RUC Cementation orders specialised drill rig simulator from ThoroughTec (0) February 3, 2016 ThoroughTec Simulation has been engaged by a diversified underground mining contractor operating throughout Australia and Asia Pacific to develop a training simulator for deployment in Indonesia
Austar coal mine receives green light for expansion (0) February 2, 2016 The Austar Coal Mine will go ahead with an extension of three new underground longwall panels, thanks to approval from the Department of Planning and Environment.
Anglo American rumoured to exit Brazil (0) February 2, 2016 Anglo American may make a complete withdrawal from operations in Brazil, with a number of asserts already up for sale.
Palmer companies named biggest political donors of 2015 (0) February 2, 2016 Struggling mining magnate and politician Clive Palmer was responsible for almost 96 per cent of all Australian political donations from mining companies in 2015.
BHP’s credit downgraded (13) February 2, 2016 Standard & Poor’s has downgraded BHP’s credit rating as commodity prices continue to slump, with more companies expected to follow.
Cheap OTR Tyres Could Burst Your Mine’s Bottom Line (0) February 2, 2016 There’s a time and a place for making cheap purchases – but choosing tyres for mining loaders, articulated dump trucks (ADTs) and haul trucks is not one of them.
Second spill at Samarco site in Brazil (0) February 1, 2016 The Samarco mine in Brazil has experienced another spill at the site, only three months after the disaster that killed 17 people and caused devastation to waterways and a nearby ...
Shareholders agree to Shell’s BG Group takeover (0) February 1, 2016 The QCLNG gas liquefaction plant will soon come under the control of Royal Dutch Shell following shareholder agreement for the takeover of BG Group.
FIFO retrenchment practices under scrutiny by FWC (0) February 1, 2016 The Electrical Trades Union has launched a million dollar industrial dispute against Kentz Australia over practices said to avoid paying redundant FIFO workers their final week of employment.
Jobs cut at Cadia mine (22) February 1, 2016 Newcrest has cut approximately 100 workers from its Cadia Ridgeway operation as it places the site into care and maintenance.
Rise of the machines (10) February 1, 2016 Mining has well and truly entered the age of automation, and while this is a boon for productivity and efficiency, it also brings with it a number of new risks ...
BHP CEO returns to Broken Hill (51) January 29, 2016 BHP has gone back to its roots with a donation of $5.7 million to the Broken Hill City Council.
Port Hedland braces for Cyclone Stan (0) January 29, 2016 The Pilbara coastline is under threat from a potential category 2 cyclone, likely to hit WA shores with gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour sometime on Friday night ...
Steel production slumped worldwide in 2015 (1) January 28, 2016 Global steel output fell last year, the first time this has happened since 2009, according to figures from the World Steel Association released this week.
Miners urged to renegotiate rail contracts (0) January 28, 2016 Coal and iron ore miners could continue to cut costs by squeezing transport contracts for haulage, a new report from Macquarie has observed.
Commodities prices to continue slump for years (0) January 28, 2016 Analysts say there is “little light on the horizon” for the current commodities downturn for several years due to increasing imbalances between physical supply and demand.
Panoramic Resources cuts 50 workers from Savannah mine (0) January 27, 2016 Nickel miner Panoramic Resources has lifted their voluntary trading halt and announced the Savannah resource will be moved onto care and maintenance, while a redundancy phase commences.
Miners recognised in Australia Day awards (0) January 27, 2016 A number of people have been recognised for their contribution to mining and the resources industry in the 2016 Australia Day Awards.
Camp assault up for compensation claim (0) January 27, 2016 A man who was assaulted in his bed at a Moranbah workers camp has won the right to make a compensation claim against his employer.
Normet appoints new CEO (0) January 27, 2016 Normet has appointed Robin Lindahl as its new president and CEO.
Rio Tinto’s Mt Pleasant coal mine sold to MACH Energy (0) January 27, 2016 The Mount Pleasant thermal coal mine has found a buyer, with the sale going to MACH Energy Australia for $US224 million plus royalties on future coal sales.
Man dies in coal truck accident (0) January 27, 2016 A man has died near the Appin coal mine after a car collided with a coal carrying truck earlier this morning.
Australia signs energy MoU with Colombia (0) January 25, 2016 Australia has signed an MoU on Bilateral Co-operation with Colombia, tying together the two nations energy sectors.
Terex to launch new truck at Bauma (0) January 25, 2016 Terex will launch its new generation of articulated trucks at Bauma, in Germany, later this year.
Producer’s port staff faces job cuts (0) January 25, 2016 The latest Mount Gibson Iron quarterly report has revealed fresh evidence that staff at the iron ore producer’s loading facilities would be facing up to 20 job losses.
Sandvik appoints new vice president (0) January 25, 2016 Sandvik has carried out another shakeup at the top, appointing a new executive vice president and CFO.
Nearly 400 jobs go at Woodie Woodie mine (0) January 25, 2016 Approximately 380 workers jobs have been cut as Consolidated Minerals place the Woodie Woodie mine in care and maintenance.
Santos shares jump on quarterly results (0) January 22, 2016 Santos has reported its highest annual gas production since 2007, causing a 20c jump in share prices on yesterday’s trade.
Lithium Australia locks in new sampling program (0) January 22, 2016 Western Australian lithium is building interest in line with strengthening prices, with Lithium Australia (LIT) set to commence exploration near Ravensthorpe next week.
Large diamond recovered at Lulo (0) January 22, 2016 A large 133.4 carat diamond has been recovered from Lucapa Diamond’s Lulo deposit.
Aurizon signs new deal with Darling Downs coal mine (0) January 22, 2016 A new performance-based contract for the rail haulage of coal has been signed between Aurizon and long-term customer Syntech Resources, running between the Cameby Downs Mine and the Port of ...
Crane head sheaves flagged for inspection (0) January 21, 2016 The DMP has warned crane operators and other competent persons to properly inspect head sheaves on their machines prior to operation.
Mt Cattlin lithium due for restart (0) January 21, 2016 A strengthening lithium market has led to a commitment for a $7 million capital spend on the recommencement of production at the Mt Cattlin mine.
New STEM resource for schools (0) January 21, 2016 The Office of the Chief Scientist has published the first national STEM Programme Index.
Answers needed from Palmer over Queensland Nickel collapse (2) January 21, 2016 Clive Palmer’s collapsed refining company Queensland Nickel (QNI) is facing extreme levels of scrutiny from government, industry groups and the media, with workers left short changed on redundancy benefits, and ...
Citi cuts commodity forecasts again (0) January 21, 2016 Citigroup has again wound back its forecasts on commodities as general market bearishness takes hold.
BHP meets guidance on half year report (0) January 20, 2016 BHP has released its half yearly operational review for 2015, showing productivity improvements despite missing guidance due to Samarco disaster.
Price of oil now less than the barrel it comes in (0) January 20, 2016 The falling of the oil price, coupled with the lifting of sanctions on Iran’s crude oil, has seen the price slip to below US$30, cheaper than the barrels supposedly used ...
De Beers cuts diamond prices (4) January 20, 2016 De Beers has cut diamond prices in an attempt to stem the predicted slowdown in the sector.
NRW cuts CEO pay (3) January 20, 2016 Mining and civils contractor NRW Holdings has made a symbolic cost-cutting move, reducing the CEO’s pay by 40 per cent.
Bradken must fix factory odour after putting closure on hold (0) January 19, 2016 Mining consumables business Bradken must rectify unacceptable odour levels emitted from its Kilburn factory by February next year, the Environmental Protection Authority has said.
Rio Tinto meets 2015 guidance (17) January 19, 2016 Rio Tinto is spruiking “solid fourth quarter results”, in a bid to reassure shareholders after the doom and gloom announcement of a company-wide pay freeze last week.
New dragline brakes launched (0) January 19, 2016 Eaton has developed new floating housing brakes for heavy duty dragline applications.
Rio Tinto’s head of diamonds departs (0) January 19, 2016 Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Rio Tinto diamonds’ managing director, is stepping down from the miner.
Have we reached peak gold? (24) January 18, 2016 Miners have declared the industry has reached ‘peak gold’, with production likely to only decline in the future.
Cooling gas pumped into Gorgon LNG (0) January 18, 2016 Chevron has reached a long awaited milestone for the Gorgon project, now kicking off the cool-down of the plant ready for LNG production.
China to shut down more than 1000 mines (0) January 18, 2016 China has announced it will shut more than 1000 mines across four provinces in the country’s north and south.
Cat appoints new mining head (0) January 18, 2016 Caterpillar has appointed Denise Johnson as the new head of its Resources Industries division.
Queensland Nickel to strip 237 jobs (0) January 15, 2016 Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel has joined the trend of contractionary restructuring, with an announcement the company will cut 237 workers from the ranks.
More coal miners to be diagnosed with Black Lung (145) January 15, 2016 With five cases of Black Lung diagnosed among Queensland miners, unions have declared they fear many more miners will be found with the disease.
BHP sees massive impairment in oil (0) January 15, 2016 BHP has announced a pre-tax impairment of US$7.2 billion on its US onshore oil and gas assets.
Alcoa workers put in line of bushfire (0) January 15, 2016 Refinery workers who were expected to clock on at the Alcoa Wagerup refinery during the recent WA bushfires were put in danger by their employer, according to unions.
Rio Tinto CEO freezes pay in 2016 (0) January 14, 2016 An internal email revealed Rio Tinto has implemented a global salary freeze on all employees due to the “new normal” of commodity price pressure.
Boom times ahead for lithium? (21) January 14, 2016 Demand for lithium will continue to grow strongly, according to Lithium Australia, driven by an increased need for battery storage.
Atlas Copco launches new compact drill (0) January 13, 2016 Atlas Copco has released its new radio remote control drill rig, the FlexiROC T20 R (Mark II).
Resources stocks knocked after RBS fears (0) January 13, 2016 The ASX has taken a battering on resources stocks overnight, after analysts advised shareholders to batten down the hatches.
Internet of Things to hone mine craft (0) January 13, 2016 An ‘Internet of Things’ cluster designed specifically for the mining and energy resources sector is set to boost productivity, efficiency and safety in the industry.
Newcastle Ports remain off-limits to third parties (0) January 12, 2016 Glencore will consider appealing a failed attempt to persuade the Government to regulate coal handling prices at the port of Newcastle.
Copper falls to new low (0) January 12, 2016 Copper has fallen to its lowest point since the global financial crisis, dragging the major miners down as well.
Arch Coal declares bankruptcy (2) January 12, 2016 American coal giant has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the coal price tumbles and it seeks to cut its US$.45 billion debt load.
Gindalbie Metals bows to market pressure (1) January 11, 2016 Gindalbie Metals has hit a roadblock with the withdrawal of funding by joint venture parent Ansteel.
Nyrstar to exit mining (11) January 11, 2016 Nyrstar has announced the formal launch of the sales process for all its mining assets globally.
Poseidon CEO steps down (23) January 11, 2016 Poseidon CEO David Singleton will step down from his role at the end of this month.
Escape from Kyrgyzstan after horse sausage incident (0) January 11, 2016 A Scottish welding supervisor who was arrested under racial hatred laws for comparing a type of Kyrgyz sausage to horse penis has told of his recent escape from Kyrgyzstan.
New jaw crusher developed (0) January 11, 2016 IROCK has launched new mobile jaw crushers for mining applications.
Will BHP and Rio buy up distressed assets? (0) January 8, 2016 Analysts at Bank of America have speculated that BHP and Rio Tinto may be gearing up to acquire assets from weakened rivals.
Copper futures fall (0) January 8, 2016 Copper futures have fallen for the first time in more than half a decade, falling below US$2 per pound.
APLNG to send first gas (3) January 8, 2016 Origin Energy’s Australian Pacific LNG plant is expected to export its first cargo of gas tomorrow, when the tanker Methane Spirit is scheduled to leave.
First ever 3D printed object made from meteorite dust (0) January 8, 2016 Asteroid mining company Planetary Resources and 3D Systems have displayed an additively manufactured object made out of metal sourced from a meteorite.
Iron ore rally to end (17) January 8, 2016 Iron ore’s recent rally back above US$40 per tonne appears to be short lived, with the market forecasting a slide back into the US$30’s per tonne region.
Miners rescued in US (3) January 8, 2016 A group of seventeen miners who were trapped in a New York State salt mine have been rescued from an elevator shaft, 274m underground.
Bushfire threatens Alcoa sites (49) January 7, 2016 With bushfire threatening the Willowdale bauxite mine and Waroona and Hamel areas in WA, fire crews are in place to defend the site.
New undersea miner completes dry testing (0) January 7, 2016 Undersea mining has made a leap forward with the development and testing of a new machine in the UK.
Grange Resources prepares for redundancy round (0) January 7, 2016 Tasmanian mine workers are likely to take another hit this year as iron ore miner Grange Resources prepares for a round of redundancies.
New report points to growth in rare earth market (0) January 7, 2016 A study is pointing to a growth in global rare earth metal demand as green and renewable technologies become more prevalent.
Foul weather keeps coal rail closed (0) January 7, 2016 Rail freight in the Hunter Valley between Newcastle and Maitland remains shut down due to heavy flooding at Sandgate, impacting on coal transport in the region.
Ausenco wins coal contracts (1) January 7, 2016 Ausenco has been awarded a number of coal processing plant contracts and work in Africa.
Excelsior opens third open pit (20) January 7, 2016 Excelsior Gold has begun mining at its Big Blow South (BBS) open pit at the Kalgoorlie North gold project.
Workers pay to be cut at Hail Creek coal mine (0) January 6, 2016 Contractors are facing a pay cut at Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek coal mine as the industry continues to face a downturn.
Rail closure in Hunter Valley (17) January 6, 2016 Rail lines have been closed between Newcastle and Maitland, leaving coal services on the Hunter Valley line temporarily suspended.
Tonka toy leads way to production gains (0) January 6, 2016 A Tonka truck and a mobile phone have helped solve the problem of oversized rocks and the damage they cause to crushing equipment.
CAT releases new rock drill for 2016 (0) January 6, 2016 Cat has released a new rock drill for the 2016 market, with claims to best-in-class productivity and a reliable rod handling system.
Rehab fears for Drayton coal (27) January 6, 2016 Scepticism about Anglo American’s ability to rehabilitate the Drayton coal mine in the Hunter Valley has resurfaced after news of a global restructuring for the mining heavyweight.
Thiess wins Dawson coal contract (0) January 5, 2016 Thiess has been awarded a $115 million contract for mining at Anglo American’s Dawson coal mine.
New elements discovered (1) January 5, 2016 Four new elements have been discovered and added to the periodic table.
Moura memorial snubbed by mining companies (44) January 5, 2016 Major mining companies have refused to contribute funds to a proposed miners’ memorial to fallen workers in the Moura area, drawing criticism from the local community.
Global hunt on for new minerals (0) January 5, 2016 A new challenge has been launched to uncover the world’s remaining undiscovered carbon-bearing minerals.
Bradken appoints new acting CEO (20) January 5, 2016 Phil Arnall has stepped into the acting CEO role at Bradken after Brian Hodges stepped down from the position.
Scottish welder cocks up in Kyrgyzstan (0) January 4, 2016 A Scottish welding superintendent has slipped up on social media, facing jail after joking that his Kyrgyz colleagues were queuing up for a helping of horse penis.
China declares no new coal mines (0) January 4, 2016 China has declared it will not approve any new coal mines for the next three years.
Moranbah worker claims $3.3 million for injury (0) January 4, 2016 A coal miner disabled in an accident at a Moranbah coal mine has lodged a claim in the Supreme Court against BMA for more than $3.3 million.
New year gas discovery for Woodside (0) January 4, 2016 A new gas discovery off the coast of Myanmar will increase Woodside’s production in the area, with extended drilling revealing a 129m gross gas column.
Little respite for mining in 2016 (0) January 4, 2016 Despite the apparent normalisation of low commodity prices, the Federal Government has predicted mining exports earnings to grow by more than 40 per cent by 2019-2020.
MACA wins Moolart Well mining contract (0) January 4, 2016 MACA has received a Letter of Intent from Regis Resources for work at the Moolart Well gold mine.
Wollongong Coal to restart Wongawilli mining (0) December 18, 2015 Wongawilli Colliery will restart mining after it was given approvals for a time extension modification, creating 110 jobs.
Iron ore to stay below US$40 (0) December 18, 2015 Analysts are predicting the iron ore price to languish below the US$40 per tonne mark for years to come.
Top stories of 2015 (26) December 18, 2015 Our top five stories for the year showcase the most important issues to miners in Australia.
New coal mine jobs in Lake Macquarie (0) December 18, 2015 Around 60 new coal mining jobs will be created after Lake Coal received the greenlight to increase production.
Secret harbour may scuttle Abbot Point (0) December 18, 2015 Revelations of a “secret” publically funded tugboat harbour has led to calls for the Queensland Government to halt the development of Abbot Point.
AusGroup wins oil and gas contracts (0) December 18, 2015 AusGroup have been awarded $100 million worth of contracts for work at a number of different projects.
Gold falls to six year low (0) December 18, 2015 Gold has finally reacted to the US rate rise, slipping over the last two days.
AMMA calls for deregistering of unions (0) December 17, 2015 Resources employer group the Australian Mines and Metals Association has called on the Federal Government to consider deregistering the CFMEU and MUA.
New jobs in Moranbah as Isaac Plains set to reopen (0) December 17, 2015 Stanmore Coal is edging closer to re-opening the Isaac Plains mine near Moranbah, with 150 job opportunities soon to come for local workers.
Is 2016 the year of base metals? (62) December 17, 2015 Nickel, copper, and zinc have been picked as the metals to watch next year.
Hay Point’s third coal berth opens (0) December 17, 2015 BHP has marked a new milestone in their coal sector expansion as BMA opened the new third berth at the Hay Point coal export terminal yesterday.
RungePincockMinarco and Schnieder sign global partnership agreement (0) December 17, 2015 Runge Pincock Minarco has signed a global strategic partnership agreement with Schneider Electric (Australia) to leverage their combined strengths in pursuing market opportunities for their market-leading software and services solutions.
Glencore puts mine on hold (14) December 16, 2015 Glencore has put its proposed Blakefield North underground coal project on hold in the face of weak coal prices.
Job cuts to come at Golden Grove (0) December 16, 2015 MMG has declared a new round of job cuts are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the Golden Grove mine near Yalgoo in Western Australia.
Land Court clears way for Carmichael coal (0) December 16, 2015 The Land Court has recommended Adani be issued a mining lease for the Carmichael project in the Bowen Basin, paving the way for the biggest coal development in Queensland, and ...
BC Iron to close gates at Nullagine (1) December 15, 2015 Struggling miner BC Iron has announced a temporary halt to production at the Nullagine Joint Venture (NJV).
Commodity market forces low expectations (0) December 15, 2015 The ongoing commodity price slide has seen BHP shares reach the lowest point on the ASX in more than ten years, lower even than the trough caused by the Global ...
Mining may come back by mid-2016 (0) December 15, 2015 Analysts have forecast mining’s commodities return by mid-next year, going against the market grain.
Sandvik appoints new mining head (0) December 15, 2015 Sandvik has appointed Lars Engström as its new president of Sandvik Mining.
Historic Leonora gold delivers results for Kin Mining (0) December 15, 2015 Junior gold explorer Kin Mining has turned up significant results from its maiden drilling campaign at the historical Merton’s Reward site near Leonora.
Worker nearly drives off underground stope (0) December 15, 2015 A WA underground worker has a lucky escape after their light vehicle accidentally drove partially over the edge of an open stope.
And the winner is… (0) December 14, 2015 With a raft of entries to choose from, Australian Mining can now announce the winner of our CAT truck competition.
Alcoa faces calls to ban foreign shipping licence (0) December 14, 2015 The captain of a ship contracted by Alcoa to replace its Australian vessel has faced damning evidence of bribery, prompting calls to suspend the aluminium producer’s anti-cabotage licence.
CIMC carry out share buyback (0) December 14, 2015 CIMIC, the parent company of mining contractors Thiess and Leighton, have announced an on-market share buyback.
Dow and DuPont agree to $US 130 billion mega-merger (0) December 14, 2015 Dow Chemical and DuPont have agreed to a merger, with the combined entity then splitting into three companies in the next 18 to 24 months.
Woodside announces $2 billion invnestment in North West Shelf gas (0) December 14, 2015 Western Australia will see a massive increase in offshore gas activity in 2020, with Woodside Petroleum greenlighting phase two of the Greater Western Flank Project (GWF-2).
Is Rio Tinto still a buy as iron ore falls? (0) December 14, 2015 As iron ore continues its worse run since before the GFC, is now the time to pick up Rio Tinto on the cheap?
New mine water cleaning process discovered (0) December 14, 2015 A new process to clean mine tailings water, which cuts the process from years to hours, has been discovered.
Thiess win $1.3 billion coal contract (0) December 11, 2015 Thiess has won a contract extension for work at the Lake Vermont coal mine worth $1.3 billion.
Westpac pledges financial climate action (0) December 11, 2015 Australia’s second largest bank, Westpac, will today announce a new commitment to prevent climate change of more than two degrees, however the bank has given no word on reducing its ...
Vale push to mine Hunter Valley biodiversity offset areas (0) December 11, 2015 The Planning and Assessment Commission will today determine if Vale will be allowed to change its environmental conditions of consent for the Integra Mine Complex.
Australia Pacific begins LNG production (0) December 11, 2015 Origin Energy has announced that Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) has begun production of gas at Curtis Island.
Bootu Creek Manganese to close (3) December 11, 2015 Production crews at the Bootu Creek manganese mine have been laid off as the mine is placed into care and maintenance.
Pallion gains new gold bullion accreditation (0) December 10, 2015 Australian gold miner Pallion’s refinery division ABC Refinery will attract greater market confidence with its recent appointment to the London Bullion Market Association’s (LBMA) Good Delivery list for gold.
Newman camp numbers debate continues (22) December 10, 2015 Local council has again voiced its disapproval of the WA Government move to renew BHP’s lease on the 1200 bed Kurra Camp, located near Newman.
Monadelphous expands LNG maintenance services (22) December 10, 2015 Engineering services contractor Monadelphous has secured a new contract for services to the Karratha Gas Plant Life Extension program.
Coal port protestors arrested (0) December 10, 2015 Activists who chained themselves to coal port machinery have been arrested.
A safer way to tackle taglines – Tag-Ex (0) December 9, 2015 The high risk practices of cranage and rigging demand many controls such as; safety factors for engineering calculations, protective equipment for workers, and exclusion zones.
Rio Tinto reduces aluminium expenditure (842) December 9, 2015 Rio Tinto have boasted a $45 million reduction in sustaining capital expenditure for their Aluminium product group, as well $300 million worth of cash cost improvements to the end of ...
Roy Hill’s first shipment coloured by attacks on media (0) December 9, 2015 The Roy Hill mine has reached the milestone of its first shipment of iron ore, with operator Hancock Prospecting launching an attack on the media.
Nearly 80% of workers to be cut at coal mine (0) December 8, 2015 Close to 80 per cent of workers at Glencore’s Collinsville coal mine will be cut next year as it rolls down mining.
Thiess win Mt Owen coal contract (0) December 7, 2015 Thiess has been awarded a $760 million contract to operate Glencore’s Mt Owen coal mine.
Australian refiner appointed to LBMA delivery list (0) December 7, 2015 Pallion refinery division ABC Refinery has been appointed to the London Bullion Market Association’s Good Delivery list for gold.
New construction jobs for Surat Basin region (828) December 7, 2015 The resources sector is expected to create more than 2000 jobs in the Surat Basin over the next two years, with coal seam gas the main contributor.
New Acland corruption complaint dismissed (0) December 7, 2015 Fossil fuels environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance has suffered a tactical loss against the New Acland Stage 3 coal project, with complaints rejected by the Queensland Crime and Corruption ...
Volvo lets four year old ‘test drive’ truck (0) December 7, 2015 Following on from using Jean-Claude Van Damme and hamsters to demonstrate its truck’s steering precision, Volvo has let a four year old drive its trucks to showcase its toughness.
Workers injured at Clermont (33) December 7, 2015 Two workers have suffered hand injures at Glencore’s Clermont coal mine.
Worker’s caustic burns compo claim cut (0) December 7, 2015 A worker seeking compensation for burning his foot with caustic soda has had his claim reduced after footage emerged of him performing karate.
Iron ore hammered again (0) December 7, 2015 Iron ore is continuing its slow decline, as major miners become more bearish on the metal.
Cloudbreak maintenance death prosecuted five years on (0) December 7, 2015 Five years on from the death of Paul Torre at the Cloudbreak iron ore mine, contractor BTP Equipment (formerly Ausdrill Mining Services) has been fined $195,000.
Still room for improvement in mining safety (0) December 7, 2015 The number of serious incidents occurring every year in mining has improved in recent years, but it still outranks that of other industries.
Supporting you to support your operations (0) December 7, 2015 In the current age of low commodity prices and high costs, miners’ opex and capex are coming under greater scrutiny.
BHP train derails (8) December 4, 2015 An iron ore train derailed in WA yesterday, however no people were injured, according to BHP.
What do miners actually earn? (115) December 4, 2015 During the boom miners wages soared to massive heights and even those at the bottom end of the mine raked it in, but now the boom is well and truly ...
More miners walk off over black lung (0) December 4, 2015 More coal miners have walked off site, emulating workers at the Grasstree mine, following the re-emergence of black lung.
Latest exploration funding round to drive growth (0) December 4, 2015 A fresh round of funding for exploration in Western Australia is expected to boost the industry and help continue a recent surge in gold exploration spending.
Can iron ore stem the fall? (0) December 4, 2015 Iron ore has fallen again to a new low, dropping to another new low.
ThoroughTec Simulation has been engaged by a diversified underground mining contractor operating throughout Australia and Asia Pacific to develop a training simulator for deployment in Indonesia
The Austar Coal Mine will go ahead with an extension of three new underground longwall panels, thanks to approval from the Department of Planning and Environment.
Anglo American may make a complete withdrawal from operations in Brazil, with a number of asserts already up for sale.
Struggling mining magnate and politician Clive Palmer was responsible for almost 96 per cent of all Australian political donations from mining companies in 2015.
Standard & Poor’s has downgraded BHP’s credit rating as commodity prices continue to slump, with more companies expected to follow.
A new, inexpensive method to potentially uncover copper deposits has been developed.
There’s a time and a place for making cheap purchases – but choosing tyres for mining loaders, articulated dump trucks (ADTs) and haul trucks is not one of them.
Nautilus has taken delivery of three seafloor mining tools for its underwater Solwara 1 project.
The Samarco mine in Brazil has experienced another spill at the site, only three months after the disaster that killed 17 people and caused devastation to waterways and a nearby ...
The QCLNG gas liquefaction plant will soon come under the control of Royal Dutch Shell following shareholder agreement for the takeover of BG Group.
Lego has developed a new mining set, a fully operational bucket wheel excavator.
The Electrical Trades Union has launched a million dollar industrial dispute against Kentz Australia over practices said to avoid paying redundant FIFO workers their final week of employment.
Newcrest has cut approximately 100 workers from its Cadia Ridgeway operation as it places the site into care and maintenance.
Mining has well and truly entered the age of automation, and while this is a boon for productivity and efficiency, it also brings with it a number of new risks ...
RungePincockMinarco has launched the latest version of their simulation software, HAULSIM
BHP has gone back to its roots with a donation of $5.7 million to the Broken Hill City Council.
The Pilbara coastline is under threat from a potential category 2 cyclone, likely to hit WA shores with gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour sometime on Friday night ...
Global steel output fell last year, the first time this has happened since 2009, according to figures from the World Steel Association released this week.
Coal and iron ore miners could continue to cut costs by squeezing transport contracts for haulage, a new report from Macquarie has observed.
Analysts say there is “little light on the horizon” for the current commodities downturn for several years due to increasing imbalances between physical supply and demand.
Nickel miner Panoramic Resources has lifted their voluntary trading halt and announced the Savannah resource will be moved onto care and maintenance, while a redundancy phase commences.
A number of people have been recognised for their contribution to mining and the resources industry in the 2016 Australia Day Awards.
A man who was assaulted in his bed at a Moranbah workers camp has won the right to make a compensation claim against his employer.
Normet has appointed Robin Lindahl as its new president and CEO.
The Mount Pleasant thermal coal mine has found a buyer, with the sale going to MACH Energy Australia for $US224 million plus royalties on future coal sales.
A man has died near the Appin coal mine after a car collided with a coal carrying truck earlier this morning.
The third Australian manganese operator in two months has closed operations as the commodity price falls.
Australia has signed an MoU on Bilateral Co-operation with Colombia, tying together the two nations energy sectors.
Terex will launch its new generation of articulated trucks at Bauma, in Germany, later this year.
The latest Mount Gibson Iron quarterly report has revealed fresh evidence that staff at the iron ore producer’s loading facilities would be facing up to 20 job losses.
Sandvik has carried out another shakeup at the top, appointing a new executive vice president and CFO.
Approximately 380 workers jobs have been cut as Consolidated Minerals place the Woodie Woodie mine in care and maintenance.
Independence Group has cut jobs and halted exploration at its Long nickel mine.
Santos has reported its highest annual gas production since 2007, causing a 20c jump in share prices on yesterday’s trade.
Western Australian lithium is building interest in line with strengthening prices, with Lithium Australia (LIT) set to commence exploration near Ravensthorpe next week.
A large 133.4 carat diamond has been recovered from Lucapa Diamond’s Lulo deposit.
A new performance-based contract for the rail haulage of coal has been signed between Aurizon and long-term customer Syntech Resources, running between the Cameby Downs Mine and the Port of ...
China is reportedly set to close 4300 coal mines over the next three years.
Clive Palmer has fired across the bow of News Limited over reporting of Queensland Nickel’s recent financial dealings.
The DMP has warned crane operators and other competent persons to properly inspect head sheaves on their machines prior to operation.
A strengthening lithium market has led to a commitment for a $7 million capital spend on the recommencement of production at the Mt Cattlin mine.
A research paper by UBS has predicted that a combination of automation and connectivity will see the competitive advantage of low labour cost countries shrink, but also lead to rising ...
The Office of the Chief Scientist has published the first national STEM Programme Index.
Clive Palmer’s collapsed refining company Queensland Nickel (QNI) is facing extreme levels of scrutiny from government, industry groups and the media, with workers left short changed on redundancy benefits, and ...
Citigroup has again wound back its forecasts on commodities as general market bearishness takes hold.
Pacific National has been accused of being insincere following the news that 46 Hunter coal train drivers will lose their jobs as the company advertises for casual drivers to work.
Anglo American has sold the Callide coal mine to Batchfire resources.
MACA has acquired Alliance Contracting.
BHP has released its half yearly operational review for 2015, showing productivity improvements despite missing guidance due to Samarco disaster.
The falling of the oil price, coupled with the lifting of sanctions on Iran’s crude oil, has seen the price slip to below US$30, cheaper than the barrels supposedly used ...
De Beers has cut diamond prices in an attempt to stem the predicted slowdown in the sector.
Mining and civils contractor NRW Holdings has made a symbolic cost-cutting move, reducing the CEO’s pay by 40 per cent.
North Korea is reportedly upgrading its coal haulage rail lines as it plans to increase output.
Normet has acquired Atlas Copco’s MEYCO dry concrete spraying business.
BGC Contracting has won a five year contract extension with Cliffs Natural Resources.
A new IBISWorld report has highlighted petroleum refining, contract mining, and diamond mining as the country’s fastest declining industries in 2016.
Mining consumables business Bradken must rectify unacceptable odour levels emitted from its Kilburn factory by February next year, the Environmental Protection Authority has said.
Rio Tinto is spruiking “solid fourth quarter results”, in a bid to reassure shareholders after the doom and gloom announcement of a company-wide pay freeze last week.
Eaton has developed new floating housing brakes for heavy duty dragline applications.
Jean-Marc Lieberherr, Rio Tinto diamonds’ managing director, is stepping down from the miner.
After announcing job cuts last week, Queensland Nickel has gone into voluntary administration marking another blow to the Palmer empire.
Miners have declared the industry has reached ‘peak gold’, with production likely to only decline in the future.
Chevron has reached a long awaited milestone for the Gorgon project, now kicking off the cool-down of the plant ready for LNG production.
China has announced it will shut more than 1000 mines across four provinces in the country’s north and south.
Tempo has been awarded contract extensions worth $65 million.
Caterpillar has appointed Denise Johnson as the new head of its Resources Industries division.
Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel has joined the trend of contractionary restructuring, with an announcement the company will cut 237 workers from the ranks.
With five cases of Black Lung diagnosed among Queensland miners, unions have declared they fear many more miners will be found with the disease.
BHP has announced a pre-tax impairment of US$7.2 billion on its US onshore oil and gas assets.
Refinery workers who were expected to clock on at the Alcoa Wagerup refinery during the recent WA bushfires were put in danger by their employer, according to unions.
The NSW Department of Planning has approved Orica’s proposal to increase the levels of ammonia at its Kooragang Island facility.
Contractors have been cut at OZ Minerals’ Prominent Hill mine.
South32 is reportedly considering bidding for US$1 billion worth of Anglo American’s unwanted assets.
An internal email revealed Rio Tinto has implemented a global salary freeze on all employees due to the “new normal” of commodity price pressure.
Demand for lithium will continue to grow strongly, according to Lithium Australia, driven by an increased need for battery storage.
Sandvik has developed a new range of bits for drilling raise boring pilot holes.
Doosan has developed a new range of severe duty buckets for crawler excavators.
CIMIC, owner of contractors Leighton and Thiess, has made a move to acquire 100 per cent of Sedgman.
Atlas Copco has released its new radio remote control drill rig, the FlexiROC T20 R (Mark II).
The Bloomberg Commodity Index has recorded its worst start to a year since data began collection in 1992.
The ASX has taken a battering on resources stocks overnight, after analysts advised shareholders to batten down the hatches.
An ‘Internet of Things’ cluster designed specifically for the mining and energy resources sector is set to boost productivity, efficiency and safety in the industry.
Glencore will consider appealing a failed attempt to persuade the Government to regulate coal handling prices at the port of Newcastle.
Copper has fallen to its lowest point since the global financial crisis, dragging the major miners down as well.
The Queensland black lung toll continues to climb, with a fifth case diagnosed by a US specialist.
American coal giant has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the coal price tumbles and it seeks to cut its US$.45 billion debt load.
Gindalbie Metals has hit a roadblock with the withdrawal of funding by joint venture parent Ansteel.
Nyrstar has announced the formal launch of the sales process for all its mining assets globally.
Poseidon CEO David Singleton will step down from his role at the end of this month.
A Scottish welding supervisor who was arrested under racial hatred laws for comparing a type of Kyrgyz sausage to horse penis has told of his recent escape from Kyrgyzstan.
IROCK has launched new mobile jaw crushers for mining applications.
Backplane Systems Technology has launched RuggON’s 10.1″ IP65 Rugged Slim-Line Tablet PC with Intel® Atom Bay Trail E3827 Dual Core Processor supporting Windows 7 and 8 operating systems, the PM-521 ...
Ausdrill has announced it will divest its DT HiLoad truck tray manufacturing business.
The ongoing downtrend in coal looks set to continue, with new reports highlighting a decline in Indian imports.
Analysts at Bank of America have speculated that BHP and Rio Tinto may be gearing up to acquire assets from weakened rivals.
Copper futures have fallen for the first time in more than half a decade, falling below US$2 per pound.
Origin Energy’s Australian Pacific LNG plant is expected to export its first cargo of gas tomorrow, when the tanker Methane Spirit is scheduled to leave.
Asteroid mining company Planetary Resources and 3D Systems have displayed an additively manufactured object made out of metal sourced from a meteorite.
Iron ore’s recent rally back above US$40 per tonne appears to be short lived, with the market forecasting a slide back into the US$30’s per tonne region.
A group of seventeen miners who were trapped in a New York State salt mine have been rescued from an elevator shaft, 274m underground.
With bushfire threatening the Willowdale bauxite mine and Waroona and Hamel areas in WA, fire crews are in place to defend the site.
Undersea mining has made a leap forward with the development and testing of a new machine in the UK.
Tasmanian mine workers are likely to take another hit this year as iron ore miner Grange Resources prepares for a round of redundancies.
A study is pointing to a growth in global rare earth metal demand as green and renewable technologies become more prevalent.
Rail freight in the Hunter Valley between Newcastle and Maitland remains shut down due to heavy flooding at Sandgate, impacting on coal transport in the region.
Ausenco has been awarded a number of coal processing plant contracts and work in Africa.
Excelsior Gold has begun mining at its Big Blow South (BBS) open pit at the Kalgoorlie North gold project.
Contractors are facing a pay cut at Rio Tinto’s Hail Creek coal mine as the industry continues to face a downturn.
Rail lines have been closed between Newcastle and Maitland, leaving coal services on the Hunter Valley line temporarily suspended.
A Tonka truck and a mobile phone have helped solve the problem of oversized rocks and the damage they cause to crushing equipment.
Cat has released a new rock drill for the 2016 market, with claims to best-in-class productivity and a reliable rod handling system.
A new survey is forecasting a growth in equipment related technology by Australian miners in the next two years.
Scepticism about Anglo American’s ability to rehabilitate the Drayton coal mine in the Hunter Valley has resurfaced after news of a global restructuring for the mining heavyweight.
Pybar has begun mobilising to A1 Consolidated Gold’s A1 gold mine in Victoria.
Thiess has been awarded a $115 million contract for mining at Anglo American’s Dawson coal mine.
Four new elements have been discovered and added to the periodic table.
Major mining companies have refused to contribute funds to a proposed miners’ memorial to fallen workers in the Moura area, drawing criticism from the local community.
A new challenge has been launched to uncover the world’s remaining undiscovered carbon-bearing minerals.
Phil Arnall has stepped into the acting CEO role at Bradken after Brian Hodges stepped down from the position.
A Scottish welding superintendent has slipped up on social media, facing jail after joking that his Kyrgyz colleagues were queuing up for a helping of horse penis.
China has declared it will not approve any new coal mines for the next three years.
A coal miner disabled in an accident at a Moranbah coal mine has lodged a claim in the Supreme Court against BMA for more than $3.3 million.
A new gas discovery off the coast of Myanmar will increase Woodside’s production in the area, with extended drilling revealing a 129m gross gas column.
Despite the apparent normalisation of low commodity prices, the Federal Government has predicted mining exports earnings to grow by more than 40 per cent by 2019-2020.
MACA has received a Letter of Intent from Regis Resources for work at the Moolart Well gold mine.
Anglo American has sold its Dartbrook coal mine to Australian Pacific Coal.
Wongawilli Colliery will restart mining after it was given approvals for a time extension modification, creating 110 jobs.
Analysts are predicting the iron ore price to languish below the US$40 per tonne mark for years to come.
Our top five stories for the year showcase the most important issues to miners in Australia.
Around 60 new coal mining jobs will be created after Lake Coal received the greenlight to increase production.
Revelations of a “secret” publically funded tugboat harbour has led to calls for the Queensland Government to halt the development of Abbot Point.
AusGroup have been awarded $100 million worth of contracts for work at a number of different projects.
Gold has finally reacted to the US rate rise, slipping over the last two days.
TWPS, a joint venture between WorleyParsons and Broadspectrum, has landed a $200 million contract for maintenance with AGL Loy Yang.
Resources employer group the Australian Mines and Metals Association has called on the Federal Government to consider deregistering the CFMEU and MUA.
Stanmore Coal is edging closer to re-opening the Isaac Plains mine near Moranbah, with 150 job opportunities soon to come for local workers.
Nickel, copper, and zinc have been picked as the metals to watch next year.
BHP has marked a new milestone in their coal sector expansion as BMA opened the new third berth at the Hay Point coal export terminal yesterday.
Runge Pincock Minarco has signed a global strategic partnership agreement with Schneider Electric (Australia) to leverage their combined strengths in pursuing market opportunities for their market-leading software and services solutions.
Glencore has put its proposed Blakefield North underground coal project on hold in the face of weak coal prices.
MMG has declared a new round of job cuts are necessary to ensure the sustainability of the Golden Grove mine near Yalgoo in Western Australia.
The Land Court has recommended Adani be issued a mining lease for the Carmichael project in the Bowen Basin, paving the way for the biggest coal development in Queensland, and ...
A vehicle fire in a Victorian gold mine has been brought under control, with no workers injured in the incident.
Rio Tinto has signed a US$4.4 billion financing agreement for its Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia.
Liebherr has announced plans to manufacture a crawler tractor in the 70 tonne range.
Struggling miner BC Iron has announced a temporary halt to production at the Nullagine Joint Venture (NJV).
Analysts have forecast mining’s commodities return by mid-next year, going against the market grain.
Sandvik has appointed Lars Engström as its new president of Sandvik Mining.
Junior gold explorer Kin Mining has turned up significant results from its maiden drilling campaign at the historical Merton’s Reward site near Leonora.
A WA underground worker has a lucky escape after their light vehicle accidentally drove partially over the edge of an open stope.
With a raft of entries to choose from, Australian Mining can now announce the winner of our CAT truck competition.
WorleyParsons has been awarded two major contracts in Canada and Bahrain.
The captain of a ship contracted by Alcoa to replace its Australian vessel has faced damning evidence of bribery, prompting calls to suspend the aluminium producer’s anti-cabotage licence.
CIMIC, the parent company of mining contractors Thiess and Leighton, have announced an on-market share buyback.
A man has died after he was struck by a coal train in the Upper Hunter on Saturday night.
Dow Chemical and DuPont have agreed to a merger, with the combined entity then splitting into three companies in the next 18 to 24 months.
Western Australia will see a massive increase in offshore gas activity in 2020, with Woodside Petroleum greenlighting phase two of the Greater Western Flank Project (GWF-2).
As iron ore continues its worse run since before the GFC, is now the time to pick up Rio Tinto on the cheap?
A new process to clean mine tailings water, which cuts the process from years to hours, has been discovered.
Thiess has won a contract extension for work at the Lake Vermont coal mine worth $1.3 billion.
Australia’s second largest bank, Westpac, will today announce a new commitment to prevent climate change of more than two degrees, however the bank has given no word on reducing its ...
The Planning and Assessment Commission will today determine if Vale will be allowed to change its environmental conditions of consent for the Integra Mine Complex.
New research points to more than two thirds of coal is believed to be unprofitable.
Origin Energy has announced that Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) has begun production of gas at Curtis Island.
Production crews at the Bootu Creek manganese mine have been laid off as the mine is placed into care and maintenance.
Australian gold miner Pallion’s refinery division ABC Refinery will attract greater market confidence with its recent appointment to the London Bullion Market Association’s (LBMA) Good Delivery list for gold.
Local council has again voiced its disapproval of the WA Government move to renew BHP’s lease on the 1200 bed Kurra Camp, located near Newman.
Engineering services contractor Monadelphous has secured a new contract for services to the Karratha Gas Plant Life Extension program.
Two of the world’s largest wire rope manufacturers – Bridon and Bekaert – have announced plans to merge.
Activists who chained themselves to coal port machinery have been arrested.
The high risk practices of cranage and rigging demand many controls such as; safety factors for engineering calculations, protective equipment for workers, and exclusion zones.
Rio Tinto have boasted a $45 million reduction in sustaining capital expenditure for their Aluminium product group, as well $300 million worth of cash cost improvements to the end of ...
The Roy Hill mine has reached the milestone of its first shipment of iron ore, with operator Hancock Prospecting launching an attack on the media.
Thiess have been awarded a four year contract extension for work at Energy Resources’ Mongolian Ukhaa Khudag coal mine.
Anglo American has announced a “radical restructuring program” as it plans to cut 85,000 jobs globally and sell off assets.
Komatsu has launched a new range of components solutions to provide increased customer support
The fate of close to 800 workers’ jobs is waiting on news on whether Clive Palmer’s Yabulu nickel refinery will collapse.
Close to 80 per cent of workers at Glencore’s Collinsville coal mine will be cut next year as it rolls down mining.
Safety is a priority in all industrial environments with company managements investing in the latest technologies to keep their workers, machines and processes safe while maximising production availability.
Thiess has been awarded a $760 million contract to operate Glencore’s Mt Owen coal mine.
The resources sector is expected to create more than 2000 jobs in the Surat Basin over the next two years, with coal seam gas the main contributor.
Fossil fuels environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance has suffered a tactical loss against the New Acland Stage 3 coal project, with complaints rejected by the Queensland Crime and Corruption ...
Following on from using Jean-Claude Van Damme and hamsters to demonstrate its truck’s steering precision, Volvo has let a four year old drive its trucks to showcase its toughness.
Two workers have suffered hand injures at Glencore’s Clermont coal mine.
A worker seeking compensation for burning his foot with caustic soda has had his claim reduced after footage emerged of him performing karate.
Iron ore is continuing its slow decline, as major miners become more bearish on the metal.
Five years on from the death of Paul Torre at the Cloudbreak iron ore mine, contractor BTP Equipment (formerly Ausdrill Mining Services) has been fined $195,000.
The number of serious incidents occurring every year in mining has improved in recent years, but it still outranks that of other industries.
In the current age of low commodity prices and high costs, miners’ opex and capex are coming under greater scrutiny.
An iron ore train derailed in WA yesterday, however no people were injured, according to BHP.
Sandvik has launched new rotary drill bits, the RR221.
Indonesian parliamentary speaker is under pressure to resign after he was recorded demanding company shares in exchange for his support for a mining operation.
More coal miners have walked off site, emulating workers at the Grasstree mine, following the re-emergence of black lung.
A fresh round of funding for exploration in Western Australia is expected to boost the industry and help continue a recent surge in gold exploration spending.