear packages for all our hoppers … and we have two full-time boilermakers and two full-time heavy-duty diesel mechanics working each shift. “We also have Wirtgen Australia on speed dial for any machinery queries or concerns.” Maintenance personnel are set daily tasks to monitor machine components such as skirts, screens, wear plates, belt repairs, jaw and cone liners. After 12 hours of crushing throughout the day, maintenance is completed on night shift to ensure machines are ready to go for another 12-hour shift the following day. With AusCrush producing about 1.68 million tonnes of DSO product per annum, there is no time for downtime. “We do our maintenance at night and processing during the day to ensure that if something goes wrong, we’ve got open communication with Wirtgen Australia and our suppliers to fix any

AUSCRUSH HAS BEEN PROACTIVE ABOUT ITS MAINTENANCE MEASURES TO AVOID EQUIPMENT BREAKDOWNS.

AUSTRALIANMINING 26 FEBRUARY 2024

issues,” Taylor said. “If we crush during the night and have a breakdown, it adds additional challenges, hence the reason for scheduling maintenance. This provides us reliable maintenance free up time during daylight hours.” AusCrush also schedules monthly shutdowns at Peculiar Knob so machines can be overhauled and start fresh to meet the following month’s targets. As per Wirtgen Australia advice, the company is also running 24 per cent manganese and higher chrome percentage liner sets in its jaw crushers, which has further limited equipment breakdowns by extending liner life and reducing changeout requirements. This is improving crushing outputs to approximately 7000 tonnes per day. The primary machine in the train, the Kleemann MC120PRO jaw crusher, supports a maximum feed size of up to 680mm, boosting production and decreasing day-works. The MC120PRO feeds the MSS802EVO mobile screener, which has been perfect for the job given its ability to scalp two separate products: the -32mm+13.2mm lump product to one side of the conveyor and the -13.2mm+0mm fines product to the other. This provides the MCO110PRO cone crusher with oversize feed only, providing optimised crushing conditions for the cone. Through an inspired maintenance strategy and with the right Kleemann gear to boot, AusCrush is able to consistently produce 500 tonnes per hour, exceeding the expectations of all stakeholders involved. AM

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CRUSHING AND SCREENING

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: FLSMIDTH

YOUR END-TO-END PARTNER FLSMIDTH HARNESSES THE SMARTS OF DIGITALISATION TO PROVIDE A CRUSHING AND SCREENING OFFERING THAT COVERS ALL BASES.

he crushing and screening sector provides the resources industry with unique opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and drive greater efficiency in its operations. As one of the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the crushing and screening space, FLSmidth understands the importance of extending machine life, delivering greater operational consistency and achieving efficiency gains as a result. While the design of a machine is key to extending plant life, operators must also ensure they have the right accessories for those machines. FLSmidth offers some of the most advanced gyratory, jaw and cone crushers on the mining market, but these products can’t perform at their best unless they are fitted with the right liners. FLSmidth’s crusher liners unlock increased wear life and equipment reliability, while simultaneously driving down operational expenditure for customers. “It goes hand-in-hand with production, but FLSmidth’s liners are designed in such a way that they can perform well over a campaign,” FLSmidth senior mechanical engineer

Chris Muller told Australian Mining. “Any crusher has a product sizing distribution that comes out. If you can optimise that product sizing for longer, then you’re not only making the crusher more efficient but enabling downstream processes to be more efficient, too. “This is where the selection and optimisation of liners is key.” Equipment selection is also an important consideration in achieving greater operational efficiency. “We’ve had instances where we might supply, for instance, one large crusher rather than two small ones, as this might be a more efficient option overall,” Muller said. “These types of conversations are happening quite a bit now with our customers. A lot of it’s around efficiency and the life of the machine and making the most out of each campaign.” As part of its MissionZero strategy, FLSmidth is working with its mining customers on a partnership model to provide end-to-end solutions that aim to achieve zero emissions, zero water waste and zero energy waste by 2030. This model sees FLSmidth meet with its mining partners on a monthly basis, brainstorming ways to optimise for today and the future. Muller said this enables FLSmidth to anticipate a customer’s next obstacle before it even comes up. FLSMIDTH OFFERS SOME OF THE MOST ADVANCED GYRATORY, JAW AND CONE CRUSHERS ON THE MINING MARKET.

A 3D RENDER OF FLSMIDTH’S SPIDER HOOK IN ACTION.

THE SPIDER HOOK FOR GYRATORY CRUSHERS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A CUSTOMER CONCERN BRINGING RISE TO AN INSPIRED FLSMIDTH SOLUTION.

“A good example is our crusher liners,” Muller said. “Based on previous performance, we already know how long the next liner is going to last and what the limitations are with that. “We are able to give our customers a heads up before issues arise, rather than waiting for them to come to us. This is all part of employing that partnership model with our customers.” FLSmidth’s partnership model has gone hand-in-hand with a boosted workshop capability, where the OEM has a stronger local presence to attend to customers’ operational concerns. “The greater workshop capability has been a good win for us in the last six months or so,” Muller said. “With machines getting larger, we need to keep up with it and make sure we’ve got the right service on offer. “This gives customers the ability to have work done by an OEM to an OEM standard, which is a high-quality service. This is in contrast to having work done elsewhere or on-site, which could be completed by a non-OEM and the

AUSTRALIANMINING 28 FEBRUARY 2024

quality might be compromised or they might not have the right gear. “We try to focus on high-quality service and giving customers confidence that they’ve got a refurbished unit which is good to go and meeting current needs.” Having such a close relationship with customers has enabled FLSmidth to create a transparent environment for communication and idea-sharing, which has brought rise to some of the company’s most inspired innovations. This includes a spider hook for FLSmidth’s range of gyratory crushers. “Removing a spider from a crusher has traditionally been a manual process, with people having to go down and put slings around the spider to remove it, which can sometimes be unsafe,” Muller said. “One of our customers came to us and flagged the problems they were having and asked if there was a better way to do this. So we went away, put together a plan and kept the customer involved, and we came up with a novel design for a hook that could be used to remove or

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

ANY CRUSHER HAS A PRODUCT SIZING DISTRIBUTION THAT COMES OUT. IF YOU CAN OPTIMISE THAT PRODUCT SIZING FOR LONGER, THEN YOU’RE NOT ONLY MAKING THE CRUSHER MORE EFFICIENT BUT ENABLING DOWNSTREAM PROCESSES TO BE MORE EFFICIENT, TOO. replace the spider remotely, to overcome safety concerns and make the job easier and quicker to do. “We recently delivered a spider hook for one of the larger crushers in the Pilbara and we are finding this relates to other customers as well, with one also sold into Europe.” FLSmidth has also engineered a unique solution to help customers avoid unplanned downtime for their vibrating screens on-site. The Screen Motion Analyser V2 (SMAv2) has become a core component of FLSmidth’s asset-health service offering. According to FLSmidth regional product line manager – classification and centrifuges John Owen, the SMAv2 unit can be quickly and easily attached to a screen in four locations, generating real-time insights into a screen’s operating performance. “The SMAv2 doesn’t replace the full vibration analysis (VA), which should be completed as part of commissioning or regular health checks and signed off by our engineering team, but it’s a handy tool to have on-site to quickly identify any potential issues before they become major problems,” Owen told Australian Mining. “It will flag if a screen is operating outside of FLSmidth specifications, for example, generating incorrect RPM (revolutions per minute), irregular stroke or excessive sideways displacement. “As soon as a screen is out of a certain frequency, or the sideways displacement gets too much, that’s when fatigue can creep in and you may start to experience failures of structural components. “The SMAv2 tells customers, ‘maybe there’s an underlining issue or something wrong with your screen. You need to investigate further’.” SMAv2 reports can be emailed to an FLSmidth product specialist, and the OEM can review and advise customers on next steps. This could involve FLSmidth representatives visiting a site to conduct a VA or detailed inspection.

FLSMIDTH’S R1300 CONE CRUSHER.

Customers can easily monitor SMAv2 findings through an Android or iPhone app. The SMAv2 is one aspect of FLSmidth’s asset-health service offering, which is an end-to-end data-driven solution for optimising production processes, improving operating efficiency, and maximising asset performance. Whether it’s a gyratory crusher, horizontal mill, rotary screen, or any other crushing and screening product, FLSmidth’s asset-health service allows customers to feel confident in the health and performance of their plant, with any risks acted on before they become material. AM

THE SCREEN MOTION ANALYSER V2 CAN GENERATE REALTIME INSIGHTS INTO A SCREEN’S OPERATING PERFORMANCE.

AUSTRALIANMINING 29 FEBRUARY 2024

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

SOLUTIONS FOR EVERY CRUSHING QUANDARY

hrough 189 years of providing inspired industry solutions, McLanahan has seen every challenge mining has to offer. The team at McLanahan knows the secret to success in any challenge lies with a commitment to the customer. “We prioritise working with our customers to understand their specific needs,” McLanahan director of sales Lee Hillyer told Australian Mining. “That’s why we aim to offer a full package of equipment from crushing through to tailings. We want to be able to make sure customers are getting the right equipment with the minimal expenditure right across their operations.” McLanahan knows the importance of choosing the right equipment for the right job, with operational ramifications stemming from unsuitable machinery. “You wouldn’t take a mini on a road trip across the outback,” Hillyer said. “It’s important to understand the material you’re working with and limiting factors like reduction ratios, as well as the overall needs of the operation.” McLanahan offers a range of solutions to fit any application, from light-duty crushing to breaking the largest and hardest of rocks.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: MCLANAHAN

WITH SIX GENERATIONS OF EXPERIENCE, MCLANAHAN HAS THE SOLUTION FOR ANY CRUSHING CHALLENGE. Heavy-duty applications: Jaw crushers

McLanahan jaw crushers are the go-to solution for materials requiring over 250 megapascals (MPa) in compressive strength, able to break down up to 1000 tonnes of hard rock an hour. “Think hard, dry process applications,” Hillyer said. “Copper, gold, lithium – anything hard or abrasive when creating fines is not an issue. “If you’ve got very hard, very abrasive material at a high capacity, a gyratory crusher is the way to go. If you’ve got a very hard, very abrasive material at a lower capacity, then a jaw crusher is the answer.”

Medium-heavy applications: Sizers

When faced with a wetter, stickier material, a sizer is best suited to maintain the continuity of production with minimal downtime. McLanahan offers a range of five sizer series with increasing crushing power and throughput capabilities to meet the needs of any application. “Sizers are ideal for clay-heavy material that may be below a water table,” Hillyer said. “Iron ore, nickel laterites, gold and copper oxides, and bauxite – when you want to keep fines and dust to a minimum and create a

FEEDER BREAKERS ARE A COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION FOR LIGHT-MEDIUM APPLICATIONS.

cubicle and uniformed sized product, a sizer is the answer.” McLanahan’s sizers are ideal for a smaller footprint, offering lowprofile designs as well as a powered wheel tramming configuration for ease of maintenance. They can also supply relocatable solutions for in-pit crushing operations.

Light-medium applications: Feeder breakers

Through horizontal, inclined or goosenecked in-feeding, feeder breakers can accept large feed lumps of friable materials like coal, salt

SIZERS ARE IDEAL FOR MEDIUM-HEAVY APPLICATIONS WHERE A UNIFORMED PRODUCT IS DESIRED.

and gypsum that require a more dynamic touch. With a range of solutions on offer, from impact to roll crushers, Hillyer emphasised the feeder breaker’s success in the Australian mining industry. “This is where our customers make significant capital expenditure savings,” Hillyer said. “Rather than requiring a large apron feeder, breakers can use a cost-effective gooseneck configuration which also lowers the overall height and footprint of the installation.”

Light applications: Rotary breakers

Best suited for breaking soft materials, a rotary breaker uses the material’s own force to break it apart, maintaining the desired lumps of coal while separating the hard rock from the product. “Essentially a rotating drum, a rotary breaker is the most cost-effective solution for a softer material like coal,” Hillyer said. “The competent rock acts as a mill rotating with the coal, able to break it down before it passes through the rotary screen, with the harder material rejected from the process stream.” “This way, we can minimise the fines created, remove the dilution material and maximise output.” With a 24–7 customer service team, sites across New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, and field service technicians available to offer on-the-spot assistance, McLanahan is primed to offer speedy solutions to any challenge. No matter the on-site demands, McLanahan can lean on its extensive inventory of machinery parts and expansive product portfolio to ensure the Australian mining industry’s crushing and screening needs are always met. AM

AUSTRALIANMINING 30 FEBRUARY 2024

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CRUSHING AND SCREENING

A CRUSHING BEHEMOTH

hen Lincom introduced the new Powerscreen Premiertrak 760 jaw crusher to the Australian mining industry it early 2023, it was an instant success. Two Premiertrak 760s were initially ordered and both sold within weeks, so Lincom ordered another two for the Australian market. A year on, Australian Mining spoke to Lincom general manager sales Darren ‘Barney’ Smith about how the Premiertrak 760 has been performing for one of the company’s customers in New South Wales. “The Premiertrak 760 is operating in a hard-rock application near Wollongong on the south coast of New South Wales,” Smith said. “The machine has been doing around 650 tonnes per hour (tph) at about a 120-millimetre close side setting. “The machine has been running for a good 10 months now. The customer is extremely happy with it, and we’re getting positive feedback from the operators as well. “It’s been a game-changer for us.” Before the Premiertrak 760 came to market, Smith said, Australian mining and quarrying industries were in need of a larger jaw that could crush high tonnages. Powerscreen responded by manufacturing one of the largest mobile jaw crushers on the market. At more than 80,000kg and with a maximum crushing capacity of 750tph, the Premiertrak 760 is a beast. Fitted with the Terex Jaques JW55 single-toggle jaw, the Premiertrak 760 comprises a single-toggle chamber powered by a direct-drive system, which means the machine is more fuel efficient and requires a lower engine load to operate than many other models. A 10m3 hopper with hydraulically folding sides and a wedge clamp system enables faster set-up times. The Premiertrak 760 also features a vibrating pan feeder connected to an independent pre-screen, providing essential removal of fines before reaching the chamber. The mobile nature of the Premiertrak 760 means the crusher can tram to wherever a customer most needs it on a mine site. “Such is the mobile design of Powerscreen’s crushers and screeners; you can track the Premiertrak 760 up to the rock face, move it into different

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: LINCOM

IN THE POWERSCREEN PREMIERTRAK 760, LINCOM OFFERS THE MINING AND QUARRYING INDUSTRIES ONE OF THE LARGEST MOBILE CRUSHERS ON THE MARKET. THE POWERSCREEN PREMIERTRAK 760 HAS A MAXIMUM CRUSHING CAPACITY OF 750 TONNES PER HOUR.

THE POWERSCREEN PREMIERTRAK 760 IS ONE OF THE LARGEST MOBILE JAW CRUSHERS ON THE MARKET.

deposits on-site or track it into a different part of the pit,” Smith said. “You can use it as a primary crusher on its own or you can throw it into a train with other machines.” Smith said the Premiertrak 760 could be used alongside, for example, a Powerscreen 1300 Maxtrak cone crusher or a Powerscreen Warrior 2400 scalping screen. “It’s a very versatile piece of kit,” he said. As the Premiertrak 760 turns heads across international mining and

quarrying industries, customers are eager to see the crusher in action. Smith said one Lincom customer has been accommodating enough to allow prospective buyers to come on-site and see the Premiertrak 760 at work. “We have had a few people looking to purchase this machine go to site and see the crusher getting fed in its true form,” Smith said. “They can ask any questions and our customer has given them honest feedback.” With the support of its customers, Lincom has generated plenty of interest

AUSTRALIANMINING 32 FEBRUARY 2024

in the Premiertrak 760, with Smith indicating a few more machines were set to be sold in Western Australia. As Lincom continues to support the Australasian mining and quarrying industries with the latest Powerscreen crushing and screening products, the company is also undergoing a brand refresh. A new Lincom logo (see above) was recently launched, representing a renewed effort from the company to reinvent, reimagine and reinvest in the future. “The primary goal of this refresh is to ensure that our brand remains recognisable and respected in the industry while also reflecting who we are as a company and our values,” Lincom said. Lincom group marketing manager Renata Hjelmstrom said the brand refresh reflects the company’s roots and its long-standing presence in the market. “It reminds customers that our brand has a history, not just a corporate marketing strategy,” Hjelmstrom said. “We are not merely chasing short-term trends but embracing our heritage while adapting to the changing times. “The new Lincom Group logo symbolises growth, innovation and trust. The sleek, contemporary design and bold colours reflect our determination and confidence.” AM

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CRUSHING AND SCREENING

A BULLETPROOF BREAKER

orld-class original equipment manufacturer (OEM) Epiroc is helping the mining industry dismantle its toughest problems with the HB 2500 hydraulic breaker for excavators. The HB 2500 is expertly engineered for primary blast-free rock excavation and secondary rock breaking in surface and underground mines, as well as primary demolition of massive reinforced concrete structures. Heavy hydraulic breakers are durable, efficient and highly adaptable products, making them extremely versatile for a range of tasks. Breakers and Attachments Equipment Group (BA EG), an Epiroc partner and the OEM’s largest Australian distributor, has sold more HB 2500s to the mining industry than it can keep track of. “We get a lot of great feedback from our HB 2500 customers in regards to the productivity and the power that the breaker puts out,” BA EG national sales manager Nathan Parziani told Australian Mining. “When it comes to a hydraulic breaker, it can only put out what it puts in, and Epiroc is industry leading in regards to end kilowatt input. The result is a hammer that’s durable, efficient and powerful. “The HB 2500 is bulletproof.” Intelligent design features help to set the HB 2500 apart from competitors. Epiroc’s patented Intelligent Protection System (IPS) automatically adjusts the start-up and shutdown behaviour of the breaker during operation, making for

easy positioning and maximum blank firing protection. The HB 2500 also utilises the piston recoil energy to reduce vibration levels and improve performance. When combined with VibroSilenced Plus, which insulates the percussion mechanism and breaker box, these features significantly reduce noise levels and wear and tear from vibrations on the HB 2500. The automatic lubrication system ContiLube II optimises the lubrication procedure, which significantly reduces maintenance. And the optional active two-stage sealing system DustProtector II extends the service life of components and lowers grease consumption. “The HB 2500 has a whole host of features, from the oval retainers to the encased tie rods to the fact that it has Helicoils instead of tie rod nuts,” Parziani said. “Hydraulic breakers from other OEMs have exposed tie rods and tie rod nuts that create an extra point of leverage at the front head, weakening the hammer. “Routine maintenance and failure are both a lot higher on those kinds of hydraulic breakers, because the power cell is under a lot more stress. The HB 2500 doesn’t have that problem.” This was the experience of Local Mix quarry manager Steve Richardson, who was impressed with how well the HB 2500 was performing at his operation in Anakie, Victoria. “We have two of the HB 2500, one of which we use for mobile crushing, mostly breaking up paddock rock on farmland,” Richardson said. “The other we have running at our quarry, breaking down oversize rocks and concrete

ROBUST DESIGN AND DURABILITY MAKE THE HB 2500 SUITABLE FOR THE TOUGHEST JOBS.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: EPIROC

BACKED BY ACCESSIBLE SERVICING, EPIROC’S HB 2500 HYDRAULIC BREAKER IS AS SOLID AS A ROCK.

THE HB 2500 HAS A PRESSURE CUTOFF VALUE, PREVENTING OVERLOADS.

too large for our pulveriser to handle.” Richardson said Local Mix first made the switch to the HB 2500 after facing challenges with other OEM hammers. “The hydraulic breaker we were previously using failed unexpectedly, and when we purchased a second, they didn’t have availability of spare parts,” Richardson said. “So we turned to Epiroc’s HB 2500 – and soon purchased a second – and haven’t had any of those issues since.” Richardson said maintenance on the HB 2500 has been a cinch, with BA EG technicians helping out with routine maintenance. “We have had one overhaul on the hammer and it went really well. BA EG had all the parts available,” he said. Parziani said the key to BA EG’s quick and reliable service is complete support from Epiroc.

AUSTRALIANMINING 34 FEBRUARY 2024

“Epiroc has a strong presence in Australia,” he said. “What distinguishes us as a distributor is that the onus is often on our competitors to hold and support their stock, whereas we’ve actually got help here on the ground from Epiroc. “What that translates to for our customers is great spare-part availability, dedicated service trucks, and experienced technicians. “We also plan and work in with our customers to do shutdowns and routine maintenance. “We’re involved in the day-to-day, keeping our equipment up and running for our customers.” Epiroc is an esteemed name in the mining industry, and the HB 2500 is no departure from the OEM’s high standards in design and engineering. AM

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

SMARTER CRUSHING DRIVES HIGHER REVENUES MINPROVISE’S ZI-2100 CONE CRUSHER IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR MINES EAGER TO ACHIEVE AN EFFICIENT CRUSHING OPERATION.

I IMAGE COURTESY OF: MINPROVISE

nnovation and efficiency are the focus of most industries, and mining is no exception. Important questions are being asked and solutions sought for reducing energy needs and implementing cleaner production, while achieving safer work environments and less wear and tear – all while increasing profits. Minprovise understands these allimportant questions and, as a result, is committed to helping miners increase plant capacity by reducing recirculating load and improving product shape, harnessing innovative design and automation in the process.

MINPROVISE’S ZI-2100 CONE CRUSHER.

As crushers are the heart of any mining plant, it makes sense to start there. Conventional crushers have traditionally worked on the socalled ‘smash and bash’ theory, using large eccentric throws with limited nipping opportunities. This can result in oversize material being recirculated repeatedly, requiring higher energy loads to produce the final tonnes of product. “A strong commitment to leading practice in sustainable development is critical for mining excellence,” thenFederal Minister for Resources Matt Canavan said in the 2016 Department of Industry’s Science and Resources

handbook, Energy Management in Mining. “Applying leading practice enables companies to deliver enduring value, maintain their reputation for quality in a competitive investment climate, and ensure the strong support of host communities and governments. “Understanding leading practice is also essential to manage risks and ensure that the mining industry delivers (to) its full potential.” Inefficient energy use is often the symbol of outdated operational practices that affect productivity, maintenance, safety and environmental impact. Many mine sites focus on the dayto-day planning of crushers that use a maximum amount of energy while yielding less-than-optimum results. But Minprovise understands that applying leading science in crusher design can result in using a minimum amount of energy to yield maximum results. This was the core reason Minprovise invested in EarthTechnica’s ZI cone crusher series

The eccentric throw

The larger the throw, the higher the energy demand and the lower the rockbreaking precision, resulting in the crusher producing more oversized and misshaped material. This is recirculated through the conveyor belt system, to then be classified as oversize by a screener and crushed once again. A smaller eccentric throw offers more precision, uses less energy and is designed to nip the material multiple times as it falls down the chamber. This results in a higher-quality crush in a single pass, producing more material at a better shape. With the ZI series cone crushers, rather than having large rocks fall through the crushing chamber after only being nipped a few times, they remain in the chamber where interparticle crushing takes place. As the rocks contact each other under high pressure, they undergo size reduction and become cubically shaped. This leads to more product being sent to the stockpile without being recirculated, saving time and money.

Increased production

If crusher product produced in a single pass is increased from 78 per cent to 83 AUSTRALIANMINING 36 FEBRUARY 2024

per cent in a crusher with a 1500-tonnesper-hour (tph) nominal throughput, single pass production is increased by 75tph, freeing up plant capacity and increasing overall plant production. In an iron ore processing plant, for example, if this additional final product is sent directly to the stockpile, an extra 1800 tonnes of material could be realised in one day. No matter the market value per tonne, this translates into hundreds of thousands of extra revenue per day. Extrapolated over a full year, a five per cent increase could result in a revenue increase of around $100 million, based on an average of 7000 operating hours per year.

The crushing chamber

Interparticle crushing reduces lump degradation. The ZI series curved crushing chamber allows breakage of rock along the full chamber length, maximising the use of the manganese liners. The reduction in ‘belling’ wear patterns, compared to traditional straight crushing chambers, causes significantly less wear on mantles and concaves, resulting in less downtime for replacement and maintenance. Another advantage is that the most effective nip angle is adopted from inlet to outlet, increasing the density of material in the crushing chamber, resulting in less energy wastage. Increased production is intrinsically linked to improved product quality – one cannot be achieved without the other. If product shape, size and overall quality is improved, there is a significant reduction in the recirculating load, resulting in less wear and tear on the liners, bushes and eccentric. Although there are challenges facing the Australian mining sector, improved efficiency, cleaner production, less maintenance, safer work environments and greater profitability are all within the industry’s grasp. Leading designs like the ZI cone crusher series have an important part to play in this journey, enabling Australia to keep its place as a world-leading mining country. AM

TAKING MINING TO A NEW LEVEL Brokk robots are designed specifically for high-performance demolition and maintenance works and improve effectiveness, uptime, and profitability for operators. Within a mine, Brokk robots are able to perform various tasks such as oversize rock breaking, scaling, drilling, digging, and shaft sinking.

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CRUSHING AND SCREENING

DANCING SAND

and is a nuanced and essential commodity, valued for different grades and qualities due to its wide application across nearly every manufacturing, scientific and construction process. After fresh water, sand is the most widely consumed natural resource on the planet. The annual worldwide consumption of sand is estimated to be in excess of 15 billion tonnes, with a respective trade volume of $70 billion. According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Australia is the second largest producer of sand in the world, exporting 206 million tonnes in 2021. It is considered one of the fastest growing industries in Australia. Whether extracted from a dry inland quarry or underwater resource, impurities and biological material must be removed, otherwise the sand can contaminate the end process. Removing impurities from the product further saturates it, causing it to enter the processing and drying system as a slurry. Liquid adds tremendous

weight and sand is generally sold as a commodity with a very low moisture level. Although some end users don’t require dried sand, most do, so the water needs to be extracted. To remove water, the sand is passed through a screening process that involves industrial vibrators. The volume and sustained operation of the process can put a lot of strain on the vibrators, so it is not uncommon for them to break down. This is accompanied by downtime and lost production, which makes lead time in being able to replace units and reliability of the vibrators extremely important. This article walks through the process of one of the largest sand mining operations in the southern US and discusses the impact quality vibration has on the operation.

IMPURITIES IN PROCESSED INDUSTRIAL SAND.

Clean sand makes strong concrete

The first stop for mined and quarried sand is the sanitisation plant, where the sand is washed of impurities such as clay, silt, salts and mica, as well as organic matter that can propagate the growth of bacteria.

INLAND SAND IS EXTRACTED AND PLACED IN STOCKPILES FOR TRANSPORT TO A PROCESSING PLANT.

AUSTRALIANMINING 38 FEBRUARY 2024

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: MARTIN ENGINEERING

MARTIN ENGINEERING SHINES A LIGHT ON RESOLVING VIBRATOR DOWNTIME IN THE DEWATERING SCREEN PROCESS.

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

In addition to improving the adhesive quality of the end product, the removal of organic impurities and bacteria can eliminate odour, reduce the potential for illness and remove other elements that can hinder the curing of concrete or mortar and weaken the final product. In construction, sand that is 75–85 per cent clean is sufficient for cement. Having a larger surface area than sand, clay creates a filmy barrier around sand particles that prevents or reduces the adhesion of cement by increasing the amount of water needed, in turn lessening the strength of concrete or mortar. A high presence of mica can have structural implications due to the smooth surface of the particulate. The corrosive effect on reinforcement means the sand also needs to be periodically tested for coal residues. Although most purified sand is used for voluminous applications – cement, golf courses, playgrounds, etc – some industrial applications such as the manufacturing of optical lenses and microchips require a greater purity devoid of iron, titanium and aluminum oxides. This detailed processing may not be done by the mine or quarry but is often performed by a specialist entity catering to specific industries.

Dancing sand

Leaving the sanitation process as a slurry, the sand is conveyed to hoppers

WET SLURRY JUMPS ACROSS THE SCREEN AS MOISTURE DRAINS THROUGH THE FINE MESH CLOTH.

connected to rubber tubes, which direct the gritty flow to the screening racks. Several tonnes of heavy wet granules are vibrated across the screens per hour, so the water extraction process needs to be fast to meet production demands. It is then dropped on a conveyor to be transported to the drying kiln or the outdoor storage area. The processing plant that services the sand mine has three dewatering racks with sloped screens covered with a specially made porous cloth that allows moisture to pass through, but none of the fines. The racks sit on spring stabilisers to absorb the force output of the two high-powered electric vibrators mounted on top that counter-rotate to create a linear force through the rack’s centre of gravity. With enough torque to move tonnes of wet material up and down, the vibrators cause the sand to ‘dance’ down the screen with the help of gravity. Each impact against the screen cloth forces water from the material and through the screen openings, which then runs into troughs and is collected for proper treatment and disposal. By the time the material skips down to the end of the screen and discharges onto the next conveyor, it has the consistency of a dense meal.

Breakdowns, downtime and maintenance

The intense demand and stress on the vibrators can be punishing, sometimes causing them to break down. AUSTRALIANMINING 39 FEBRUARY 2024

MARTIN ENGINEERING PRODUCTS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR DURABILITY AND SERVICE LIFE.

CRUSHING AND SCREENING

Shutting down a single rack translates to a proportional loss in production, so to avoid downtime operators have the option of recalibrating a single vibrator when back-up units are unavailable. Although production is considerably reduced in this instance, the material still passes slowly through the process, releasing considerably less water and putting a tremendous strain on the shaker screen and the single vibrator, reducing their operational life. Maintenance on the unit is also a burden and a possible safety concern. When one breaks down it must be sent to a local motor repair shop to be fixed, which can take weeks. Weighing more than half a tonne, a crane is used to remove the vibrator and load it for transport. Removal requires several employees, and working around unsupported heavy equipment can be hazardous. “When the customer contacted us, it was one of those impossible situations with a screen out of commission, no back-ups left, the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) unable to respond to their needs and nothing returning from the repair shop for weeks,” Martin Engineering vibration account manager Grant Burton said.

Counter-rotating forces

Martin Engineering technicians matched the type of electrical vibrator with the correct output to that of the previous manufacturer. “OEMs often promote the myth that only their equipment will effectively operate their machine when the reality is that all another vibrator needs is similar horsepower, speed and torque,” Burton said. “Properly wire the vibrators to counter-rotate and match the force output by adjusting the eccentric weights, and the two units will naturally synchronise. “By doing this we found that our MM series vibrators fit nicely within the customer’s existing parameters.” With two sets of weights mounted on each end of the motor’s shaft, as the vibrator shaft rotates, the unbalanced mass of the eccentric weights is used to generate centrifugal force. To produce the proper force in a single vibrator, the two sets of weights can be adjusted so they are a mirror image. When synchronising two vibrators, it is important to ensure the vibrators are counter-rotating and that the weights are properly adjusted to the same value. Once mounted to a piece of equipment, any adjustment made to one unit must also be done to the other. Although the function and general design are similar to competitor units, what sets Martin Engineering designs apart is durability, service life and the fact Martin is the only US manufacturer that offers a three-year guarantee on

WHILE THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS OF A VIBRATOR MAY LOOK SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, THE OPERATIONAL CONCEPT IS LARGELY THE SAME.

its continuous-duty, high-output/lowfrequency industrial vibrators. Engineered to stay running for long periods under punishing conditions, the Martin MM-series electric screen vibrators use only the highest quality components, such as SKF or FAG bearings with a C4 clearance and Kluber grease. A 10–11hp (7.5–8.2kW) motor produces a centrifugal force of 14,061kg. The unit incorporates O-ring seals and machined surfaces for a dust-tight/

water-tight enclosure. The extended equipment life and reduced maintenance requirements deliver a quick return on investment due to reduced downtime.

Results

The vibrator was delivered and mounted more than a week earlier than expected, returning the operation to full production. The customer replaced old broken-down units with Martin Engineering MM series vibrators in two of its plants. Having installed 10 more

THE GLOSSY FINISH HELPS PROTECT THE VIBRATOR FROM DUST, MOISTURE AND OTHER ELEMENTS. AUSTRALIANMINING 40 FEBRUARY 2024

units since the initial order, operators were impressed with the quality, service and long life of the equipment. “It goes beyond just initially helping us get back to production,” a manager close to the project said. “The vibrator lasts longer and Martin is more responsive to our needs because lead time is so crucial to our operations. “This is the level of service and type of relationship we extend to our customers and it’s nice to have partners who demonstrate the same values.” AM

TSUV Gyratory Crushers With great power comes greater throughput Our TS Gyratory Crushers are built for the toughest crushing duties while providing safety, reliability, and ease of maintenance. That means you get higher availability and throughput along with maintenance cost reductions. The TSUV Gyratory Crusher adds even more power, capacity and safety, to give miners an extra low total cost of ownership (cost per tonne) and improved availability compared to more traditionally designed crushers.

Key benefits

Ultra-heavy duty design Lowest cost per tonne in operation ■ Lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) ■ Safer, simpler maintenance ■ ■

■

Digitally enabled for optimal productivity

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AUSTRALIANMINING 41 FEBRUARY 2024

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

IMAGE :BHP

ON THE COMPETITIVE EDGE THE MINING SECTOR IS A FUNDAMENTAL ECONOMIC DRIVER IN AUSTRALIA, BUT IT’S NOT IMMUNE TO CHALLENGES. BHP’S RECENT ‘RECAPTURING AUSTRALIA’S COMPETITIVENESS’ REPORT BREAKS DOWN THE FACTS.

The economic engine room

The mining sector’s contribution to the Australian economy cannot be overlooked, whether in recent years or throughout the nation’s history. In 2021–22 alone, the sector generated $218 billion in annual revenue, an amount equal to 37 per cent of Australia’s total goods and services export revenues. In terms of employment, the sector supported more over 1.1 million fulltime equivalent Australian jobs in 2021–22, contributing an estimated $63 billion in company taxes and royalties. Looking to the future, new mining projects in the $220 billion pipeline are estimated to create 47,000 new jobs, presenting significant economic and social opportunities for all. “The mining sector has been an outstanding success story for Australia,” the BHP report stated. “Protecting and nurturing one of the pillars of our economy is precisely why industry, governments and other partners and stakeholders need to secure Australia’s resource sector’s ongoing competitiveness. “Doing this from a position of relative strength is the most effective way to secure this future opportunity for the nation.”

The overarching goal of the Paris Agreement is to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels”. But to get to that point, mining industries across the world need to scale up mineral production, with estimates suggestion that up to 140 new copper mines, 60 new nickel mines, 50 new lithium mines and 17 new cobalt mines will be needed by 2030. “Australia has a huge opportunity to capitalise on major change in the world economy driven by the megatrends of decarbonisation, electrification and population growth, but we must be ready and able to compete in the global arena,” BHP president Australia Geraldine Slattery said. “Many countries are endowed with vast quantities of minerals essential to decarbonisation, and Australia’s global competitors are implementing ambitious policies and investing in technology and skills to capture their share of new capital investment, talent and supply chains.” But decarbonising doesn’t come cheap, with capital investment estimated

at an additional $US100 billion ($152.6 billion) per year. To that end, seizing a share of critical minerals investment will be crucial to Australia’s future economic prosperity, BHP’s report found. “Australia’s past success does not mean it can take future success for granted,” the report stated. “Australia can only succeed if it is once again willing and able to compete.”

Competitiveness under threat

According to BHP’s report, the competitiveness of Australia’s mining sector depends on a number of factors: • The characteristics of its resources • Its access to world-leading talent and mining equipment, technology and services (METS) • Its ability to leverage common infrastructure investments in transport, energy and water in key basins • The stability of its regulatory and policy regime “Australia has historically performed well against these criteria, but the future looks increasingly less certain,” the report stated.

Australia’s competitiveness

A key aspect of what makes the modern Australian mining sector so competitive is its stockpiles of critical minerals. These minerals, including copper, nickel, lithium and cobalt, are vital to a decarbonised future needed to achieve the temperature-reduction aims of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

BHP PRESIDENT AUSTRALIA GERALDINE SLATTERY.

Access to talent is one of the biggest challenges the sector has faced in the last few years. This was a particular problem in 2022, with BHP reporting lower coal outputs due to a shortage of labour and absenteeism stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. BHP’s chief operating officer Edgar Basto said at the time that “expediting skilled migration” was one of the things needed to cure Australia’s labour shortage. Two years on, however, the sector is still struggling with those shortages. “While wages have almost doubled over the past 20 years, labour IMAGE: BHP

ining has had a long and varied history in Australia, but one aspect has always remained true throughout the years: when the industry performs well, the whole country benefits economically. As Australia pulls away from its global competitors to become a leading mining exporter, the country’s competitiveness hinges on several factors, according to major miner BHP. In its ‘Recapturing Australia’s Competitiveness’ report, released in late 2023, BHP examines the challenges and opportunities facing the Australian mining sector in the future.

MINING SUPPORTED MORE OVER 1.1 MILLION FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT AUSTRALIAN JOBS IN 2021–22.

AUSTRALIANMINING 42 FEBRUARY 2024

productivity has remained flat,” the report stated. “And despite offering the highest pay of all Australian sectors, the (resources) sector is facing record vacancy levels, reflecting declining enrolments in mining-related educational programs and bottlenecks in accessing international employees in areas unable to be filled by Australians.”

THE AUSTRALIAN MINING SECTOR GENERATED $218 BILLION IN ANNUAL REVENUE IN 2021–22.

Looking ahead

Collaboration between government and industry will play a vital role in ensuring Australian mining remains competitive. “To secure our future prosperity, both industry and government must urgently and actively contribute to improving Australia’s mining sector competitiveness,” the report stated. “Policy stability and consistency across all levels of government are paramount to attract the potentially multi-billiondollar investments in mining and downstream processing projects the world is looking to deploy.” This type of collaboration will go a long way in infrastructure planning and investment for the many new mines needed for the energy transition. “Australia’s mining sector is central to enabling the energy transition and positioning Australia as the global destination for resources investment requires collaboration between industry and government,” the report stated.

“By working together, we can improve the global competitiveness of Australia’s mining sector, position Australia as a critical minerals leader, and make an even greater contribution to Australia’s future prosperity.” Slattery stressed that only through collaboration, strong investment opportunities and stable policies would the local sector retain its competitive edge and help the world decarbonise.

“Australia needs to encourage major investment in the people, technology and skills required to create a diverse modern economy,” she said. “More efficient assessment and permitting for major projects, strategic infrastructure and a stable policy environment will encourage global capital to flow to Australia’s shores. “‘Recapturing Australia’s Competitiveness’ is a proposal for

DESIGNED TO DELIVER ENHANCED PERFORMANCE Superior wear parts, driving optimal haul truck performance. geographe.com.au

AUSTRALIANMINING 43 FEBRUARY 2024

IMAGE: BETO SANTILLAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

government and industry to work together on a policy agenda that is positive, productive, ambitious and actionable. “It is about acknowledging the reality of our present situation, recognising the urgency of the task, and determining a plan for action. “We hope this is the beginning of a conversation about how Australia can get ahead and stay ahead.” AM

REHABILITATION

IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/MASTERSKY

NEW LEASE ON LIFE WITH APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MINES SITTING ABANDONED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AUSTRALIAN MINING TAKES A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT WAYS THESE SITES CAN BE REHABILITATED.

negative environmental consequences, including soil erosion and loss of biodiversity and habitat.” Nebauer said that creating a selfsustaining ecosystem on a mine site can take years, but the results are worth it. “When done correctly, the final result can blend seamlessly with the surrounding vegetation and it can even be difficult to distinguish what was once mined land versus what is remnant vegetation.” While rehabilitating tens of thousands of sites may seem like an impossible task, governments, regulatory bodies and specialist teams remain hard at work to restore the land these mines once called home. To learn more about these rehabilitation efforts, Australian Mining examines two of the largest abandoned mines in the country, along with smaller programs that are making sites across the country safer.

Ellendale

Arguably one of the most famous abandoned mines in Australia, the Ellendale diamond mine sits 140km east of Derby in the West Kimberley region of Western Australia. The mine produced fancy yellow and white diamonds from the time it opened its doors in November 1976 to its eventual closure in July 2015. These gems were reminiscent of those produced at Rio Tinto’s Argyle diamond mine and Ellendale was, at one point, the source of up to 50 per cent of the world’s supply of fancy yellow diamonds. But all good things must come to end, as the diamond world found out when Ellendale was closed

ABANDONED MINE SHAFTS CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO AN INDIVIDUAL’S SAFETY.

following the liquidation of its owner, Kimberley Diamond Company. The mine was declared abandoned and a liquidator’s auction disposed of the valuable items of plant and infrastructure associated with the site. While some infrastructure was removed, unsold items were left to sit and the site is currently undergoing active rehabilitation through the WA Department of Mines’ Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF). The rehabilitation of Ellendale is currently in its second phase, with the MRF working with the community and stakeholders to minimise the site’s safety, health and environmental risks.

Benambra

While some abandoned mine sites undergo a full rehabilitation, there are those that have a little more life left in them. Such is the case with Benambra, a former copper-zinc mine in East Gippsland, Victoria. Benambra was active from 1992– 96, when the mine was placed into administration following its operator defaulting on its environmental rehabilitation obligations.

THE VICTORIAN GOLD RUSH IN THE 1850S LEFT BEHIND MANY OLD MINE SHAFTS.

While the Victorian Earth Resources Regulator has been looking after the maintenance and rehabilitation of Benambra since that time, the mine is now the site of a development project by mid-tier miner Aeris Resources, which acquired the project in July 2022 through its acquisition of Round Oak Minerals. Named the Stockman project, Aeris plans to develop two new underground mines at the site to mine zinc, copper, gold and silver. “Aeris will be focused on delivering the operational targets across the expanded operating portfolio, continuing our aggressive exploration program and finalising the feasibility study for the Stockman project,” Aeris executive chairman Andre Labuschagne said in 2022. “Aeris is well positioned to deliver our organic growth pipeline with a strong cash position and no debt.” In its 2023 annual general meeting, Aeris reported the feasibility study at Stockman had progressed throughout the year, its mining license extension had been approved, and all licensed tailings dams were in place. Given they are among the largest abandoned mines in Australia, IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/SUNSHINE SEEDS

IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/AFRICA STUDIO

ines, like most resources, are finite things. Once all of the ore has been extracted, it’s time to close up shop, rehabilitate the area, and move on to the next site. Nowadays, there are fortunately stringent rules and regulations that must be followed when a mine closes. But these rules didn’t start to become commonplace in Australia until the 1980s, which leaves a considerable gap given the country’s mining history spans more than two centuries. This shortfall has led to approximately 80,000 inactive mines sitting unused across the country, and many of those are left over from the days of the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s. “Closed and abandoned mines can pose a threat to health and safety,” Global Soil Systems general manager James Nebauer told Australian Mining. “They can have minimal or no security, and there are a variety of hazards including voids, mine shafts, highwalls, water bodies, and old and unstable structures and buildings. “By rehabilitating and reforesting the land, it can help to mitigate these negative impacts and support the restoration of the surrounding ecosystem.” Nebauer discussed some insights his company has gained throughout its long history of mine rehabilitation. “From an environmental perspective, degraded land poses a significant risk,” he said. “Displacing native vegetation during the mining process can have

THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 80,000 ABANDONED MINES IN AUSTRALIA.

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REHABILITATION

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Benambra and Ellendale have each benefitted from having large teams of people bring them up to code. But that size and level of personnel is the exception rather than the rule. Most of the 80,000 abandoned mines in Australia are nothing like these mines. In fact, the majority are small shafts left over from the mining boom of the mid-1800s. In order to make these shafts safer, specialist projects had to be drawn up.

Safer shafts

With so many mine shafts pockmarking the Australian landscape, it was only a matter of time before they posed a risk to the rapidly expanding communities in the surrounding areas. In response, the MRF developed the Safer Shafts for Towns project in 2022, focusing on communities like Yalgoo, Cue and Marble Bar in WA that had abandoned sites located close to schools. The ultimate goal of the project is to reduce the risk to any child that may be exposed to an old mine shaft. While the Safer Shafts for Towns project is currently being assessed and evaluated to inform further development before it is rolled out to other regional communities, researchers at Melbourne’s Monash University have introduced a program to help catalogue and eventually rehabilitate old mine shafts.

THE MAJORITY OF THE ABANDONED MINES IN AUSTRALIA ARE OLD SHAFTS.

Dubbed the Mining Incidence Documentation and Assessment Scheme (MIDAS), the program is used to catalogue and compare active or inactive mine data. MIDAS uses geographic information system spatial analyses and environmental risk assessments to show the proximity of shafts to infrastructure and environmental receptors. “As Australia struggles to manage the ongoing technical, socioeconomic and

environmental challenges of effective mine rehabilitation, the insights enabled by this national-level spatial database may be key to developing coordinated responses that extend beyond state boundaries,” the creators of MIDAS said in their report, ‘A Geospatial Database for Effective Mine Rehabilitation in Australia’. “Our classification and methodology are easily transferable, thereby

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encouraging more formalised, systematic and widespread documentation of abandoned mines worldwide.” Whether they be large open pits or smaller shafts, abandoned mines pose safety and environmental risks. But these risks can be mitigated. Through strict legislation, stringent environmental processes and a healthy dose of exploration, abandoned mines can truly get a new lease on life. AM

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: SRK CONSULTING

ESG

A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL COULD MEAN MINING COMPANIES HAVE TO DISCLOSE CLIMATE-RELATED INFORMATION AS PART OF THEIR GENERAL FINANCIAL REPORTING.

EMERGING ESG ISSUES IN MINING FOR 2024 EXPECT TO SEE A GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE FOCUS IN THE MINING INDUSTRY IN 2024.

equirements for disclosing climate and nature-related financial threats, opportunities and responsibilities for protecting human rights (including Indigenous people) are key emerging environmental, social and governance (ESG) trends for mining companies in 2024 and beyond. That is the view of Kate Vershinina and Ludovic Rollin, principal and senior ESG consultants, respectively, at SRK Consulting. “Mining companies will have to consider additional ESG risk factors in 2024 that they haven’t looked at in as much depth before,” Vershinina said. “Of course, every mining project is different and has its own ESG risks; however, mining companies will generally

face heightened ESG risk reporting requirements in the year ahead.” Rollin said stakeholders will increasingly apply a human rights perspective when evaluating the performance of mining companies. “From access to land, clean water or the protection of cultural heritage … human rights are fundamental factors of ESG trends,” he said. “Communities will increasingly exercise their rights to free, prior and informed consent about mining projects that may impact their land, livelihood and environment – and confront more projects on those grounds.” Vershinina and Rollin stressed that decarbonisation, nature positive and social licence to operate are not new ESG issues. Rather, the growing awareness of ESG-related risks in the

mining industry requires organisations to further disclose their strategies and performance addressing those risks, and these requirements will increase in coming years due to ongoing regulatory and social changes. “Some mandatory ESG reporting requirements will come with new changes in national legislation with regards to climate-related financial disclosure, the protection of human rights and the environment,” Vershinina said. “Other good ESG practices and voluntary reporting will be driven by international standards for responsible mining.” “In addition, financial markets will continue to push the bar for higher ESG strategy and performance disclosure along with the rise of stakeholder expectations in the resource sector.” Vershinina and Rollin note the interconnection of emerging ESG trends.

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“Ultimately, these trends are connected by natural disasters linked to climate change,” Rollin said. “Stakeholders will want more information on how mining companies plan to decarbonise their operations, how they can deliver nature positive outcomes at a project, and how their project protects human rights.” Here’s a snapshot of the three emerging ESG trends Vershinina and Rollin believe will underpin the mining industry in 2024.

Decarbonisation strategy and disclosure

The Federal Government’s proposal, Climate-Related Financial Disclosure, could mean companies across industries have to disclose climate-related information as part of their general financial reporting. For some companies, the changes could start as early as the 2024–25 financial year. In October 2023, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) described the shift to mandatory climate-related disclosure as the “biggest change to corporate reporting in a generation”.

ESG

MINING COMPANIES WILL BE INCREASINGLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A LACK OF ENVIRONMENTAL VIGILANCE.

HOW THE MINING INDUSTRY APPROACHES ITS ESG OBLIGATIONS WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BEARING ON THE SECTOR’S ENVIRONMENTAL REPUTATION.

“As the world grapples with climate change, regulators, investors and the wider community are increasingly expecting businesses to be clear about how they are managing the risks and opportunities presented by this global challenge,” ASIC chair Joe Longo said. At this stage, final details of the climate disclosure reform is unknown. In October 2023, the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB) released an exposure draft, Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards – Disclosure of Climate-related Financial Information. Consultation ends on 1 March 2024. However, the strategic direction of the proposed reform is clear. The government wants companies to shift from a compliance mindset with climate change reporting to one that uses these disclosures to better inform stakeholders of an organisation’s climate risks and opportunities, and how the organisation intends to create long-term value for stakeholders through decarbonisation. Vershinina said mining companies will have to consider how they communicate their decarbonisation strategy in 2024, with good practice seeing initial reporting followed by the delivery of a clear decarbonisation strategy.

“This change is about much more than disclosing specific climate-related risks,” she said. “Fundamentally, it’s an opportunity for mining companies to disclose their broader strategy for a clear path to decarbonisation.” Communicating decarbonisation strategy will present new challenges, Vershinina believes. “Reporting on carbon emissions and other climate-related information is important, but it’s essentially quantitative information on what’s happened,” she said. “Disclosing decarbonisation strategy is forward-looking and raises questions about the required capital expenditure for the organisation to adapt to climate change.” Adding to this complexity is heightened regulatory focus on ‘greenwashing’, where companies claim to be environmentally friendly, sustainable or ethical for marketing or investment purposes but have provided unclear sustainability-related considerations for investment strategies. Rollin said mining companies will need to find the right balance with their decarbonisation communication. “Companies will be expected to provide clearer information and

demonstrate allocated realistic resources to support their decarbonisation strategy,” he said. “But if they overpromote their strategy or do not match it with sustainability-related actions, they could be pursued for greenwashing by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.”

Biodiversity protection

Vershinina believes that naturerelated risk management and potential limitations related to reporting of biodiversity issues will be of higher concern for mining companies in the coming years. “As stakeholder focus on nature positive grows, companies will need to understand their nature-related dependencies, threats and opportunities, how they incorporate nature into their business strategies, and how they report and act on evolving nature-related issues,” she said. “This is particularly critical if an organisation has identified material nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks in its operations or value chains, or is located in areas of particular importance for biodiversity protection or Indigenous Peoples, communities and wider stakeholders,” she said.

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In December 2022, the Australian Government released its Nature Positive Plan: Better for the Environment, Better for Business. The report was a response to the Independent Review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), released in October 2020. New national environmental law will cover matters of national environmental significance, restoration actions and restoration contributions, regional planning, communication engagement and consultation, First Nations engagement and participation in decision making, and data and information. A draft set of environmental standards is expected to be published later in 2024, following consultation taking place until 30 March 2024. The Federal Government is also committed to establishing an independent national environmental agency – Environmental Protection Australia (EPA) – to ensure compliance with the new Act. New laws are also being prepared to create an independent head of Environmental Information Australia (EIA), who will oversee State of the Environment reporting and other environmental data.

ESG

AN EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFULLY REHABILITATED MINE.

Vershinina said the likely result of these and other expected environmental requirement changes is that Australian miners that have relied on voluntary biodiversity codes, such as the International Council on Mining and Metals’ Good Practice Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity, will face heightened requirements on biodiversity outcomes in the coming years. “Stakeholders will expect clearer information on the biodiversity protection strategies of mining projects,” Vershinina said. “They will want to know if a company’s policies and activities are appropriate for managing an organisation’s nature-related risk. “Mining companies will need to clearly state their approach to material nature-related risks. They will also have to work closer with First Nations communities and other stakeholders affected by adverse impacts from nature loss.” Rollin said that the proposed changes represent a major shift in biodiversity protection for mining companies in Australia. “These changes will go well beyond the traditional avoid, mitigate and compensate approach to minimise the impact of activities on habitats and species,” he said. “This is about mining companies creating a ‘nature positive outcome’

at their project, as Australia follows international trends on biodiversity protection and reporting practices.”

Human rights considerations

Vershinina and Rollin believe that regulatory changes to climaterelated disclosures and new national environmental laws in 2024 will require mining companies to bring forward stakeholder engagement on projects. “If companies wait until the design phase of their project to engage with a local community, it will be too late,” Vershinina said. “Traditionally, some companies have felt it’s too early to engage at the

exploration phase because it’s unclear if the project will move into production. That approach has greater risk today because communities are far more connected due to technology; they have a greater understanding of their rights, and are more sophisticated in their opposition.” Vershinina said resource depletion might cause potential competition for those scarce resources, which will also require earlier community engagement. Water is one of the examples. “As Australia experiences more droughts and floods, competition for clean water resources will grow,” she said. “Communities will want

BIODIVERSITY REPORTING WILL BECOME A BIGGER ISSUE FOR MINING COMPANIES IN THE COMING YEARS.

more information on how a mining project’s need for water will affect the community’s access to water, or access by other industries, such as agriculture.” The opportunity, Rollin said, is for mining companies to engage early with stakeholders to understand their concerns and consider how it is aligned with the company’s policies, while also ensuring that stakeholders’ needs inform the company’s ESG strategy. “A mining company could discuss the use of renewables at a potential project and how those assets could be shared with a remote community, for example,” Rollin said. “Or how new industries and opportunities could be created for communities when the mine closes. “The key is to have this engagement as early as possible, to help communities better understand their project and to gain their view on ways to create shared value.” AM SRK Consulting is a leading, independent international consultancy that advises clients mainly in the earth and water resource industries. Its mining services range from exploration to mine closure. SRK experts are leaders in fields such as due diligence, technical studies, mine waste and water management, permitting, and mine rehabilitation. To learn more about SRK Consulting, visit www.srk.com

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EQUIPMENT

THE PATH FORWARD AS THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO EVOLVE, IT IS ESSENTIAL TO STAY AHEAD OF THE GAME WITH INNOVATIVE EQUIPMENT THAT ENHANCES PRODUCTIVITY, SAFETY AND OPERATOR WELLBEING.

JD Equipment, Volvo Construction Equipment’s national Australian distributor, has introduced the muchanticipated R100E and R60E rigid haulers into the Australian market, along with after-market service, parts and support. With a focus on helping customers achieve production targets faster – and using less fuel in the process – Volvo’s new rigid haulers are made for surface mining and quarrying applications where operation costs and safety are critical.

Loads of productivity

The E-Series R100E is an entirely new 95-tonne rigid hauler, equipped with a robust 1065-horsepower (hp), 783-kilowatt (kW) Tier 2 engine, ensuring maximum efficiency and productivity in even the most challenging terrains. Thanks to its V-shaped body, the 60.4m3 capacity hauler ensures optimum load retention and minimal material carry-back. The R100E is designed with a lower centre of gravity and even

weight distribution, spreading the load impacts and structural stresses equally across the hauler, reducing tyre wear and significantly reducing operating costs. “The Volvo R100E is an impressive design that offers a good balance between productivity, fuel efficiency, comfort, ease of maintenance and safety,” CJD Equipment national product manager for Volvo CE Hayden Grant said. “The Volvo styling and design on these machines shine through; it’s everything you would expect from a Volvo product.” Similarly, the Volvo R60E is made to effortlessly take on steep gradients and improve cycle times with hightorque capabilities and high-drive-axle multiplication, delivering impressive tractive force and high levels of rim pull. This 55-tonne machine offers a 36.04m3 capacity, with a 771hp, 567kW Tier 2 engine, making it the perfect match for the EC950E excavator. “Built for markets with Tier 2-compliant engines and based on the R100E model, the R60E packs a higher payload than the D-generation model

it replaces, enabling it to move more for less with every cycle,” Grant said. “Not only is it productive, but the Volvo R60E is also fuel efficient.” Thanks to Volvo’s dynamic shift control, gear selection automatically adapts to varying conditions, enabling the hauler to default to the most efficient gear-shifting schedule. In addition, auto-engine idle shutdown eliminates unnecessary fuel consumption and engine wear. Operators can take their productivity to the next level with Volvo’s on-board weighing system. This intelligent system uses sensors and advanced technology to measure the weight of the load carried by the rigid in real-time, ensuring that the rigid is not overloaded, in turn maximising productivity and reducing transportation costs. “Volvo’s payload system is a unique feature that enhances operational efficiency,” Grant said. “Understanding the tonnes per hour being hauled and fuel consumption per tonne are always crucial factors in reducing costs and boosting productivity on-site.”

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This integrated system ensures the machine moves optimum safe payloads and logs all loads for complete production management, providing realtime data on the on-board display.

Safety at the centre

The Volvo rigid haulers have also been designed with the operator in mind. The R100E and R60E cabs are designed with anti-slip steps and walkways, which allows access from both sides of the machine. The cabs feature a left-side-positioned operator station and adjustable air-suspended seat to keep operators working at their best. To further optimise operator comfort and safety, the two new rigids feature two standard retardation systems for enhanced downhill machine control. The transmission retarder prevents wheel lock-up, while the modulating rear brake retarder, which features an automatic apply function, helps to maintain a controlled engine speed. Other protective features include transmission overspeed protection, neutral coast inhibitor, fail-safe braking and secondary steering systems.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: CJD

EQUIPMENT

THE VOLVO R100E.

In addition, the robust R100E and R60E are equipped with a responsive MacPherson strut with a lower wishbone connection and viscous-mounted cab, minimising the transfer of impact and vibrations from the ground to the operator.

“The MacPherson strut is a type of suspension system that utilises a centrally mounted variable rate suspension strut on each side for support,” Grant said. “This system is designed to absorb shocks and vibrations, providing superior

BOTH THE R60E (PICTURED) AND THE R100E CAN HELP MINES ACHIEVE PRODUCTION TARGETS FASTER.

handling and increased stability in both straight-line and cornering scenarios. “Volvo has carried over the Terex rear axle design into their rigid haulers, a cornerstone component. These rigid haulers also have the Allison transmission featuring the versatile 9000 series, a robust heavy-duty and all-rounder transmission that excels in various capacities.” Volvo CE incorporates large windows and advanced camera systems to eliminate blind spots and provide operators with a better view of the working area, increasing on-site safety. The left-position operator system provides an unobstructed view of the surrounding area. At the same time, Volvo’s Smart View has been integrated into the new rigid haulers to ensure operators have a 360° bird’s eye view of the work zone, ensuring safe operation in confined working areas. The Volvo rigids also host a range of comfort-enhancing features, including climate control, ergonomically positioned displays, responsive fingertip controls, and a Bluetooth-enabled audio system. Servicing of the R60E and R100E is required every 500 hours and can be completed swiftly thanks to a straightforward machine design that includes grouped maintenance

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points located within easy reach either from the ground or the service platform, as well as common-sized bearings throughout. On-board diagnostics provide insights into system pressures, temperatures, and fault reporting to facilitate and expedite troubleshooting.

New sustainability standards

The R100E and R60E represent a groundbreaking leap in the world of rigid haulers. The power, efficiency, safety and sustainability of the machines sets, according to CJD Equipment, new industry standards, making it a top choice for mining and quarry professionals worldwide. “This introduction of the new rigid haulers from Volvo CE exemplifies Volvo’s commitment to innovative solutions that promote sustainable operations – decreasing fuel consumption, cycle times and transportation costs,” Grant said. “Over the last 12 months, Volvo has made significant strides in sustainability, always keeping something up their sleeve.” Volvo CE rigid haulers are available to order in Australia, showcasing Volvo’s role in steering the heavy machinery industry towards a new era of progress and responsible development. AM

FUELLING THE FUTURE AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS SUPPLIER HAD A BUSY 2023, AND 2024 IS SQUARING UP TO BE EVEN BIGGER.

WITH THE LARGEST LPG FOOTPRINT IN AUSTRALIA, ELGAS CAN LEAN ON ITS EXTENSIVE PORTFOLIO TO MEET ANY CHALLENGE.

ot off the heels of a major project completion at one of Australia’s largest open-pit gold mines Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Elgas is gearing up for a future of expansion. Elgas WA regional manager Ash Hada told Australian Mining the key to that future began with a focus on growing with its customers. “We work closely with our customers for strong and meaningful relationships assisting them with their long-term plans and offering the best supplychain options in the industry,” he said. “We can help them in their journey of growth. “The equipment that we have installed at Kalgoorlie does not just look after the customer’s current energy requirements, but we proactively installed equipment which would assist them with their expansion plans for the next decade.” At Elgas, it’s all about offering a strong foundation with a forward focus. Having built relationships spanning decades with some of Australia’s largest gold miners, Hada said that when it comes to mining, operators want a gas supplier they can rely on.

“We achieve this through the four pillars of our business,” he said. “Collaboration, relationship and contract management, cost efficiencies, and most importantly, safety and quality.

FOR THIS PROJECT, WE WERE ABLE TO SOURCE PRODUCT FROM A COMBINATION OF LPG SUPPLY SOURCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OFFERING THE CUSTOMER COST EFFICIENCIES AND AN UNPARALLELED SECURITY OF SUPPLY.”

ELGAS PRIORITISES ITS CUSTOMERS WITH A FOCUS ON FUTURE GROWTH.

“It’s about giving the customer the confidence that they’re getting the right product on time, every time.” That’s how Elgas was able to secure its latest major contract in WA after the client shared more than three decades with its previous supplier. Elgas’ latest installation at the project involved transporting an 80-tonne LPG tank from Queensland to the WA site, a 3800km journey made possible by Elgas’ capability as a national supplier. “We have supply-chain capability strengthened by sources from all over the country,” Hada said. “That gives us the infrastructure to meet any challenge. “For this project, we were able to source product from a combination of LPG supply sources across the country, offering the customer cost efficiencies and an unparalleled security of supply.” By leveraging its expansive footprint and more than 40 years’ experience as an LPG leader in the energy business, Elgas will continue to grow its presence in the Australian mining sector. “Our success comes from making our customers successful,” Hada said. “Our customers are seeing immense value by partnering with Elgas.” Not just focused on the growth of its customers, Elgas also has a plan for a greener future as the Australian mining industry prioritises net-zero targets.

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ON & ON ON & ON ON & ON ON & ON ON & ON ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: ELGAS

SUSTAINABILITY

The company understands the challenges that lie ahead in the energy transition and recognises the important role it has to play in supporting decarbonisation. “Our customers are on the same journey as Elgas to reduce their carbon footprint,” Hada said. “We’re giving them options to reduce their carbon footprint and offset their carbon emissions when using LPG.” Elgas is committed to a 35 per cent reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, with the aim of achieving 100 per cent carbon neutrality by 2050. To reach this goal, the company is ramping up its carbon-neutral LPG plans with the aid of its Climate Active certification from the Federal Government. “We’re offering carbon offsets to our customers and looking at blending LPG with gases such as dimethyl ether,” Hada said. “This will put us in a very strong position to offer different products which generate less carbon emissions.” Sustainability, productivity and adaptability – Elgas has built its reputation on being the best. Now the company is setting itself up for success in the Australian mining sector, and with a proven track record and a vision for the future, Elgas is one to watch. AM

ON & ON & ON & ON & ON & ON ON & ON & ON & ON & ON & ON ON & ON & ON & ON & ON & ON ON & ON & ON & ON & ON & ON ON & ON & ON & ON & ON & ON

& NOT ONE BEARING FAILURE. Only Enduron® HPGR comes with a 10-year bearing warranty. Not that you’ll need it. After all, there hasn’t been one premature bearing failure to date. Enduron® HPGR delivers unmatched grinding efficiency, even when processing the hardest rocks, boosting mineral recovery. Expect ≥95% equipment availability, so operators can rest assured production targets

will be achieved whilst using the lowest possible resources. With lowest energy consumption and no water or grinding media required, typical operating costs for HPGR based circuits are over 20% lower compared to conventional SABC circuits whilst reducing comminution CO2 emissions by 30%. It’s no wonder we say Enduron® on and on and on.

Find out why. www.global.weir/enduron

SAFETY

AUSTRALIAN STEEL STORIES MEET VIGIL ANTISLIP, AN AUSTRALIAN COMPANY PROMOTING SAFETY AROUND THE WORLD.

orkers in the resources and industrial sectors are often at risk of slips and falls on stairways, ladders, walkways and ramps. For day-to-day safety, all industrial locations need antislip protection. The Vigil Antislip brand from Western Australia is internationally recognised as the benchmark antislip range for quality, durability and effectiveness, backed by a 10year warranty. Over the years, Vigil Antislip has had a successful ongoing relationship with BlueScope Distribution. “We are committed to manufacturing the highest quality safety products, from the foundation up,” Vigil Antislip founder and managing director Stephen McCorkill said. “This is why we’ve always purchased COLORBOND steel from BlueScope Distribution.” Vigil Antislip manufactures stair

VIGIL ANTISLIP VALUES QUALITY, THAT’S WHY IT USES BLUESCOPE COLORBOND STEEL.

nosings, metal deck panels and ladder rung covers using the highest quality raw materials.

BLUESCOPE AND VIGIL ANTISLIP HAVE PROVIDED ANTI-SLIP SOLUTIONS FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

A wide range of standard sizes, grades and colours are available off the shelf or custom-made to order, with shipments being despatched daily to customers in Australia and across the world. If you want an example of an Australian company keeping people safe globally – this is an absolute standout.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: BLUESCOPE STEEL

Creating safer workplaces

McCorkill is proud of Vigil Antislip’s achievements. “We began small because back in 1989 slips and falls were not recognised generally as being a major problem in industry or commerce,” he said. “Gradually, as more statistics became available, we educated the market. “But times have changed and for years now, companies have viewed our product very much as an investment in their people.” Today, Vigil Antislip is a costeffective prevention for workplace accidents such as slips and falls, sold in over 70 countries worldwide. Throughout Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas, with a growing clientele in every important resource and production processing region, Vigil Antislip is regarded as the leader in industrial slip control.

An ongoing bond with BlueScope

Vigil Antislip and BlueScope, as McCorkill explained, have shared a relationship that spans decades. “Over 30 years of working together, we have seen some 2000 tonnes of AUSTRALIANMINING 54 FEBRUARY 2024

VIGIL ANTISLIP PARTNERS WITH BLUESCOPE TO PROTECT THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY FROM SLIPS AND FALLS.

COLORBOND steel go through our plant,” McCorkill said. “In addition to other products, this steel that has gone into the manufacture of over a million stair nosings. “These have been shipped around the globe to most of the world’s recognised oil and gas, mining and manufacturing companies, protecting their people from the costs and trauma associated with slips and falls.” As McCorkill pointed out, “BlueScope manufactures 1.2mm gold COLORBOND steel specifically for us”. “BlueScope Distribution processes coils into sheet form and holds these products in stock ready for our requirements,” McCorkill said. “BlueScope Distribution’s ability to shear the coils and keep them on hand provides added operational efficiency. This works for us and we are happy to stay with them, and as an Australian business, we are keen to support other locally made products and manufacturers. “From time-to-time we have been approached by overseas suppliers; however, we have stayed loyal to BlueScope and Australian-made steel for over 30 years now. And we will continue to do so.” Vigil Antislip has been at the forefront of making Australian, and global, workplaces safer. Worn as a badge of honour, the BlueScope Distribution team is proud to have played an ongoing role. AM

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TECHNOLOGY

BEYOND POSITIONING: TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION IN MINING

utomation and positioning technology supplier Aptella supports the mining industry with an array of solutions such as high-precision machine guidance, fleet management, wireless monitoring, survey drones, and intelligent safety systems. Having recently rebranded from Position Partners to Aptella, executive marketing manager Gina Velde said the new name is designed to better reflect the variety of solutions and services the business offers. “Our customers’ requirements have expanded beyond positioning into automation, robotics, safety and monitoring,” Velde told Australian Mining. Recent years have seen rapid advances in cloud computing, data processing and internet coverage, enabling technology innovation across a range of industries. “These benefit heavy industries such as mining in the ability to capture real-time information to prevent incidents, improve safety behaviours and monitor mine site infrastructure and terrain for any out-oftolerance movement that could signal a potential problem,” Velde said. Internet coverage remains challenging in mine sites due to their remote locations and the topography of an opencut mine. Aptella supports customers with Rajant kinetic mesh network solutions that enable all machines and assets to work seamlessly on secure, fast networks that are customised to meet the requirements of each site. With connectivity for all on-site machines, Aptella provides fleet management solutions to optimise production cycles and enable managers to make informed decisions to help meet or exceed targets. In addition to fleet management, high-precision machine guidance systems for excavators, dozers and drills help to cut rework and make machines more efficient. The Carlson system distributed by Aptella uses GPS to guide operators to the design, with the ability to see their distance to grade as they work. Used in dozer push applications, drill-and-blast projects and mine site excavation work, the Carlson system keeps managers informed with nearreal-time reporting on machine progress relative to design.

FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS GIVE MANAGERS INSIGHTS TO OPTIMISE PRODUCTION CYCLES.

“High-precision machine guidance has numerous tangible benefits, from reducing rework, machine wear and fuel usage to increasing safety by lowering operator fatigue and eliminating the need for surveyors to check grade,” Aptella mining business executive manager Andrew Granger said. Autonomous trucks are helping to increase safety by reducing human interaction with heavy machinery. “Operator fatigue, speeding and other factors are removed when you introduce autonomy,” Granger said. Aptella has partnered with SafeAI and is currently working on a project with MACA to deploy 100 autonomous trucks in the coming years. The mining sector was one of the first to adopt automation and, according to Velde, demand is now growing in other sectors like civil construction and the motor industry. “With more customers from diverse industries coming to us to discuss their autonomy needs, it was another factor in our journey to rebrand as Aptella, because our expertise has needed to adapt beyond positioning systems,” she said. Survey drones are another example of technology used to increase safety and efficiency by removing the need for surveyors to measure on foot. Drones can instead map large areas and control the aircraft safely away from other mine operations. Last year saw Quantum Systems release its Trinity Pro powered lift fixed-wing solution. Popular in mining for its safe vertical take-off and landing, as well as long flight times for large sites, Aptella has successfully deployed Quantum Systems aircraft to the sector for a number of years.

IMAGE: POSITION PARTNERS

WITH AN INCREASING FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE, EFFICIENT AND SAFE WORK METHODS, THE AUSTRALIAN MINING SECTOR IS EMBRACING MORE TECHNOLOGY THAN EVER BEFORE.

“Our team was the first in Australia to introduce drones for surveying applications back in 2009,” Granger said. “It’s one of many examples of how we are always working with customers and technology innovators to source and deploy cutting-edge innovation.” Proximity and collision-awareness technology has particular relevance to mining, where there is unfortunately still a high number of accidents involving heavy machinery and light vehicles. Automation and increased controls for interaction between people and plant may help in production areas; however, in processing and logistics operations there is still risk due to the use of forklifts and other machines alongside workers on foot. Advances in the technology have eliminated the need for wearable tags and instead incorporate vision-based artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically identify and alert operators to people. Blindsight is a unique solution, distributed and supported throughout Australia and New Zealand by Aptella, that has the built-in smarts to identify people and other objects even in challenging, dynamic environments. This solution can be fitted to all makes and models of machinery, with a combination of two or more sensors, external voice alarm and a small in-cab alert that gives the operator audible and visual alerts when a person or traffic cone is detected. Beyond on-site alerts to operators, one of the more powerful benefits of Blindsight is its reporting capability. With near-real-time data being fed into its web-based dashboard platform, Blindsight gives managers insight into on-site safety behaviours.

AUSTRALIANMINING 56 FEBRUARY 2024

The system automatically records video footage from the machine’s on-board cameras when the alert is triggered, giving managers eyes on the site to be able to analyse the situation and make informed decisions to improve safety behaviours. “Unfortunately, despite staff training and safety policies, spotters and other human-based approaches, people still make errors of judgement and put themselves at risk,” Granger said. “Blindsight helps managers identify their own blind spots when it comes to safety, so they can proactively manage it for better outcomes.” Another vital element of on-site safety is ensuring the stability and viability of the mine infrastructure and terrain, including pit walls, tailings dams, and mine site infrastructure. According to Andrew Jones, who manages Aptella’s deformation monitoring portfolio, modern computing technology, coupled with solar energy, can enable continuous monitoring of any underground or openpit mine site at any scale. “Traditionally, monitoring technology has relied on optical measuring systems, which are challenging to install and maintain, not to mention expensive at scale,” he said. “Thanks to wireless communication and our ability to use solar energy, we can now monitor virtually any mine site of any size around the clock for many years with little maintenance.” Alerts can be configured to suit the tolerances and reporting requirements of the site, with tiered escalation of notifications to different stakeholders. “Because Senceive (wireless condition monitoring) works continuously for many years, it reduces the need for engineers and surveyors to perform manual checks or conduct regular maintenance, and the fewer personnel on site the less risk there is,” Jones said. With an ongoing skills shortages and the need to mine the earth as responsibly and sustainably as possible, technology offers many advantages to improve shortand long-term outcomes. “The technology landscape is always shifting and the use of AI, robotics and automation is still in their early stages,” Granger said. “Aptella is ready to start or continue the journey to find and deploy solutions that are best of breed.” AM

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TECHNOLOGY

IN THE RESOURCES SECTOR, TECHNOLOGY FAILURES THAT HALT OPERATIONS CAN EQUATE TO VAST AMOUNTS IN LOST PRODUCTION. THAT’S BAD NEWS BOTH FOR INDUSTRY AND AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMY. This segregation safeguards sensitive operational data from exposure to vulnerabilities that might exist in the more public-facing enterprise network.

Designing the protected, diverse solution

When selecting telecommunication partners to build the solution, mining and resources companies should prioritise providers who can support these extensive network diversity requirements. The ideal partner is one that offers a comprehensive suite of solutions – geographical route diversity, different technology platforms, network separation and a mature capability to work with other telcos to deliver carrier diversity.

THE VOCUS SATELLITE-STARLINK TERMINAL PROVIDES RELIABLE REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY.

o avoid technology failures, networks supporting mining operations need to be resilient and built for production optimisation. A mining network requires a robust foundation that withstands attacks from any angle and has inbuilt redundancy for worst-case scenarios. To achieve this, multilayered diversity is key. “We sometimes see organisations using a primary and secondary network link of the same technology type, from the same provider, running along the same physical cable path. That’s not a great idea,” Vocus chief executive enterprise and government Andrew Wildbood said. “If the links come from the same place and a backhoe goes through the cables, or even if the links use the same technology and an attacker targets that technology platform, that could result in a total outage. “Genuine multi-layered diversity involves different physical pathways to mitigate physical threats, varying types of tech to counter attacks aimed at specific tech, and links provided by multiple telcos to protect against any single company’s failure.” This multi-layered diversity ensures that even if one aspect is compromised, others remain functional, maintaining uninterrupted operations.

Divide and protect: The strategy of separation For mining traffic, the protection of site operations – both production efficiency and worker safety – is paramount. Ideally, the network that carries traffic between production machinery (including dispatch, telemetry and monitoring) is kept separate from the “enterprise” network – encompassing everyday communication tools like emails and calendars.

Vocus’ critical mission

Vocus’ broader network serves not just the mining sector but also other critical infrastructure domains across Federal and State Governments, energy producers, water utilities, hospitals and financial institutions. The essential nature of these sectors reinforces Vocus’ unique position in the market as a leading Australian provider of mission-critical services to organisations. AM

VOCUS IS A LEADING PROVIDER OF SPECIALIST FIBRE AND NETWORK SOLUTIONS TO THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY.

AUSTRALIANMINING 58 FEBRUARY 2024

VOCUS: A SPECIALIST IN CONNECTING AUSTRALIA’S MINING OPERATIONS Vocus is a leading specialist provider of fibre and network solutions, delivering the highest levels of security and reliability to Australian mining and resources companies. Vocus’ network includes more than 25,000km of strategic terrestrial and submarine fibre, Vocus Satellite – Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite connections and a proven ability to build new infrastructure on demand, on time and on budget. With intercity trunk routes using 400Gbps (gigabytes per second) technology between most Australian mainland capital cities, Vocus’ network can connect to many of Australia’s most valuable mining regions in Western Australia and through to Singapore on the company’s Darwin-JakartaSingapore cable system. Vocus is committed to upgrading the network to use 800Gbps technology and is regularly building network extensions, delivering ontime, on-budget projects in rugged and remote areas. Vocus’ network provides direct connectivity to essential locations without the need for stops at every small town and mobile tower, which protects network performance and stability. Separately, the telecommunications company operates a highly reliable access network with significant reach into regions and towns. This dual capability of providing express route intercapital network links coupled with a highavailability, high-bandwidth network extending from it, best positions Vocus for mining and resources.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: VOCUS

PROTECTING MINERS AND AUSTRALIA’S GDP

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EQUIPMENT

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: GEOGRAPHE

THE HIGH DEMAND FOR QUALITY WEAR PARTS GEOGRAPHE SUPPORTS MINING CLIENTS AROUND THE WORLD BY OPTIMISING MOBILE FLEET EFFICIENCIES WHILE MINIMISING OPERATIONAL COSTS THROUGH ITS ENHANCED PERFORMANCE PARTS AND SOLUTIONS.

hrough collaboration with Australian and international miners, Geographe addresses unique site challenges by innovating and enhancing OEM (original equipment manufacturer) components. “We listened closely to the concerns presented by mine sites and wanted to create a way of solving OEM-related supply and quality issues through the co-existent use of our enhanced performance (EP) parts and specialised tooling solutions,” Geographe project manager – international and business development Stuart Pernich told Australian Mining. Geographe’s global commitment has played a crucial role in enhancing mining operations in North-East Asia, Africa, and North and South America over the past 12 months. “What we have been experiencing, especially in the Americas, is incredibly high demand for parts to be of better quality, outperform the OEM by a substantial margin, be delivered in full and on time, and be of significantly better value,” Geographe senior vice president – sales and business development Andrew Lindsay told Australian Mining. “Geographe is helping by physically meeting with the stakeholders of the sites, listening closely to their challenges and concerns, and matching them with our EP solutions that are now being manufactured and warehoused

GEOGRAPHE’S ENHANCED PERFORMANCE RANGE MINIMISES OPERATIONAL COSTS.

in the Americas. This provides swift delivery of high-quality Australiandesigned solutions, addressing their needs effectively.” Geographe’s EP parts have also been instrumental in preventing premature equipment failure in North-East Asia, particularly the top hat bush, a custom solution engineered to enhance the original product design and strength of the thrust plate and bush arrangement in Hitachi excavators. This enhanced component provides extended durability and reduces machine downtime through its singlepiece design, ultimately extending equipment longevity. “A Tier-1 miner approached us 13 years ago reporting premature failure in the standalone bush and thrust plate in the EX3600,” Geographe international customer relationship manager Jansen Lie told Australian Mining. “Through our metallurgical analysis, we found that traditional OEM parts easily wear off due to the soft material. “We created the top hat bush by combining the bush and thrust plate into one and implementing grease grooving to provide superior lubrication. We have effectively eliminated the need for hot works when installing the part, reducing high-risk work and machine downtime.” While Geographe’s increasing international success has facilitated the establishment of new partnerships with international mine sites, the rising demand for local distribution locations has

prompted the company to further expand its strategic stock-holding locations. “We want international customers to feel completely supported, knowing that if they need a Geographe part or tool, that there is one nearby,” Pernich said. “Being able to supply our EP and specialised tooling range to our growing international customers enables them

AUSTRALIANMINING 60 FEBRUARY 2024

to optimise small and large OEM machinery to not only last longer, but also operate at peak efficiency by reducing both downtime and costs for clients.” Looking for a tailored solution to your mine site challenge? Partner with Geographe to optimise your mine operations. AM GEOGRAPHE’S ENHANCED PERFORMANCE LINE SOLVES OEM-RELATED SUPPLY AND QUALITY ISSUES.

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COMPANY PROFILE

CHASING GRADE IN CLONCURRY TRANSITION BELIEVES IT HAS TWO HIGH-GRADE MINES THAT COULD ENTER PRODUCTION WITHIN THREE YEARS.

ransition Resources has built itself a strong foothold of 1100km2 in the Cloncurry region of Queensland, with its Duck Creek and Highway projects turning heads for their high-grade multicommodity profiles. Driven by a business model that prioritises profitable copper over big copper, August 2023 saw Transition announce its maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for Duck Creek. After just four-and-a-half months of drilling, the company was able to identify 5.44 million tonnes of indicated and inferred resources, containing 78,734 tonnes of copper at a head grade of 1.45 per cent. With the ability to leverage existing infrastructure including adjacent road and rail, as well as nearby processing plants, Duck Creek requires minimal capital outlay to get these assets into production. “Phase one of our Duck Creek operation is to toll treat the copper ore,” Transition founder and managing director David Wilson told Australian Mining. “So we’re not looking at building a processing plant just yet – we’d rather get the ore straight into one of several underutilised mills in the region, such as Glencore’s Mount Isa concentrator.” In its nearby Highway gold project, Wilson believes the Transition team has made one of the most significant greenfield discoveries in the Cloncurry region in the last 30 years, with high-grade gold and a unique suite of critical metals. Transition anticipates releasing an MRE for Highway in early 2024, with internal estimates indicating the presence of over 100,000 ounces of shallow gold at a head grade of around 3.4 grams per tonne (g/t). In addition to gold, the critical metals being unearthed at this new regional-scale Highway mineral system include tungsten, high-value rare earth elements (REEs) such as xenotime-

hosted dysprosium and terbium (DyTb) and monazite-hosted neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), as well as cobalt. “We’ve only seriously drill-tested about one-and-a-half kilometres of our new Highway discovery,” Wilson said. “Based on drilling and assays, regional surface chemical vectors, geological observations and geophysics, all evidence is pointing to the discovery of a 21-kilometre long, previously unknown epithermal gold system. “Importantly, when you start thinking about epithermal gold, you have to start thinking about the presence of deeper porphyry systems. “So suddenly our brownfield copper system, with hundreds of previously overlooked small-scale surface copper workings that parallel the Highway system, has a potential link to a previously unknown epithermal gold system. “It’s a gamechanger for our Duck Creek tenements and the region more generally.” Examples of gold-rich drill intervals at Highway include 11m at 9.6g/t gold from 31m, and 18m at 5.8g/t gold from 43m. High-grade intervals include 4m at 23.2g/t gold from 33m and 3m at 28.9g/t gold from 36m. Notable tungsten drill intervals include 22m at 0.6 per cent tungsten trioxide (WO3) from 152m, including 8m at 1.6 per cent WO3, and 22m at 0.4 per cent WO3 from 83m. Stand-out REE intervals include 3m at 20,279 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxides and yttrium, including 4941ppm NdPr oxides and 188ppm DyTb oxides from 82m. Transition’s exploration successes can be put down to its five-year research and development (R&D) program which focused on finding new ways to target mineral discoveries. “Through our R&D, we’ve come up with an alternative mineral system model for the region,” Wilson said. “We’ve spent about $14 million on this so far. “Our new model is telling us to look for different metal suites, to use different

DIAMOND DRILLING CORE FROM THE DUCK CREEK PROJECT. AUSTRALIANMINING 62 FEBRUARY 2024

ALL IMAGESCOURTESY OF TRANSITION RESOURCES

AN ADVANCED PRIVATE EXPLORER HAS BEEN OPERATING LARGELY UNDER THE RADAR IN NORTH-WEST QUEENSLAND, WITH TWO NEW HIGH-GRADE MINES DUE TO ENTER PRODUCTION WITHIN THREE YEARS.

COMPANY PROFILE

geochemical vectoring and exploration methodologies, and to interpret geophysics with a new focus. “In late October 2022, we conducted our first commercial test of our R&D at the Duck Creek project – where many explorers have come and gone in the past – and in just over four months of drilling we established resources of more than five million tonnes at around one-and-ahalf per cent copper – and we have barely scratched the surface.” According to Wilson, of the 207 high-priority targets identified from new R&D-based modelling, Transition has drill tested just 20 targets and intersected high-grade copper at 16 of them. Ten of these are likely to support mining operations. “It’s an impressive hit rate in a brownfield area that’s been heavily explored already. In fact, it’s pretty spectacular,” Wilson said. “Given the number of prospects yet to be tested, and the fact the existing resources remain open, we’re confident that we’ve got a big copper project coming. “We also expect more greenfield discoveries – our team recently identified another potential gold discovery in the middle of nowhere, kilometres from the nearest historical workings. “First portable XRF results from the field are indicating high-grade gold and a host of indicator minerals

suggesting yet another epithermal gold discovery.” With an eye on a possible ASX listing in the third quarter of 2024, Transition is currently looking to raise $7 million in pre-IPO funding and says it would consider staying private for longer if the right investor came along. Wilson said a cornerstone investor that is attracted to Transition’s near-term production potential, who would help underpin the longer-term project upside, would be the ideal outcome from the pre-IPO process. “At Duck Creek we are basing Phase-1 planning on our early 2.4-million-tonne open pit resource, which is presenting a compelling revenue study,” Wilson said. “We believe this toll-treating resource will be closer to five million tonnes by the time we start mining, with some of the pre-IPO funds to be used for drilling expected to add to existing resources, as well as increasing confidence.” Longer term at Duck Creek, Transition is targeting upwards of 20 million tonnes in copper resources. At its Highway project, the company says it’s too early to be setting targets given the limited drilling to date, lack of historical prospects as a guide, and large scale of the identified new mineral system. “About 12 months after mining commences at Duck Creek, we aim to bring the first of the Highway gold

ROCK CHIP SAMPLES FROM TRANSITION’S HIGHWAY PROJECT. TRANSITION RESOURCES HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE A KEY PLAYER IN THE QUEENSLAND MINING INDUSTRY.

operations online which is expected to include a spectacular high-grade starter pit stage,” Wilson said. “After this, the potential upside is exciting to think about.”

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Duck Creek and Highway have the potential to create much-needed jobs and economic stimulus for the Cloncurry region, and deliver on the Queensland Government’s critical metals strategy. AM

THE BIG FOUR

ALL IMAGESCOURTESY OF VHM

COMPANY PROFILE

AERIAL OVER THE PROPOSED GOSCHEN MINE FOOTPRINT.

VHM IS SET TO PRODUCE THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT RARE EARTH ELEMENTS FOR AN ELECTRIFIED WORLD. AND THE COMPANY’S UPSIDE DOESN’T STOP THERE.

new Australian critical minerals province has been established in an unassuming mining state historically known for its gold production. Through the smarts of mining industry veterans Graham Howard and Don Runge, VHM – which listed on the ASX in early 2023 – has discovered a rich endowment of rare earths and mineral sands near Swan Hill in northwest Victoria. Given the purity of the Lake Boga granite that forms the basis of VHM’s Goschen project, the gangue minerals that typically attach to hard-rock rare earth ores have already been removed by ancient sea movements. This has enabled Goschen’s rare earths mineralisation to be concentrated into horizons no more than 30 metres in depth, to support conventional, low-cost mining and processing methods. Within this, Goschen will supply the ‘big four’ rare earths needed to create the permanent magnets that go into wind turbines and electric vehicles (EVs): neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium. If Goschen wasn’t de-risked enough, one can also consider the fact the project will have multiple revenue streams

through the parallel production of rare earth mixed concentrate (REMC) and zircon-titania heavy mineral concentrate (HMC), with sales of the HMC to cover upwards of 60 per cent of the rare earths’ operating costs when Goschen production commences. A hydrometallurgical circuit to produce a mixed rare earth carbonate (MREC) product is also in VHM’s plans for the Goschen operation. Pilotscale MREC test results have provided exceptional recoveries of 97 per cent neodymium–praseodymium, 92 per cent dysprosium and 94 per cent terbium. “If you look at our basket of rare earths, we’re attracting a lot of attention mainly because we have both heavy and light rare earth products,” recently appointed VHM executive director and interim chief executive officer (CEO) Ron Douglas told Australian Mining.

Douglas, who has had a distinguished career in the resources industry, including in senior project development roles at Newcrest, Rio Tinto, Orica and Ausenco, moved into the interim CEO role in mid-September 2023. For someone of Douglas’ renown to move into the top job at VHM is validation of the work the company’s pioneers have done to this point. “I came (to VHM) when approached because of what I saw in the asset,” Douglas said. “This is a great asset, and it is something that can make a big difference to VHM, Victoria and Australia when you look at the part we’ll play in the future.” As VHM restructured its board to support Goschen’s advancement from exploration to construction and mining, Ian Smith, former managing director and CEO of Newcrest and Orica, moved into a non-executive chair position.

“Companies go through cycles and often when you come to this transition point where you move from an explorer to a developer, you require different skills,” Douglas said. “I admire companies that recognise that they need different skills and go out and get them.” Douglas said that while the VHM board has been bolstered with additional expertise, the company hasn’t “lost the skills that got us to this point”. “We have retained the historical knowledge with Graham and Don taking on non-executive director roles,” Douglas said. “We now have what I consider to be a very strong board with the requisite skills. “What I’ve found since arriving at VHM is that we have very capable people. We’re a small company, but we’ve got the skills to develop this asset and we’ve now got the capability on the board.” VHM HOPES TO COMMENCE FIRST PRODUCTION IN 2025.

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COMPANY PROFILE

THE PLANNED PROJECT DESIGN FOR THE GOSCHEN PROJECT.

On November 20 2023, VHM’s Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Goschen project entered a 40-day public exhibition period, allowing members of the public to make submissions to Planning Panel Victoria (PPV) regarding the EES. Following the public exhibition period, a public hearing held by an independent inquiry and advisory committee (IAC) will advise Victoria’s Minister for Planning of the environmental effects of the Goschen project. A positive ministerial assessment of Goschen will enable VHM to apply for its relevant permits and mining licence, thereby informing the company’s final investment decision (FID) for the project.

If all goes according to plan, VHM will look to begin constructing Goschen in the second half of 2024, with first production to commence in 2025. Douglas said in the process of building its 4000-page EES, VHM has proactively prepared all the relevant project understanding and documentation to ensure it can respond to any community and regulatory concerns quickly and efficiently. “Goschen will involve probably the lowest-impact mining that can be done,” Douglas said. “With the help of gravity, we remove the topsoil and store it. We then pull out the small portion of mineral sands and rare earths – the orebody – and, after a period of time, we put the rest of the sands straight back in the hole. “The topsoil then gets reinstated and

DRILLING TAKES PLACE AT THE GOSCHEN PROJECT.

the farmer gets his farm back.” As Howard told Australian Resources & Investment in February 2023, “there’s no surface tailings, there’s no permanent waste dumps and there’s no visual scars”. “This process allows you to extract critical minerals such as the rare earths and rehab the ground as you go,” Howard said.

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“This is a really important segue on why we did it – we were looking at how we could mine in a sustainable manner in the future.” Neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium are four of the critical minerals listed on the Australian and United States critical minerals lists as enablers for an electrified future. AM

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INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

EMERGING LITHIUM PLAYERS AUSTRALIAN MINING SPOKE WITH TWO COMPANIES WHO COULD PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE LITHIUM HOPES.

s the world decarbonises, the global demand for critical minerals will soar. One of these critical minerals is lithium, which Australia is replete with through existing mines and abundant resources. According to the Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources 2022 report published by Geoscience Australia, the country’s known lithium resources ranked second globally, falling just short of Chile. But Australia’s lithium production was crowned number one, with the country responsible for producing 53 per cent of the world’s lithium supply in 2021. Global lithium growth and consumption has been driven by the demand for rechargeable batteries, not just for electronic devices but for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. And the growth doesn’t appear to be slowing down. The Grattan Institute expects lithium demand to grow by up to 41 times by 2040. And we are seeing how this is influencing Australia’s exploration sector. Despite lithium prices declining last year, Australia’s lithium sector is on the rise, with many exploration companies investing in the commodity’s future. One of these companies is Global Lithium Resources, which has come a long way since listing on the ASX in May 2021.

“We came to market with a single asset, our Marble Bar lithium project, and we now have two assets,” Global Lithium managing director Ron Mitchell told Australian Mining. Mitchell has more than 13 years’ experience in the lithium and battery metals industry, where he has held executive positions at Tianqi Lithium Corporation and Talison Lithium. Alongside his role at Global Lithium, Mitchell is also the inaugural chair of the London Metal Exchange Lithium and Cobalt Committee. Accompanying Marble Bar is Global Lithium’s second asset, the Manna lithium project, which has almost completed a 60,000m drilling program; the second major exploration campaign at the project. Global Lithium wholly owns both projects, giving it an upper-hand regarding the control and direction of its strategy. “The Marble Bar lithium project is based in the Pilbara region of WA, and it’s currently an 18-million-tonne resource grading at one per cent lithium oxide,” Mitchell said. “Our flagship project is the Manna lithium project in the eastern Goldfields, which has a current resource of 36 million tonnes at 1.13 per cent lithium oxide. “We’ve got a very significant exploration campaign underway at Manna and we expect that resource to continue growing moving forward.”

Aiming to complete Manna’s definitive feasibility study (DFS) in the second quarter of 2024, Global Lithium is also working towards a final investment decision this year. “We’re on track to receive key approvals including a native title mining agreement early next year, and the mining lease is expected to be granted soon after,” Mitchell said. “If all goes well, we’ll have our first production later in 2026. “This is a wonderful time to bring a new mine into production because the global demand for lithium is expected to accelerate really significantly from that point onwards.” There are many factors as to why Manna has emerged as a gamechanger for the Australian lithium sector, but Mitchell believes a key reason, aside from the tremendous geological prospectivity, is the project’s location. “The eastern Goldfields has some wonderful geology as far as lithium mineralisation is concerned,” he said. “The second advantage is the project’s proximity to Kalgoorlie. Kalgoorlie is one of the oldest mining cities in the world. “Historically, it’s a gold city but more recently, it’s becoming a hub for battery and energy transition metals, which is really important. With that mining history comes great expertise and service providers, contractors and drillers.

GLOBAL LITHIUM IS ADVANCING A 60,000M DRILLING PROGRAM AT THE MANNA PROJECT.

AUSTRALIANMINING 66 FEBRUARY 2024

“This is where Western Australia is very lucky because we are historically a resource-driven economy, and we have so much experience – technical, legal, commercial and operational – with regards to delivering mining projects.” With a prominent mining location and an advanced resource, it’s easy to understand why Global Lithium has caught the eye of many strategic partners – one being Mineral Resources (MinRes). In March 2022, Global Lithium announced that it had received firm commitments for a $29.9 million capital raising to underpin the acceleration of its exploration programs at Manna and Marble Bar. The funding was strongly supported by global institutions, including MinRes committing to invest $13.6 million for a five per cent interest in Global Lithium. “For every company, having strategic partners is important as it helps de-risk your project and helps market your company,” Mitchell said. “MinRes has been a wonderful partner for more than one-and-a-half years. They’ve been on our register as a strategic shareholder, and they have wonderful upstream lithium experience and expertise that we hope to leverage at the appropriate time.” Global Lithium also has Canmax as a strategic shareholder, which is one of China’s largest lithium chemical producers.

IMAGE: GLOBAL LITHIUM RESOURCES

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

IMAGE: GLOBAL LITHIUM RESOURCES

THE EASTERN GOLDFIELDS HAS SOME WONDERFUL GEOLOGY AS FAR AS LITHIUM MINERALISATION IS CONCERNED.”

“Canmax controls and operates about 130,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide conversion capacity at cutting-edge plants in China,” Mitchell said. “As most people know, China is the epicentre of lithium mineral processing in terms of conversion into chemicals. They’ve been doing this for many decades now and they have great experience and expertise. “It’s been good for us to have partners both on the upstream and downstream side of the business because both offer us complementary skills and experience. “In saying that, we’ve had many approaches from other potential strategic shareholders who are looking to be part of our future, so we’re in a very fortunate position. But it’s about choosing the right partner that offers more than just equity.” While Manna is Global Lithium’s flagship project, the company’s Marble Bar project is also progressing well. “At the moment, our Manna lithium project is the project that we are progressing by way of formal development, technical studies, metallurgy and advanced exploration,” Mitchell said. “Our Marble Bar project is a huge landholding, probably four times larger than Manna’s. There are also some additional lithium targets there that we’d like to explore. “What we’re looking to do is develop Manna first, then we’ll turn our attention to Marble Bar as we think

the value of Marble Bar will only increase over time as the lithium market develops. So there’s no rush to develop two projects at once.” While Global Lithium is well on its way to becoming a lithium miner, some mining companies have only just dipped their feet into the lithium sphere – one company being Flynn Gold. Predominately a gold explorer, Flynn Gold gained notice for its lithium potential about 18 months ago. “The company listed on the ASX in June 2021, with a portfolio of assets predominantly focused on chasing highgrade gold in Tasmania,” Flynn Gold managing director Neil Marston told Australian Mining. “That focus is still there; however, when we listed on the ASX, we had a small holding of tenure at Mount Dove in the Pilbara region as part of the prospectus. It was flagged that the company would try to increase its exposure to lithium at that time.” Since then, Flynn Gold has seen great success in securing land positions in the Lake Johnston and Mount Holland lithium mining areas in WA. In December 2023, the company announced an agreement giving it the option to acquire two lithium exploration licences at Parker Dome, 50km north of the Mount Holland mine in the Forrestania-Southern Cross greenstone belt in WA. “Those two tenements position us in the right geological corridor because

AUSTRALIANMINING 67 FEBRUARY 2024

FLYNN GOLD WILL PRIORITISE SOIL SAMPLING PROGRAMS AT ITS LAKE JOHNSTON AND FORRESTANIA PROJECTS.

IMAGE: FLYNN GOLD

THE MANNA LITHIUM PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE EASTERN GOLDFIELDS OF WA.

they’re situated directly over the top of the greenstones and where pegmatites were identified over a large area in historical drilling, but were never tested for lithium,” Marston said. “We’ve got a 12-month option on the tenements so we can’t waste time, but I’m confident that we’ll gain good results on those tenements. “We’ve recently seen new lithium discoveries in the Lake Johnston area, which were well received by the market. If we do make another discovery, it should also be well received.” The same day it announced the acquisition of the Parker Dome lithium

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK

Valley project is currently under construction, so WA is very much a growing source of lithium for the booming electric vehicles market. “When you stack it all up, WA is probably as good a place as any in the world to go looking for something like lithium.” As a new year begins, Mitchell is buoyed by the 2024 lithium outlook. “We’ve seen lithium pricing decline in 2023 following 2022’s all-time highs,”

Mitchell said. “I see demand in the medium and long term as being very strong and being more diversified. “At the moment, China is really the major player when it comes to downstream lithium production. But in the future, countries such as Japan, Korea, Europe, the US, Canada, India and Indonesia are going to be growing their battery production capability because the world is decarbonising.

FIRST PRODUCTION AT THE MANNA PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN 2026.

AUSTRALIANMINING 68 FEBRUARY 2024

“Carmakers are looking to produce electric cars as this is what the governments of the world and consumers are demanding. There’s no turning back to internal combustion engine technology in a meaningful way.” Marston echoed similar sentiments. “In 2024, I think the lithium sector will reward those who make any substantial discoveries, so why not have a crack at it?” AM IMAGE: GLOBAL LITHIUM RESOURCES

tenements, Flynn Gold launched a $2.4 million capital raise. “The capital raise will allow us to execute the next phase of work, including drilling,” Marston said. “The plan is to use those funds to advance things very quickly, and with a bit of luck, have some exploration success.” In December 2023, Flynn Gold commenced soil sampling at the Parker Dome tenements, which Marston said is now the company’s most advanced lithium project as far as permitting is concerned. In 2024, Flynn Gold will firstly prioritise soil sampling programs at its Lake Johnston and Forrestania projects, before embarking on a drill program. “We’ll roll through those soil sampling programs, then identify drilling targets, and we’ll get out there and conduct some first phase drilling,” Marston said. Flynn Gold also hopes to complete first-pass drilling at its Mount Dove lithium project in the near-term. Like Mitchell, Marston believes WA is the prominent jurisdiction for hardrock lithium. “In WA, we’ve got a very good regulatory framework and a State Government that’s very supportive of mining. We can get things done very quickly,” he said. “Covalent Lithium’s Mount Holland project will be commissioned next year, and Liontown Resources’ Kathleen

IMAGE: FLYNN GOLD

FLYNN GOLD HAS SEEN LITHIUM DISCOVERIES IN THE LAKE JOHNSTON AREA.

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AUSTRALIAN STEEL

A REVOLUTION IN AUSTRALIAN STEEL PROJECT IRON BOOMERANG WOULD SEE AUSTRALIA HARNESS ITS ABUNDANCE OF ORES TO BECOME A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL STEEL PRODUCER. IMAGE: PROJECT IRON BOOMERANG.

A VISUAL DEPICTION OF PROJECT IRON BOOMERANG.

PIB steelmaker research suggests that the resource-rich states would deliver iron ore at a rate of 64Mtpa, while coking coal and limestone primary deliveries would equal 60Mtpa. This equates to 124Mtpa of total ore deliveries as part of PIB’s first phase. There is a total of five phases planned. This would support the production of 44Mtpa of first-stage steel (comprising

slab, bloom billet and hot-rolled coil products) from the two steelmaking complexes combined, to be subsequently exported to international markets. And with global steel demand projected to increase by about 20 per cent from current levels by 2050, according to the World Steel Association, PIB’s additional supplies will be welcome news to emerging economies around the world. IMAGE: JOHN CARNEMOLLA

hile Australia is one of the biggest players in the global steelmaking industry, this is largely driven by the country’s supply of the necessary raw materials – iron ore and metallurgical coal – rather than actual production. That’s not to say Australia doesn’t produce steel on home soil, but the country’s level of production pales in comparison to the volumes produced by the likes of China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the EU. Understanding the strength of Australia’s iron ore and coking coal mining industries, Project Iron Boomerang (PIB) is looking to reconceptualise the country’s place in the global steelmaking market, driving more efficient and sustainable practices as a result. PIB would see scalable steelmaking complexes built near iron ore and coking coal mines in Newman, Western Australia, and Abbot Point, Queensland, respectively. A 3300km railway line would be built between the WA and Queensland 22-million-tonne-perannum (Mtpa) steelmaking complexes to ensure the requisite supplies of each commodity (along with limestone) reach their destination.

PROJECT IRON BOOMERANG WOULD SEE 44 MILLION TONNES OF FIRST-STAGE AUSTRALIAN-PRODUCED STEEL EXPORTED TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS PER ANNUM.

AUSTRALIANMINING 70 FEBRUARY 2024

PIB founder and managing director Shane Condon said Australia “has a responsibility” to get this project off the ground. “Australia should do this for the world, not just for itself,” Condon told Australian Mining. “We’re blessed with the two primary steelmaking ores, metallurgical coal and iron ore, and we should be using these ores to produce steel on home soil, making global steels more sustainable and cost effective.” In building a “continental railway line”, Condon said PIB would not only support the delivery of iron ore and coking coal across Australia but also unlock other industries that rely on transportation to the coast. “The railway line will not only connect two of the world’s most modern fully automated steel processing centres, but it will also support the transportation of other commodities, including cement, fertiliser and mine explosives,” Condon said. “We expect 300 to 400 new mines to develop within a 500-kilometre north– south radius of the railway line; that’s a belt 1000 kilometres wide. And we can build spur lines to support any large mines located adjacent to this area. “At the moment, mines in remote Western Australia are driving SOP (sulphate of potash) trucks nearly 1000 kilometres to Wyndham (on the northeast WA coast) and coming back empty.” Condon said PIB would ensure that no train carries an empty load, with

AUSTRALIAN STEEL

trains that reach Abbot Point with a load of iron ore transporting coking coal and limestone on their way back to Newman. The same goes for PIB’s ships delivering Australian-produced steel to international markets, with 50 proposed 100,000-tonne-capacity ships to carry steel north and transport containers back to Australia on their return trip. Condon called them “dual-purpose slab steel and container ships”. “The ship is about 40 per cent of the economics but 83 per cent of Australian containers per annum are exported empty,” Condon said.

IMAGE: EDWARD HAYLAN

PROJECT IRON BOOMERANG HAS THE POTENTIAL TO UNLOCK STRANDED IRON ORE DEPOSITS IN THE EAST PILBARA REGION OF WA.

“Our ship is going to change those dynamics and it will have a full payload each way.” PIB rail director, and former BHP rail vice president, Mike Darby joined the project six months ago. He was impressed by the scope of the solution. “I joined PIB because every time I thought about the project and the different phases of the project, it got a tick,” Darby told Australian Mining. “From the mine to the rail to the blast furnaces (in the steel complexes) to the port and to the end user, it’s all fully integrated.

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and Transport References (RRAT) Committee for inquiry. The project is asking the Federal, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australian governments to contribute 0.35 per cent of the $70 billion cost to get it off the ground. PIB forecasts $US745 billion ($1.13 trillion) per annum of economic benefit will be realised between 2032 and 2035 if the project comes to fruition, with Australia to not only benefit from global steel sales but also the commercialisation of new mines, mine extensions, and rail and maritime infrastructure. AM

“One of the key attributes of the project is the shared resources. We have five steel mills that are sharing an iron ore stockpile, they’re sharing water supply, and they’re sharing power supply, which drives significant cost reductions.” PIB is expected to produce steel at a price up to 20 per cent below China’s benchmark price. While the project requires $70 billion of investment, construction is expected to create 50,000 jobs, with a further 35,000 jobs to be sustained by its operation. PIB was recently referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs

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AUSTRALIANMINING 71 FEBRUARY 2024

BRAKE SOLUTIONS

DRIVING DOWN BRAKE DOWNTIME JOHNSON INDUSTRIES HAS THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY’S BRAKING NEEDS COVERED. ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: JOHNSON INDUSTRIES

s one of the leading global suppliers of industrial brakes, Johnson Industries knows what it takes to bring the mining sector’s biggest equipment to a stop. Johnson brakes are fitted to semiautogenous (SAG) and ball mills at some of the world’s largest mining operations, including copper, gold and iron ore mines in countries such as Australia, Chile, Mongolia, Indonesia and the US. “We aim to optimise our brakes as much as possible,” Johnson head of sales Gil Sondraal told Australian Mining. “Whether that be a feature like double seals or a drain port, our mission is to make the product last as long as possible for the customer. “We always say if we can make a break that requires no maintenance – that’s the optimal brake. And when we do need to do maintenance, we prioritise minimising downtime.” Johnson’s mill lever brakes feature spring force compensation with a toggle link mechanism which allows for automatic wear adjustment within the working stroke range of the brake actuator. “This maintains the required clamping force and torque regardless of the air gap, reducing intervals between brake adjustments,” Sondraal said. “Direct acting brakes need to maintain their air gap to keep their torque rating. Air gaps are normally very small to achieve their clamping force, which results in premature lining wear as the flange moves due to run out and thermal growth of the mill.” Johnson’s lower operating pressures enhance and prolong the seal and component life by allowing the use of standard hydraulic components and valves. “The system is safer to operate, and leaks are less likely to occur,” Sondraal said. “Our brake release pressure is about 110 bar, which is about half the pressure of direct acting brakes.” With a fewer number of actuators per mill, the need for actuator plumbing is reduced, decreasing the overall potential for leakage points. This means less maintenance and adjustment, less often. Direct acting brakes rely on float which increases wear and heightens the risk of downtime from material leakage from liner bolts. With Johnson toggle levers forcing air gaps at both shoes, two drain lines at each actuator collect any minor oil leak,

JOHNSON BRAKES HAVE THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY COVERED WHEN IT NEEDS IT MOST.

CHOOSING JOHNSON INDUSTRIES FOR HEAVY BRAKING SOLUTIONS MEANS CHOOSING LESS MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT, LESS OFTEN.

keeping the system and linings clean and operations running smoothly. As an extra efficiency measure, lever pins rotate in needle bearings with wiper seals to minimise friction and the need for servicing. “Our TL Series toggle lever brakes are the largest known spring-applied, hydraulic-released caliper brakes in

the world,” Sondraal said. “They are particularly well-suited to accommodate very high braking torque requirements in the harshest mining environments.” Johnson toggle lever brakes use a stackable design, which allows up to four calipers to be mounted in a common frame. From there, a constant braking torque is achieved through

the unique toggle mechanism’s spring force compensation. The caliper’s shoes are attached with stainless steel pins that incorporate countersunk lubricating holes, tapped pinpulling holes and a pin retention groove. The system is then powered by a hydraulic unit which incorporates a manifold fitted with two D10 valves to accommodate brake set, creeping and inching modes. Johnson TL brakes are ideal for SAG mills and rock crushers, powered and controlled by Johnson’s three-mode hydraulic power units, which allow for set, creeping and inching capabilities. “Johnson TL brakes together with a conveyor hydraulic unit that requires high torque braking makes for a powerful combination,” Sondraal said. “We recently fitted out an 8000-tonneper-hour, 1402m belt with a drop over 259m with great success.” Adaptability in the face of a challenge comes naturally to Johnson Industries, bolstered by decades of experience and a refined offering of mill and toggle brakes primed to meet the needs of any challenge. According to Sondraal, the choice is obvious: “We’re a one-stop shop for the best conveyor brake solution.” AM

AUSTRALIANMINING 72 FEBRUARY 2024

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EQUIPMENT

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ocated in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales, Bengalla Mining Company supplies thermal coal to markets across the world. “Bengalla needed additional capacity to meet our future overburden movement requirements and assessed the market of large excavators to identify the best machine for our needs,” Bengalla general manager Cam Halfpenny said. “We examined safety, performance, the match with truck fleet, maintenance, capital and operating costs through the life cycle of the machine, reliability and structural integrity along with operability to support our ability to supply thermal coal to our customers across the globe. “The Liebherr R 9800 best met our needs.” Bengalla maintenance capital, projects and services superintendent Benjamin King told Liebherr more about the company’s journey to find the perfect machine. “Bengalla has been on an acquisition journey with the R 9800 for almost three years with Liebherr and we have been happy with the transparency that the Liebherr team has shown,” King said. “Bengalla, being new to Liebherr products, has had plenty of questions and by working together we have been able to have these addressed.” Teamwork was a vital component in supporting Bengalla and delivering the R 9800 to site, and both companies came away with a sense of pride in what they achieved together.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: LIEBHERR

WHEN BENGALLA MINING COMPANY TOOK DELIVERY OF A LIEBHERR R 9800 EXCAVATOR IN AUGUST 2023, IT MARKED THE BEGINNING OF AN EXCITING BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP. BENGALLA LANDED ON THE R 9800 AFTER CAREFULLY CONSIDERING ITS SUITABILITY.

“We are incredibly proud of the collaboration and collective team effort that was put into the planning and subsequent delivery of the first piece of Liebherr mining equipment for Bengalla,” Liebherr-Australia service manager Daniel Simone said.

THE R 9800 WAS THE FIRST ULTRA-CLASS EXCAVATOR TO JOIN THE RANKS AT BENGALLA.

The newly delivered R 9800 was the first ultra-class excavator to join the ranks at Bengalla. Designed to thrive in even the most challenging mining conditions, the R 9800 offers operators first-class reliability and performance. Of course, this has also the added benefit of assisting Bengalla to reach its productivity goals. “It’s been great to see both the Bengalla and Liebherr teams come together and pull off the 10-week onsite build and watch the machine go to work,” King said. “It has been a highlight of my 20year career in mining to see the R 9800 in the dirt. This is the second biggest investment in heavy mobile equipment over the life of Bengalla to date.” To get the most out of its Liebherr equipment, Bengalla also invested in an Immersive simulator for the R 9800 cab. This software provides training opportunities such as hazard avoidance, engine management, site safety procedures, and operator productivity. The simulator includes a replica of the R 9800 cab, complete with Liebherr

AUSTRALIANMINING 74 FEBRUARY 2024

controls and instruments like the cab’s control panel and joystick. Training operators with this simulator help increase productivity and on-site safety, while reducing costs and instances of unscheduled maintenance. The R 9800 is also supported by Liebherr’s modular maintenance service, which leverages Liebherr’s philosophy of machine design. This means different modules of the R 9800 can be removed in the event they need servicing, reducing equipment downtime and helping operators minimise risk during maintenance processes. With so much versatility, strength and production power packed into one machine, it’s not hard to understand why the Bengalla team has enjoyed the R 9800 so much, and why it’s looking to a future with more Liebherr machines. “This R 9800 sets a firm foundation for a bright future between Liebherr and Bengalla built on trust, innovation and strong customer support,” Simone said. “We are also excited to work with Bengalla on the delivery of a new R 9600 in early 2024 and can’t wait to see what else the future holds.” AM

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EQUIPMENT

TRANSFORMING FLOWSHEETS WITH INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES WEIR CHIEF STRATEGY AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER PAULA COUSINS SPOKE AT COP28 ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF HARNESSING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO MAKE MINING MORE SUSTAINABLE. Transformational technologies

Comminution equipment doesn’t operate in a vacuum; it’s part of a wider and deeply interlinked mineral processing plant where the comminution circuit’s overall performance significantly influences mineral recovery. This means that a holistic review of the overall circuit – from rock to recovery – is required. These circuits are prone to increased feed variability, which requires the right combination of size reduction and classification equipment to minimise the fluctuation in product quality, as this enables greater efficiencies in the recovery circuit. “Enduron HPGRs can adapt to changing feeding conditions instantly because the roll speed and grinding force

can be changed while in operation,” Weir Minerals global product manager Enduron HPGR and vertical stirred mills Bjorn Dierx said. “As a result, the most effective, minimal-stress-intensity force is applied to the particles to ensure they break at the given throughput rate.” The STM mill has a vertical mill chamber, with grinding rotors (discs with castellations) installed on the central mill shaft. The feed is a slurry, pumped through the bottom of the mill and discharging from top. The mill chamber is filled with ceramic grinding media to approximately 60 per cent of its volume. The grinding media bed moves only in the horizontal plane, which ensures energy isn’t wasted. The vertical mill arrangement, combined with

BY ADOPTING A SYSTEMS-BASED APPROACH TO TECHNOLOGY COLLABORATIONS, WE CAN HELP THE MINING INDUSTRY SCALE UP AND CLEAN UP AT THE SAME TIME.”

bottom feed entry and top discharge, ensures coarse particles don’t shortcircuit the mill. “The grinding circuit that delivers the highest recovery and the lowest possible energy consumption is achieved by combining these two proven technologies,” Dierx said. “The Enduron HPGR prepares the feed for the two-stage STM vertical stirred mill grinding concept. “This grinding circuit is followed by Eriez’s HydroFloat CPF technology, which allows the use of a coarser, rougher grind size, delivering the operator additional reductions in grinding energy requirements.” The recovery or efficiency of conventional flotation is strongly related to the particle size of the ore. “Eriez’s HydroFloat CPF represents a major step forward in terms of recovery by extending flotation efficiency over a size range that is two to three times greater than conventional flotation machines’ limit,” Dierx said. AM IMAGE: WEIR

n a COP28 panel discussion hosted by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan and moderated by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), Weir chief strategy and sustainability officer Paula Cousins discussed a recent study exploring the opportunities of reducing energy use and emissions in comminution. The study is the first to utilise the WBCSD’s Avoided Emissions Guidance to examine mining processes, and the results have been independently assured by SLR Consulting Limited. Three of Weir’s technology combinations were evaluated against a conventional comminution circuit design for an archetypal mine processing 15 million tonnes of copper ore per year in Chile. Each circuit was based on a ‘rock-to-recovery’ system boundary; that is, reducing rock direct from the mine to a size that enables the mineral to be recovered. The four configurations: • Conventional comminution circuit based on a semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) mill and ball mill • Weir’s Enduron high-pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) replacing the SAG mill at the initial grinding stage • Enduron HPGR, plus Swiss Tower Mills’ (STM) vertical stirred mill replacing the ball mill • Addition of a Eriez’s HydroFloat coarse particle flotation (CPF) unit The study shows that replacing conventional technology with innovative new solutions can cut energy use by 40 per cent, while also avoiding 50 per cent of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions. The world needs more transition metals to achieve net-zero, but the mining industry needs to extract these using significantly less energy and water, according to Cousins. “Our new, externally assured study highlights the potential for energy savings of 40 per cent and for 50 per cent of CO2e emissions to be avoided in comminution, the most energy intensive stage of mining processes,” she said. “By adopting a systems-based approach to technology collaborations, we can help the mining industry scale up and clean up at the same time.”

PAULA COUSINS, WEIR CHIEF STRATEGY AND SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER (CENTRE), IN A PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE COP28 UAE JAPAN PAVILION SEMINAR IN DUBAI.

AUSTRALIANMINING 77 FEBRUARY 2024

AUTONOMOUS MINING

HARBINGERS OF AUTOMATION A NEW ERA OF INNOVATION HAS TAKEN HOLD OF THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY. AND IT’S ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED.

Hexagon autonomous road trains

While Mineral Resources (MinRes) adopted Hexagon’s autonomous road train solution technology for its Onslow iron ore mine in the Pilbara, the miner has also set its sights on commercialising the offering for its Tier-1 customer base in the future.

The Hexagon and MinRes partnership hit the ground running in 2021 when the companies committed to developing the world’s first fully autonomous road train technology. The road trains harness Hexagon’s technological ability and MinRes’ operational knowledge into one sound solution. Since then, MinRes has announced Hexagon is set to supply 120 autonomous road trains to the Onslow project by mid-2024, with plans to ship 35 million tonnes of iron ore per year. “The narrative has changed what autonomy means to mining,” Hexagon’s mining division chief technology officer Robert Daw told Australian Mining. “It’s not about replacing people; it’s about removing them from dangerous areas and utilising their skills elsewhere.” The road trains use drive-by-wire technology which involves replacing mechanical linkages that control driving functions with electromechanical systems. From there, an autonomous management system orchestrates movement by a team of operators at the central operating centre in Onslow. With safety at the forefront of the operation, MinRes developed an AIpowered monitoring system to maintain checks and balances on the project. Hexagon vice president Simon Stone said the road trains are shaking

AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGIES ARE BECOMING MORE INTELLIGENT AND INSPIRED.

up the industry, describing them as a “disruptive innovation”. “It actually changes the economics of mining,” Stone told Australian Mining at IMARC 2023. “It takes these mineral resources that were uneconomic and converts them to reserves by rethinking how we do bulk movement.” As the mining industry steps up to the plate to meet the needs of net-zero targets, it’s clear a ramp up in mineral and metal production is going to mean the difference in the long haul.

AUSTRALIANMINING 78 FEBRUARY 2024

IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/LITTLEWOLF1989

utonomous mining has made leaps and bounds in the past few years, but what is it? And what does it mean for the future of mining? Not to be confused with automation, autonomation uses intelligent technology to do the heavy lifting, while workers make decisions from the safety of the control room. It’s all about upping efficiency while keeping workers safe from the most hazardous aspects of mining. Autonomation is certainly not new to the mining industry, but the scale of its rollout in the past few years has been unmatched. With all the majors throwing their hats into the ring, BHP, Rio Tinto, and Newmont are just a few of the big hitters incorporating the technology into their operations. Australian Mining spotlights three autonomous solutions that are turning heads across the local mining sector.

IMAGE: MINERAL RESOURCES

THE WORLD’S FIRST FULLY AUTONOMOUS ROAD TRAINS FROM HEXAGON WERE DEVELOPED FOR MINRES’ ONSLOW IRON PROJECT.

“It’s not taking an existing thing and making it more efficient,” Stone said. “It’s actually opening up the pot of material we can mine in this country and get to market. “The solution adds a lot of iron ore that we can address economically without spending huge amounts of capital.” Stone said Hexagon’s autonomous road trains are the result of its legacy of mining technology innovation.

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK/ A R TURNER

AUTONOMOUS MINING

challenge: remote stretches of road with zero communications. “What we do to achieve an autonomous vehicle is put our collision avoidance system on the truck and combine it with our industrial computer processing capability,” Stone said. “That becomes the brain. “With our autonomous decisionmaking capability on the truck we don’t need to communicate back to base to orchestrate vehicles. They can see each other and have enough intelligence en route to know how to interact with each other.” AUTONOMOUS SOLUTIONS ARE PAVING THE FUTURE OF MINING.

HEXAGON AND CATERPILLAR ARE JUST TWO OF THE OEMS DEPLOYING AUTONOMOUS OFFERINGS IN THE MINING SECTOR.

“We’re bringing our expertise in road vehicle autonomy to a different kind of problem,” he said. A trailblazer in the mining technology space, Hexagon is renowned for its collision avoidance (CAS) and operator alertness systems (OAS). The company took out the Mine Project Success of the Year and Excellence in IIoT Application awards at the 2023 Prospect Awards for its HxGN OAS solution, which was a roaring success at MMG’s Rosebery base metals mine in

Tasmania, where it was deployed on 11 underground mining trucks. Much the same way Hexagon’s CAS solution uses sensors placed strategically on the vehicle to alert operators to potential hazards, OAS uses sensors to detect markers of distraction and fatigue and alerts operators and supervisors so they can take immediate action. The technologies deployed on the autonomous road trains follow a natural progression from the rest of Hexagon’s offerings but tackle an entirely different AUSTRALIANMINING 79 FEBRUARY 2024

This ability to continue operating without communications is something that distinguishes Hexagon as an innovator in the autonomous space. “Hexagon will evolve from being focused on operational performance and safety to having a very strong autonomy thread,” Stone said. “The journey to autonomy is achieved by layering different elements of our existing technology and making them more intelligent as we need to grow. “It’s good for mining companies, it’s good for us, and it’s good for the Australian economy.” IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/MAXSAFANIUK

IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/IEVGEN SKRYPKO

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AUTONOMOUS MINING

CAT MineStar

Another rising star to watch as autonomation kicks off across the country is mining manufacturing giant Caterpillar (CAT), with the OEM developing a holistic autonomous solution called MineStar. In the few years MineStar has been servicing the sector, the technology has been at the forefront of keeping up with the demands of an industry on the precipice of a critical minerals boom. The system works by integrating drilling and hauling into one synergetic system capable of communicating and problem solving. The trucks utilise real-time ore tracking through sensors which are then used to build accurate assessments of ground conditions aided by datainformed modelling from the drills. Rio Tinto was the first to deploy CAT’s 793 zero-emission autonomous haul trucks on its Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in Western Australia. Touted as Rio’s most technologically advanced mine, Gudai-Darri boasts a suite of autonomous trucks and drills thanks to CAT. Not only involved in Rio’s direct mining operations, CAT also supplied

autonomous water carts for dust suppression with digital tracking to reduce water waste. Mining services company Thiess has also held a strong partnership with CAT on its autonomous journey. Thiess’ Lake Vermont operations in Queensland soared past 10 million banked cubic metres moved semiautonomously in November last year, a feat pulled off by using six CAT D11 dozers with semi-autonomous tractor systems. Thiess has also worked with Pembroke Resources to implement fully autonomous drilling and hauling operations at the Olive Downs complex in Queensland. The site boasts 21 haul trucks and three drills kitted out with CAT’s MineStar Command, with the combination of autonomous hauling and drilling lauded as a world first. At full capacity, the Olive Downs complex is expected to operate 15 autonomous Cat 794 AC trucks, six autonomous Cat 793F trucks and three autonomous Cat MD6310 drills. “With a dedication to achieving cleaner, more energy-efficient operations, Thiess, in collaboration with

Hastings Deering and Caterpillar, is an ideal partner for Pembroke Resources as we seek to lower emissions,” Pembroke Resources chief executive officer Barry Tudor said. “This achievement is a major step towards the goals of a sustainable autonomous mining solution and builds on our already strong environmental practices.”

Aquila mine – Anglo American

Anglo American’s Aquila metallurgical coal mine in Queensland hosts fully remote capable longwalls, controlled from its site-based remote operations centre (ROC) on the surface of the mine. Celebrated with the Outstanding Mine Performance award at last year’s Prospect Awards, Aquila was reopened in 2022 with the aim to surpass five million tonnes of production in 2023. Aquila’s autonomous longwalls have enabled the mine to be able to reduce operational exposure by 15,000 hours annually. “Currently achieving 100 per cent of remote-operated longwall shears per week from its ROC, the mine boasts

IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/YOURAPECHKIN

ANGLO AMERICAN’S AUTONOMOUS LONGWALL AT AQUILA REDUCES 15,000 HOURS OF EXPOSURE A YEAR.

an industry-first suite of automation systems and an intricate camera network,” Aquila general manager Shane McDowall said. “These components harmonise seamlessly to guide coal cutting with unparalleled precision and efficiency. “This strategic move eliminates the need for human presence in hazardous environments, marking a significant step toward minimising potential exposure.” Like Hexagon, Anglo American found diversification was key to achieving successful autonomous operations. The company integrated its suite of systems with an intricate network of strategic cameras, enabling a holistic approach. It’s clear that though autonomation is becoming the name of the game across the board as major miners look to optimise on safety and efficiency, there are a myriad of ways to get there. As more technologies emerge and new operational combinations are trialled, the industry will continue to take strides into a new autonomous era. It’s an exciting time to watch the future unfold. AM

AUSTRALIANMINING 80 FEBRUARY 2024

ESG

REDUCING RISK THROUGH CO-MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIAN MINING COMPANIES ARE EMBRACING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE LANDS ON WHICH THEY OPERATE.

lasts happen all the time in the mining sector – they’re a very common site across the industry. But when Rio Tinto

IMAGE: JARDEN GROUP

conducted a blast as part of its extension of the Brockman 4 iron ore mine in Western Australia in May 2020, a devastating error was made. The blast destroyed Aboriginal heritage sites at Juukan Gorge in the Hamersley Range in the Pilbara, including two culturally significant rock shelters. The incident occurred despite the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura (PKKP) Traditional Owners repeatedly stating that the site should be protected. The PKKP people learned of the planned blast weeks prior and issued an urgent request to halt detonation, but the millennia-old rock shelters were destroyed on May 24, igniting outcry. “The PKKP people were devastated by Rio Tinto’s destruction of Juukan Gorge,” Michaela Jamison, head of ESG (environmental, social and governance) research at Jarden, an investment and advisory group, told Australian Mining. “The event was highly concerning for Rio Tinto’s shareholders, showing that large investors in Australia care about mining companies having respectful relationships with Traditional Owners.” Since the Juukan Gorge incident, Rio Tinto and other major miners operating in Australia have worked to improve their relationships with Traditional Owners, working towards the comanagement of mines.

Jarden defines co-management as a Traditional Owner-led initiative that acts as a framework for mining companies and Traditional Owners to work together and collaborate in exploration, planning, closure and rehabilitation. It sets out expectations and responsibilities for all project stages so mining companies have social licence to operate, and ensures that significant sites are protected. To help mining companies understand and evaluate their ESG credentials, Jamison and Jarden ESG analyst Madeline Thompson collaborated to produce research on mining companies listed on the ASX. “It’s not easy to measure the strength of relationships and therefore exposure to potential risks and opportunities,” Jamison said. “This is something we look to shed light on as our research evolves.” One of Jarden’s papers, ‘What is FPIC and why is it so important for Australian mining and oil and gas companies?’, discusses the principle of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and its significance. “Although not legally binding, FPIC is a principle that’s protected by international human rights standards and refers to the right of indigenous peoples to consent to developments that affect them and their lands, on a free and informed basis,” Jamison said. “The mining boom presents an opportunity for Traditional Owners in Australia through royalties but also elevated risk in ensuring their culture

MICHAELA JAMISON HAS BEEN JARDEN’S HEAD OF ESG RESEARCH FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.

and heritage is protected, which inspired us to start researching these topics.” The piece was originally published in June 2023, after Jamison and Thompson visited several mine sites in WA and met with the Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation. Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation currently holds native title agreements with Liontown Resources for its Kathleen Valley lithium project and gold miner Bellevue Gold for its Bellevue gold project, both in WA. Liontown’s native title agreement was actioned in 2021, following a two-year active engagement process with Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation. As a result, extensive areas of land on Kathleen Valley tenements have been labelled as exclusion zones that cannot be entered into by Liontown without the Tjiwarl people’s express consent. The mine was also re-engineered from a 13-hectare open pit to a threehectare underground mine to protect the culturally significant Mount Mann site. In 2022, the Tjiwarl Traditional Owners signed a native title agreement with Bellevue. Both entities then worked together to ensure cultural and heritage considerations were included in the Bellevue gold project’s fundamental surface design and layout, protecting sensitive areas and developing a codesigned cultural heritage management plan to manage future activities. Thanks to the agreement, there is now extensive mapping and signage of the mine, with posts marking protected areas on site that cannot be accessed by Bellevue. The process involved extensive community consultation and gave many the Tjiwarl Traditional Owners the opportunity to visit Country, engage with the Bellevue team and review the proposed project layouts and designs. Over 100 Tjiwarl members were involved on-site. “FPIC is the bedrock of social licence and it can de-risk developments,” Jamison said. “Co-management is an emerging framework for FPIC. “Traditional Owner interests will be an enduring focus for Jarden as we follow the development of co-management models and their next steps, following the repeal of the WA Government’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 and

AUSTRALIANMINING 82 FEBRUARY 2024

whether the Federal Government steps in to develop legislation.” In August 2023, the WA Government announced that it would restore the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 – with key amendments – a month after the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 came into effect. The decision to revert to the 1972 Act came after mining industry leaders, farmers and community members found the new legislation to be confusing and complicated. Under the 2021 legislation, WA landowners would have been required to check if cultural heritage sites were present on the land before undertaking activity that may have compromised the sites. Following public workshops, education sessions, and consultation with key stakeholders, the WA Government included the following amendments to the reinstated 1972 bill: • The newly formed Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Council will take on the role of the committee that was established under the 1972 Act to make ministerial recommendations • Proponents and Native Title parties will have the same right of review for Section 18 (the part of the Act stating the minister must provide approval for every

IMAGE: LIONTOWN RESOURCES

LIONTOWN’S NATIVE TITLE AGREEMENT WAS ACTIONED IN 2021, FOLLOWING A TWO-YEAR ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.

IMAGE: BELLEVUE GOLD

ESG

BELLEVUE GOLD AND THE TJIWARL ABORIGINAL CORPORATION SHARE A NATIVE TITLE AGREEMENT.

action undertaken at the site) decisions, with clear timelines and an ability for the Premier to call-in a decision of ‘state significance’, to act in the interests of all Western Australians • When a Section 18 has been approved, it is a requirement for the owner to notify the minister of any new information about an Aboriginal site, which intends to help prevent another Juukan Gorge incident “The recent WA Government decision to repeal the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021 shortly after its introduction and bring back the pre-existing Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 reinforces the importance of comanagement,” Jamison said. “When achieved, co-management agreements between Traditional Owner Aboriginal councils and mining companies would be best practice management of Country and provide better protection for Traditional Owners than legislation. “In first-of-their-kind agreements, PKKP has been working with Rio Tinto to draft a co-management agreement since 2022 and PKKP signed a memorandum of understanding with Fortescue this year to guide the development of a comanagement model.”

Despite mining companies making a greater effort to work with Traditional Owners – a key part of the social aspect of ESG – having a greater appreciation for the concerns and requests of Traditional Owners and giving them greater power is a relatively new concept. Put simply, there is still a long way to go. “While larger ASX-listed mining companies are increasingly communicating the importance of FPIC and respect for Traditional Owner heritage and concerns, understanding the relationships between mining companies and Traditional Owner groups is not easily done,” Jamison said. “Junior miners are not as wellresourced and may revert to relying on the 1972 Act, which presents a risk to cultural heritage. “Co-management agreements place more power and voice with Traditional Owners, which may see better outcomes for all stakeholders.” Jarden believes Traditional Owner Aboriginal corporations should be viewed as equals to mining companies during negotiations. “We would like to see leadership from mining companies’ boards and executives in negotiations, setting the tone for respecting Traditional Owner

interests, particularly the right to say no around the protection of heritage,” Jamison said. “While it is positive to see the early moves from Rio Tinto and Fortescue in supporting and working with PKKP to form their comanagement agreements, we would like to see other companies follow.” Rare earths explorer Hastings Technology Metals has been engaging with Traditional Owners on an ongoing basis since November 2017. In a landmark moment, October 2023 saw Hastings and the ThiinMah Warriyangka Tharrkari Jiwarli (TMWTJ) Traditional Owners reaffirm their commitment to developing the Yangibana rare earths project in WA together. “Hastings has taken the time to listen to us and has also made time to better understand our cultural practices,” TMWTJ senior elder Peter Salmon said. “Hastings have also made time and effort into taking care of our country. I am happy with the way the project is progressing.” Hastings executive chair Charles Lew said the company was proud of the open and transparent relationship it shares with the TMWTJ people. “By engaging early with our Traditional Owners, we have been able to co-design and develop the project

AUSTRALIANMINING 83 FEBRUARY 2024

with cultural considerations in mind and to protect important heritage sites,” he said. “I would like to acknowledge all the members of the implementation committee for their hard work and together we look forward to developing the Yangibana project, which will deliver jobs, training and business opportunities for the TMWTJ people.” It is no revelation to say that the Australian mining industry has seen great changes over the past few years, especially through the increased global demand for critical minerals needed for the energy transition. But for the transition to succeed, strong relationships between Traditional Owners and mining companies are required. “We hope that mining companies can see the opportunity here to reduce risk for Traditional Owners,” Jamison said. “Traditional Owners being involved early in the process, such as from the exploration phase, means they can point out elements of cultural significance that need to be avoided or designed around. “Using a co-management agreement or bringing Traditional Owners in early as equity investors are two ways that can help achieve this, as well as the ability to obtain FPIC and to ultimately de-risk projects.” AM

INDUSTRY EVENTS

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN RESOURCES workplace culture in a transparent way. The winner of the QRC Exceptional Woman in Queensland Resources category at the 2023 Women in Resources Awards, Cooper is passionate about creating an equal and safe environment to allow people to achieve their full potential. “Positive change together really starts with recognising the systems that are holding women back, and being brave enough to disrupt them,” Cooper said. “When you can’t do that, just find the next right thing to do.”

RIO TINTO GLOBAL HEAD OF EQUITY INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY MEL COOPER.

Dr Elham Hosseinzadehsabeti

usIMM is not accustomed to doing things by halves. It’s for that reason that as the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8, AusIMM will be at the tail end of a week-long celebration for women in the resources sector. Inspirational celebratory lunches will be held from February 29 – March 8 in Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth. The 2024 IWD Event Series will centre around a new theme: Driving positive change together. This theme signifies the power of collaboration and the importance of coming together to address challenges and share initiatives to support a more inclusive sector for all resource industry professionals. Adding to the significance of this year’s IWD Event Series, three outstanding women in resources will act as series ambassadors to champion diversity, equity and inclusion. This will see Mel Cooper (Rio Tinto), Dr Elham Hosseinzadehsabeti (Veracio) and Julie Truss (Weir) share their personal stories and unique approaches to driving positive change in the workplace. As the faces of AusIMM’s IWD Event Series, the series ambassadors will play an active role in shaping conversations in gender equality in the resources sector in the lead up to IWD.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF: AUSIMM

AUSIMM’S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EVENT SERIES RETURNS IN 2024 TO CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN IN THE RESOURCES SECTOR.

Mel Cooper

As global head of equity inclusion and diversity at Rio Tinto, Cooper has been instrumental in driving respect and inclusion across the company. She has worked in a variety of roles at Rio Tinto for the past 17 years and led the Everyday Respect Taskforce for the major miner, releasing a report on

Known to her colleagues as Ellie, Hosseinzadehsabeti is a leading orebody knowledge expert at Veracio. From her hometown of Tehran, Iran, Hosseinzadehsabeti cultivated her interest in geology and mining before travelling to the US to purse a PhD in earth and energy sciences. A key player in cataloguing critical and reference minerals with Harvard University’s Mineralogical and Geological Museum in 2021, Hosseinzadehsabeti finds joy in mineral art and the blend of creativity and scientific enquiry it creates. A new opportunity with Veracio has seen Hosseinzadehsabeti transferred to Perth, where she is part of a diverse

VERACIO OREBODY KNOWLEDGE EXPERT DR ELHAM HOSSEINZADEHSABETI.

AUSTRALIANMINING 84 FEBRUARY 2024

WEIR WOMEN’S NETWORK AUSTRALIAN CHAPTER CHAIR JULIE TRUSS.

geoscience team with more than 50 per cent female representation – a powerful story in itself about women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Hosseinzadehsabeti is excited about being an ambassador for the 2024 AusIMM IWD Event Series. “I look forward to empowering change through unity and a shared purpose,” she said.

Julie Truss

Having worked in the industry for more than 20 years, Truss has had the opportunity to champion diversity in the resources sector in many ways. She is currently chair of the Weir Women’s Network Australian Chapter, which extends across Weir’s minerals and ESCO businesses in Australia. Truss believes that the foundation of strong diversity, equity and inclusion is collaboration and commitment. “Through empathy and inclusion, we will create workplaces that empower women to be their whole selves – sharing all of their skills and experiences,” she said. “Leading in this way will inspire others to value, understand and celebrate women’s inclusion.” With such a stellar lineup of series ambassadors, the 2024 AusIMM IWD Event Series will celebrate the achievements of women and demonstrate the collective power of coming together to drive positive change. AM To learn more about AusIMM’s 2024 International Women’s Day Event Series, visit ausimm.com/internationalwomens-day

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AUSTMINE

METS TAKES CENTRE STAGE AUSTMINE AND AUSTRADE HAVE PARTNERED UP TO SHOWCASE THE VERY BEST OF THE AUSTRALIAN MINING EQUIPMENT, TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES INDUSTRY. IMAGE: ADOBE STOCK/ZASCHNAUS

THE MINING INDUSTRY IS GOING THROUGH A RAPID ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION. IMAGE: AUSTMINE

rom rapid decarbonisation of operations to the elimination of live work, the resources industry is facing challenges on a new scale. What has developed in recent times is the mutual understanding that many of the sector’s concerns are insurmountable for a single company alone, a realisation that has seen mine operators increasingly turn to mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies for help. When it comes to collaboration in the mining sector, few names are as recognised as Austmine. The METS champion recently launched a new publication, Accelerating Sustainable Mining, which it hopes will elevate more Aussie METS companies to the global stage. “The publication is fundamentally a directory for mining companies to find METS companies with specific sustainability capabilities,” Austmine director of strategic development Marianne Cummings told Australian Mining. “The purpose is both to promote the cutting-edge sustainability technologies of Australian METS companies to the global market and provide mining companies with simple access to sustainability solutions.” “By making it easier for miners to identify and procure relevant technologies and solutions to meet their decarbonisation and broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, we hope to contribute to accelerated implementation of sustainable mining practices.” Developed in collaboration with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Accelerating Sustainable Mining is divided into five key sustainability areas, each featuring relevant METS companies. “Austmine reached out to its 740 members and sought input regarding their specific sustainability capabilities and examples of leading mining sustainability projects,” Cummings said. “We collated all that information and categorised it under key sustainability areas most impacting mining.” The Smart Water Mine is one area of the publication. It covers METS companies with capabilities in mine water management, desalination, water treatment technologies, and more. The Community Mine covers METS companies with expertise in areas such as stakeholder engagement, cultural

AUSTMINE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT MARIANNE CUMMINGS.

heritage preservation, labour relations, and mine closure planning. The Zero Carbon Mine section showcases companies with capabilities in areas such as carbon capture and storage, clean energy solutions, renewable energy grid integration, and electrification. The publication also includes the chapters the Small Footprint Mine and the Waste Free Mine, which spotlight METS companies excelling

in areas such as agile and modular mine design, low-impact processing methods, tailings management, resource recovery and reuse, and other circular economic services. Accelerating Sustainable Mining is filled with case studies showcasing exactly how Australian METS companies are helping miners solve their biggest sustainability issues. Cummings called the publication a tool to show miners what has been done in other jurisdictions and what can be implemented quickly without reinventing the wheel. “There are many challenges facing miners,” she said. “On one hand, we need to mine more to meet the growing demand for minerals to accelerate renewable energy adoption and provide technologies for economic and social development. “On the other hand, there are increasing demands and scrutiny from communities, financiers and governments to operate in a more environmentally and socially responsible manner. “To meet these challenges in the short time frame required will require rethinking technologies and

AUSTRALIANMINING 86 FEBRUARY 2024

implementing new solutions. Most miners do not have the in-house resources to develop these solutions in acceptable time frames and need to look to the METS sector for expertise.” An important publication for the industry, Accelerating Sustainable Mining gives the high-quality Australian METS sector the international recognition it has worked hard to deserve. “For me, it highlights the pioneering spirit, innovation and can-do attitude of Australian METS and how the sector is contributing to sustainability efforts globally,” Cummings said. “I personally enjoy the case studies in the publication, which demonstrate real-life examples of where Australian METS companies are making a difference.” And perhaps most important of all, the publication is helping drive the transition towards sustainable mining. “Sustainable mining means balancing mineral extraction with genuine and transparent environmental care and social responsibility,” Cummings said. “It means employing the right technologies for the job and adopting the mindset of doing the right thing by people and the planet at all times.” AM

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Sandvik has launched its new CT55 and CT67 top hammer tool systems – the most advanced of their kind. Sandvik’s CT55 and CT67 curved thread systems are both suited for surface mining, while the CT67 system is also suited for underground mining. The design of the CT55 and CT67 top hammer tool systems is intended to increase efficiency and reduce costs while saving fuel and simplifying automated drilling in surface bench and underground long-hole applications. The design is said to deliver a 15 per cent productivity increase while also reducing fuel consumption by 15 per cent, as faster drilling means less flushing time. Sandvik’s new curved thread CT range is designed to increase drilling productivity when carrying out underground and surface mining. The stronger geometry that comes with the curved thread design is said to boost tool service life by more than 30 per cent.

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THE TURNTABLE FOR INSTALLING FLEXIBLE PIPELINES Designed and built to assist in handling layflat hose, the turntable from Crusader Hose is a valuable accessory for installing flexible pipelines. Easy and simple to use, the Australian-made turntable helps prevent the hose from kinking or twisting. The turntable speeds up dewatering pipeline deployment, saving time and labour costs. Equipped with pallet locator brackets, the turntable accommodates different-sized pallets up to 1600mm. For shorter lengths of hose, it can be used without a pallet. The removable pallet locator brackets are easily stored on the unit when not in use. Engineered to suit up to 200m of a 12-inch layflat hose, the turntable is constructed out of mild steel and painted in a hi build zinc primer basecoat and Hammerdry topcoat. The turntable is also ideal for reloading large hose reels when using Crusader Hose’s Hamersley reel drive unit for in-pit dewatering. Customised accessories from Crusader Hose make handling layflat hose pipelines quicker, safer and easier.

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DURABLE DRIVES FOR BELT CONVEYOR SYSTEMS

I&E SYSTEMS RELEASES LATEST MODEL OF DADX

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS has developed the MAXXDRIVE XT industrial gear unit in response to the requirements for conveyor technology drives in the bulk goods and mineral industries. The unit provides output torques of 15–75kN with speed ratios from 6.3–22.4 and is offered in seven sizes for powers from 22–2100kW. The power and speed ranges of the two-stage right-angle gear unit have been specially designed for industries in which low speed ranges are required in combination with high powers, such as the bulk goods and mineral industries. Its robust design makes the MAXXDRIVE XT resistant to dirt and reliable in rough operating conditions. The industrial gear unit is equipped with a heavily ribbed UNICASE housing and an integrated axial fan as standard. Due to the increased surface and the airflow covers, the cooling airflow is optimised and a very high thermal limiting power is achieved.

I&E Systems has released the latest version of its breakthrough software solution, DADx, which has established a proven track record of enabling the design and engineering of systems at less than half the cost of the traditional method. This is made possible by digital modelling that removes the need for paperwork and manages system information in a much smarter and simpler way. Its new features include an improved user interface that embraces overall system management views and enables users to navigate the complexities of modern systems in a simpler way. It also includes better segregation of model layers that allows users to define different aspects of a system without over burdening the base hardware layer, as well as enhanced descriptions of the individual objects within the model. This shows all known information about the object such as data and background material, its relationships within the overall system, and change history.

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AUSTRALIANMINING 88 FEBRUARY 2024

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Australia AUSTRALIANMINING 89 FEBRUARY 2024

EVENTS

CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS EVENT SUBMISSIONS CAN BE EMAILED TO EDITOR@AUSTRALIANMINING.COM.AU

International Mine Health and Safety Conference Perth | April 15–17 A new look International Mine Health and Safety Conference is coming to Perth in April 2024. AusIMM’s biennial conference (formally known as MineSafe) will be a gathering of industry professionals, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the world. The conference will serve as a platform to discuss the latest developments, best practices and innovative solutions in the field of mine health and safety. It will feature industry-leading keynote speakers, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive Q&As and a suite of technical presentations with the objective of promoting a safe and healthy work environment across all mining operations. • ausimm.com/conferences-and-events/ mine-health-and-safety MOLTEN 2024 Brisbane | June 17–19 A quadrennial conference that has been around for over 40 years, Molten 2024 will be held in Brisbane from June 17–19. What sets this conference apart is its scientific focused and support of the transition to sustainable technologies. The majority of metals undergo some form of high temperature

processing whether in production, refining or recycling. It is the aim of this conference to make a positive contribution to the exchange and dissemination of knowledge on this important class of processing systems, and thereby enhance the rate of progress to more sustainable industrial processing systems. • ausimm.com/conferences-and-events/ molten-conferences-2024 Women in Industry Awards 2024 Sydney | June 20 The Women in Industry awards are an opportunity to celebrate the success of women who work in the mining industry. The awards night, to be held in Sydney on June 20, features multiple categories that showcase exceptional examples of industry advocacy, mentorship and broad sector excellence. The Women in Industry Awards recognise outstanding women from across a range of industrials sectors; for example, those who work in mining, transport, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, bulk handling, waste management, rail and construction and infrastructure – all sectors that are traditionally maledominated. This is an opportunity to recognise the women who are driving change in industry and – in doing so – breaking down barriers and creating new possibilities for the next generation. • womeninindustry.com.au

QME 2024 Mackay | July 23–25 The Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) connects leading suppliers and technical experts with those seeking better efficiency, better productivity and increased optimisation for their business and site. QME will feature over 250 suppliers and beyond the exhibition floor, will host a free-to-attend seminar series that will give you the opportunity to hear from industry professionals addressing the current needs of the industry. With live demonstrations and topical presentations, QME will be the ultimate destination for the Queensland mining industry. QME is a key place for the industry to come together to be inspired, innovate and connect over three days. In one of the world’s most dynamic industries, QME has maintained its relevance and importance within the mining sector. It’s the event you simply cannot miss. • queenslandminingexpo.com.au PNG Industrial & Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference Port Moresby, PNG | July 3–4 The 2024 PNG Industrial & Mining Resources Exhibition will showcase over 100 local, national and international manufacturers and suppliers with the latest innovations in the supply of services and equipment for the industrial, mining and oil & gas sectors.

AUSTRALIANMINING 90 FEBRUARY 2024

The two-day exhibition is the premier meeting place to connect and network with thousands of industry decision makers across a broad industry reach, including senior management, procurement, government personnel, engineers, contractors and trade technicians. With extensive support from key stakeholders in government, associations and industry, PNG2024 is a premier meeting place for industry trade and a forum for establishing high-quality customer contacts and conducting business. • https://pngexpo.com

CMY

IMARC 2024 Sydney | October 29–31 The International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) is where people from across the entire industry come together to deliver ideas and inspiration. Learn from in excess of 500 mining leaders and resource experts throughout seven concurrent conferences with a program covering the entire mining value chain. Attend one of the many networking events or catch up with industry colleagues on the exhibition floor featuring more than 470 leading companies. There will be practically endless opportunities to network, brainstorm and share knowledge over the three days at the ICC Sydney. • imarcglobal.com

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