Santos discovery at Dorado ‘larger than anticipated’ (0) June 7, 2019 Santos has revealed the Dorado-2 appraisal well has confirmed a major oil and gas resource in the Bedout Basin, offshore Western Australia.
Northern Minerals set for more Browns Range funding (0) June 7, 2019 Northern Minerals is continuing its streak of capital raisings, this time seeking $22 million to help repay debts and further advance the Browns Range heavy rare earths pilot project in ...
2019 Women in Industry Awards winners revealed (0) June 7, 2019 The 2019 Women in Industry Awards took place in Melbourne last night, celebrating the brilliant, hard-working women helping advance Australian industry.
Global iron ore production forecast to plummet (0) June 7, 2019 Seaborne iron ore is expected to fall into a larger deficit this year as a result of disruptions at Vale SA’s operations, according to S&P Global.
Rio Tinto chooses Onsite as Pilbara equipment provider (0) June 6, 2019 Rio Tinto has awarded a contract worth close to $30 million to Onsite Rental Group to provide ancillary and light mobile equipment over the next three years.
South32 on verge of activity at copper project (0) June 6, 2019 Inca Minerals says it expects South32’s first round of earn-in funding on the Riqueza copper project in Peru will start in the next seven days.
AES shines a spotlight on energy storage in mining (0) June 5, 2019 The off-grid sector in Australia has emerged as one of the best business cases for energy storage and hybrid energy systems to reduce diesel and gas consumption for power generation.
Dacian considers merger after Mt Morgans finds trouble (0) June 5, 2019 Dacian Gold has lowered its production guidance at the Mt Morgans operations in Western Australia, blaming the return of underground performance issues.
Efficient connections for the Ex zone (0) June 5, 2019 In environments with high explosion risk (Ex zones), such as on oil and gas platforms, interfaces must fulfil special safety requirements so that plugging and unplugging does not ignite the ...
Wesfarmers boosts resources focus (0) June 5, 2019 Wesfarmers has bolstered the resources experience on its board through its appointment of Fortescue deputy chairman Sharon Warburton.
St Barbara expands reach to Far North Queensland (0) June 5, 2019 St Barbara has formed a joint venture (JV) with the subsidiary of gold explorer Alice Queen for the Horn Island project in the Torres Strait, far-north Queensland.
South Australia to boost exploration with $10m funding (0) June 5, 2019 The South Australian Government will inject $10 million into the exploration of untapped mineral resources, at a time when the state’s exploration investment figures are the lowest in a decade.
Global mining giants drive strong industry performance (0) June 5, 2019 The world’s 40 largest mining companies continued their steady growth last year despite decreased investor sentiment, according to PwC’s Mine 2019 report.
The argument for nuclear power in Australia (0) June 5, 2019 It is time for Australia to “seriously discuss” the benefits of developing a nuclear power industry, according to comments made by the Australaisian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).
BHP grants Pilbara local works contract at Yandi (0) June 5, 2019 BHP has awarded the largest single contract through its Local Buying Program to a Pilbara Aboriginal Traditional Owner business, Gumala Enterprises at the Yandi iron ore mine site.
Aurelia puts Nymagee copper project on hold (0) June 5, 2019 Aurelia Metals has put the Nymagee copper development nearby its flagship Hera mine in central New South Wales on hold, tripling its exploration budget instead.
New CEO for BGC Group (0) June 5, 2019 BGC Group has appointed Daniel Cooper as its next chief executive officer.
New Ingersoll Rand air compressor series released in Australia (0) June 5, 2019 Referred to as the ‘fifth utility’, air compressors play a vital role in the mining industry. While compressed air is a valuable resource on any mine site, the costs of ...
NRW continues support of Gascoyne at Dalgaranga (0) June 4, 2019 NRW Holdings will continue its capacity as a mining contractor to Gascoyne Resources at the Dalgaranga gold project in Western Australia irrespective of the latter’s voluntary administration.
Western Australia delivers quarterly exploration boost (0) June 4, 2019 Western Australia is driving a boost to mineral exploration spending in the March 2019 quarter, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data.
St Barbara production downgrade causes investor backlash (0) June 4, 2019 St Barbara is allowing investors who applied for new shares under the company’s acquisition of Atlantic Gold to withdraw their applications by the end of the week.
NSW Govt to resist raising royalties (0) June 4, 2019 The minerals industry has welcomed the New South Wales government’s commitment to not increasing mining royalties in the upcoming state budget.
Macmahon admits to takeover talks with GBF Mining (0) June 3, 2019 Macmahon has confirmed market speculation about its potential takeover of the GBF Underground Mining group, which could provide it with a strong access to the Western Australian Goldfields.
Santos CEO highlights Narrabri domestic gas benefits (0) June 3, 2019 Santos managing director and chief executive officer Kevin Gallagher claims the proposed Narrabri coal seam gas (CSG) project could fill an important niche for the domestic gas market on the ...
Lucapa diamonds sell for $14.5 million at auction (0) June 3, 2019 Lucapa Diamond Company has continued its successful run at auction after securing $US10 million ($14.5 million) for the sale of alluvial diamonds from its Lulo mine in Angola, central Africa.
Mount Gibson approves updated Koolan Island offtake agreement (0) June 3, 2019 Mount Gibson has approved Shougang Concord and SCIT Trading’s novating interest as guarantor and buyer under the existing Koolan Island offtake agreement to Newton Resources and its subsidiary Ace Profit ...
Queensland ramps up focus on domestic gas supply (0) June 3, 2019 In a national first, a joint venture (JV) between Australia Pacific LNG and Armour Energy in Queensland will seek out gas only for use by Australian manufacturers.
Top five mining stories last week (0) June 3, 2019 Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including approval of modifications to the expansion of a leading coal mine in ...
Fortescue recruitment trailer hits road in Pilbara (0) May 31, 2019 Fortescue Metals Group has launched a recruitment trailer that is touring around the Pilbara region of Western Australia, spreading employment opportunities to the Aboriginal communities.
Malaysian PM indicates Lynas set for rare earth licence renewal (0) May 31, 2019 Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has indicated that Lynas Corporation’s rare earth elements (REE) processing plant near Kuantan, Malaysia, will probably receive its renewal to operate later this year.
Gold Fields to advance Hamlet North with Pybar (0) May 31, 2019 Gold Fields has appointed underground mining contractor Pybar Mining Services to develop the Hamlet North project at the St Ives gold mine outside Kambalda, Western Australia.
Caterpillar focuses on the environment with R2900 loader launch (0) May 31, 2019 Caterpillar has released its new R2900 Underground Loader which offers expanded emission control options in response to global regulations surrounding diesel engine emissions.
Fenix inks deal with Geraldton Port to drive iron ore production (0) May 30, 2019 Fenix Resources has signed a joint cooperation agreement (JCA) with Geraldton Port to export iron product from the Iron Ridge project in the Mid West region of Western Australia.
SRG Global secures long-term work at Whyalla (0) May 30, 2019 SRG Global has impressed GFG Liberty OneSteel with its capability and performance in recent months, setting it up for a long-term contract at the Whyalla Steelworks site in South Australia.
LNG supply to Asia driving record export levels (0) May 30, 2019 Liquified natural gas (LNG) now dominates Australia’s petroleum production due to high demand from Asia, according to energy advisory firm EnergyQuest.
Agripower fertiliser expansion shows 200-year potential (0) May 30, 2019 The Queensland Government has granted a prescribed project status to Agripower Australia’s $663 million fertiliser expansion project near Townsville.
Queensland grants land to ramp up gas production (0) May 29, 2019 The Queensland Government has continued to drive national gas policy, awarding companies permission to explore energy rich land in the state.
New Hope ups coal production with Bengalla expansion (0) May 29, 2019 New Hope Group produced 40 per cent more coal during the quarter ending April against a year ago after twice increasing its stake in the Bengalla joint venture in New ...
South32 inks JV with Superior Resources for zinc project (0) May 29, 2019 Superior Resources has signed an earn-in and joint venture (JV) agreement with South32 to advance exploration at its Nicholson zinc project in northwest Queensland.
Iron ore prices smash through $US108 mark (0) May 29, 2019 Australian iron ore miners are continuing to enjoy the surge in price of the commodity following a fall in iron ore port stocks in China.
BHP takes novel approach to oil exploration (0) May 29, 2019 BHP Petroleum has conducted an ocean bottom node (OBN) survey in the Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to allow the company to drill deeper and more complicated targets.
Rio Tinto pursues development of ‘Silicon Valley of mining’ (0) May 29, 2019 Rio Tinto has backed the Western Australian Government’s launch of its first ever five-pillar approach to enhancing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) capabilities throughout the state.
Peabody proceeds North Goonyella restart plans (0) May 28, 2019 Peabody Energy has started re-ventilating the first segment of the North Goonyella underground coal mine following consultation with the Queensland Mines Inspectorate.
Gold Road puts Yamarna assets on track for expansion (0) May 28, 2019 Gold Road Resources has revealed positive assay results from its exploration program at the Yamarna gold project in Western Australia as it works towards delivering a maiden mineral resource.
Boggabri coal mine receives project approval (0) May 28, 2019 The Independent Planning Commission has signed off on changes to the project approval at the Boggabri Coal coal site in New South Wales.
NSW TAFE program represents growth of women in mining (0) May 27, 2019 A TAFE mining program has released figures suggesting the number of women in the industry is increasing, but concedes there is still more work to be done to achieve gender ...
Regulators set date for Adani mine approvals (0) May 27, 2019 Queensland’s coordinator-general has announced the two remaining key approvals for Adani’s Carmichael coal mine and rail project will be finalised in the next three weeks.
Victorian miners to be hit by gold royalty (0) May 27, 2019 The Victorian Government is set to introduce a 2.75 per cent royalty to gold miners, in line with all other Australian states.
SRG Global inks South32 Worsley alumina contract (0) May 27, 2019 South32 has awarded a long-term engineering services contract at the Worsley Alumina bauxite operations in Western Australia to SRG Global.
Coalition’s strong economic focus receives industry support (0) May 27, 2019 The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has backed the Morrison Government’s economic focus of creating jobs, responsible economic management and delivering strong budget surpluses.
Top five mining stories last week (0) May 27, 2019 Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including the ongoing rise of iron ore prices in 2019.
Austmine announces 2019 award winners (0) May 24, 2019 Austmine 2019 has announced its award winners at the Industry Leaders’ Dinner and Awards in Brisbane, Queensland this week.
SQM expects lithium industry to grow by 17 per cent in 2019 (0) May 24, 2019 Chilean lithium major Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM) has reported decreased sales in its March quarter but remains positive about the future of the lithium industry.
MacMines puts Galilee Basin coal project on hold (0) May 24, 2019 An approved large coal project three times the capacity of Adani’s proposed Carmichael project in the Galilee Basin, Queensland will no longer be going ahead.
MCA appoints Helen Coonan as new chair (0) May 24, 2019 The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has announced that former federal cabinet minister Helen Coonan will replace Vanessa Guthrie as the organisation’s new chair.
Mincor sets up nickel portfolio for the Long haul (0) May 23, 2019 Mincor Resources will raise up to $23 million to fast-track its plans to restart high-grade nickel sulphide mining near Kambalda in Western Australia.
Wesfarmers closes in on Kidman acquisition (0) May 23, 2019 Wesfarmers has secured a scheme implementation deed (SID) with Kidman Resources regarding a proposed takeover deal announced in early May.
Lynas reveals $500m plan for growth (0) May 23, 2019 Lynas Corporation will spend $500 million on growing its production to 2025, including the creation of a new upstream processing plant in Western Australia.
Havilah moves closer to launching flagship Kalkaroo site (0) May 23, 2019 Havilah Resources has been granted approval from the Department for Energy and Mining for the right to mine at the Kalkaroo copper-gold project in South Australia.
Lucapa gains momentum with sixth major diamond recovery (0) May 23, 2019 Lucapa Diamond Company has revealed the largest diamond recovered from its Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho, South Africa since commercial operations commenced in January.
Barrick to acquire Acacia in effort to solve dispute (0) May 23, 2019 Barrick Gold plans to acquire the remaining Acacia Mining shares it doesn’t own in a buyout offer to douse a long stand-off with the Tanzanian Government.
Battery metals major focus for greenfield exploration in WA (0) May 23, 2019 Nearly a third of participants involved in the current round of an ongoing state-backed commodity exploration scheme in Western Australia are focusing on battery metal discoveries.
BHP to ramp up long-term focus (0) May 22, 2019 BHP is aiming to maximise shareholder value through continuing to diversify its portfolio and adapt to “the changing world”, according to its long-term strategy.
Rockwell Automation makes splash at Austmine (0) May 22, 2019 Rockwell Automation is an associate partner of the Austmine 2019 Conference and Exhibition, currently being held from May 21-23 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland.
Kalgoorlie tops list of best graduate cities (0) May 22, 2019 A list of the top five Australian cities for graduates has been published, with the country’s larger urban hubs nowhere to be found.
CITIC to pay royalties to Mineralogy following appeal rejection (0) May 22, 2019 CITIC has had its appeal case against Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy rejected, forcing the Chinese company to pay royalties from its iron ore project in Pilbara, Western Australia.
BHP ups expectations for global EV market (0) May 21, 2019 BHP has released statistics suggesting that the global uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) could be larger than the company initially anticipated.
EcoMag targets $1bn in revenue from Dampier Salt wastewater (0) May 21, 2019 An emerging specialty chemicals producer EcoMag has set its sights on producing magnesium carbonate using wastewater streams from salt production in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
Labor Party defends stance on coal mining (0) May 21, 2019 The Labor Party’s unexpected loss in the federal election over the weekend could owe to its anti-mining policies, evident in regional Australians’ eroding support for the party.
Mining experts on energy storage applications (0) May 21, 2019 With declining costs and continually increasing technological developments, the opportunities for energy storage in mining, and other off-grid sectors, have never been bigger.
Rio Tinto and NRW boost relationship at Koodaideri (0) May 21, 2019 NRW Holdings subsidiary RCR Mining Technologies has received a significant original equipment manufacturer equipment package for Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Koodaideri project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
AngloGold Ashanti to purchase ore from Matsa restart project (0) May 21, 2019 AngloGold Ashanti is set to process ore produced from Matsa Resources’ Red October gold mine in Western Australia, which 60 kilometres from its Sunrise Dam operation.
Iron ore prices break the $US100 mark (0) May 20, 2019 Prices for iron ore have reached a five-year high driven by higher steel production in China and speculation of another dam collapse at a Vale mine in Brazil.
Lynas sets sights stateside with rare earths JV in Texas (0) May 20, 2019 Lynas Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Blue Line Corporation to develop rare earths separation capacity in the United States.
Metminco to enlarge Colombian gold territory with friendly takeover (0) May 20, 2019 Metminco will merge with unlisted company Andes Resources to create a leading Colombian gold explorer and developer with one of the largest portfolios of gold-copper exploration assets in the Cauca ...
Vale raises alarm of potential tailings dam failure (0) May 20, 2019 Vale has warned of the possible dam collapse at the Gongo Soco mine in Barão de Cocais, Minas Gerais, 65 kilometres away from the site of the Brumadiho dam failure.
Coal proves decisive factor in Coalition election win (0) May 20, 2019 The Australian minerals industry believes it will benefit from the re-election of the Coalition Government through reduced taxes and increased investment in the sector.
The top five mining stories last week (0) May 20, 2019 Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including the approval of new mine development in Queensland.
US-China trade war forces Ausdrill into financial rethink (0) May 17, 2019 Mining services company Ausdrill is dropping a previously announced refinancing plan due to ongoing heated trade debates between the United States and China.
Job market in best shape since mining boom (0) May 17, 2019 Job vacancies in the mining and resources sector dipped in April by 1.1 per cent, despite strong commodity prices over the past three months.
St Barbara shareholders drive first stage of Atlantic acquisition (0) May 17, 2019 St Barbara has moved a step closer to its successful acquisition of Atlantic Gold, announcing the completion of the institutional component of its underwritten entitlement offer.
Santos scoops share in PNG gas with $271m acquisition (0) May 17, 2019 Santos is set to boost its presence in Papua New Guinea by acquiring the P’nyang natural gas field from the existing licence participants for $US187 million ($271 million).
Lithium market requires $17bn investment to meet growing demand (0) May 16, 2019 Lithium expert Joe Lowry has estimated the global market for the commodity needs investment of at least US$12 billion ($17.32 billion) in the next five years for the supply to ...
Outotec inks deal with OZ Minerals at Prominent Hill (0) May 16, 2019 OZ Minerals has awarded a €15 million ($24.3 million) contract to design and deliver a mine paste backfill system at the Prominent Hill copper-gold operation to Outotec.
Queensland to cut red tape for explorers (0) May 16, 2019 Queensland Parliament is set to cut red tape for explorers, allowing them to change their work program without seeking extra approvals starting next year.
Propelling copper-rich South Australia to the world (0) May 16, 2019 South Australia’s appetite to meet the rise in demand for copper, electric vehicles and renewable energy has been matched by the vision of its miners.
Ramelius plans at Edna May blocked by environmental watchdog (0) May 16, 2019 Ramelius Resources’ proposed expansion of its Greenfinch open pit operation at the Edna May gold mine has been rejected by the Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson.
A smarter condition monitoring system for fixed or mobile machines (0) May 16, 2019 With the ability to monitor everything from a single machine to an entire plant from a central location, the SKF Multilog IMx-16Plus integrates seamlessly with other devices (such as the ...
Breaker builds on Bombora gold discovery (0) May 16, 2019 Breaker Resources continues to gain momentum with its Bombora gold resource in Western Australia following a $6.3 million raising to fund a pre-feasibility study (PFS).
BHP backs future of Nickel West to drive battery market (0) May 15, 2019 BHP has indicated it will keep the Nickel West business in Western Australia as the company looks to capitalise on the emerging global battery market.
Fortescue declares another $1bn in dividends before election (0) May 15, 2019 Fortescue Metals Group is distributing over $1 billion worth of dividends to shareholders ahead of Labor’s plan to crack down on franking credits should it win Saturday’s federal election.
M&A drops as federal election looms (0) May 15, 2019 Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) have slowed down in Australia’s first quarter due to a number of market uncertainties according to data acquired by Pitcher Partners and Mergermarket.
OZ Minerals drives Minotaur towards Jericho copper start (0) May 14, 2019 OZ Minerals is to loan carry Minotaur Exploration’s Jericho copper project through to the start of commercial production in exchange for an increased stake in a joint venture.
Palmer protests QLD Government denial of Townsville port access (0) May 14, 2019 Clive Palmer plans to pursue legal action against the Queensland Government for allegedly refusing to provide Queensland Nickel Resources with access to the Port of Townsville.
TNG pushes Mt Peake forward with titanium pigment offtake (0) May 14, 2019 TNG has taken an important step forward in ensuring the validity of the Mount Peake vanadium-titanium-iron project thanks to a new binding offtake agreement.
Adani faces further delays at Carmichael project (0) May 14, 2019 Adani Mining has claimed the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) has gone back on its commitment to cease reviews regarding the Carmichael coal project’s Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Management ...
Rio Tinto cleared to expand West Angelas iron ore project (0) May 13, 2019 Rio Tinto’s proposed expansion of the West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia is a step closer to construction with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)’s approval.
Investor interest turns to Queensland (0) May 13, 2019 Australia has announced a new mining initiative, and Queensland, with its abundant mineral resources and world-class assets, can expect to be the centre of investor interest making Brisbane the ideal ...
Vale suffers massive loss following Brumadinho dam rupture (0) May 13, 2019 Brazilian mining giant Vale has reported a US$1.6 billion loss ($2.3 billion) in the March quarter after the Brumadinho dam disaster led to disruptions to its supply of iron ore.
The top five mining stories last week (0) May 13, 2019 Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including a machinery and technology alliance between Rio Tinto and Caterpillar in the ...
First blast sets Boston Shaker in motion at Tropicana (0) May 10, 2019 Tropicana gold mine joint venture partners AngloGold Ashanti and Independence Group have ignited the first blast at the Boston Shaker underground development in Western Australia.
Kirkland Lake Gold lifts guidance on record quarter (0) May 10, 2019 Kirkland Lake Gold has raised its annual guidance for the second quarter in a row following strong results that included record production at the Fosterville mine in Victoria.
Glencore’s CSA Mines deal with Aurelia falls through (0) May 10, 2019 Aurelia Metals has responded to ongoing speculation surrounding potential interest in Glencore’s CSA Mines, confirming it is no longer in discussions with the copper mine.
TNG inks deal with McMahon Services to develop Mount Peake site (0) May 10, 2019 TNG has signed a contract with construction group McMahon Services to progress the non-process infrastructure (NPI) for its Mount Peake titanium-iron project in the Northern Territory.
Fortescue revs up Cloudbreak autonomous truck program (0) May 9, 2019 Fortescue Metals Group’s ambition for a fully autonomous fleet of haul trucks is a step closer after the first Cat 789D trucks fitted with the technology started operating at Cloudbreak.
Queensland coal production drives record export figures (0) May 9, 2019 The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics trade figures have revealed that the value of Queensland exports has surged over the past year to yet another record high for the state.
Hancock sways major Riversdale shareholder in takeover tussle (0) May 9, 2019 Hancock Prospecting has achieved a breakthrough in its takeover bid for Riversdale Resources by gaining acceptance of the offer from the coking coal company’s largest shareholder.
Fenix forms joint venture with Minehaul for Iron Ridge (0) May 9, 2019 Fenix Resources has entered into a strategic alliance with trucking and logistics company Minehaul that will advance development of the Iron Ridge project in the Mid West region of Western Australia.
Women in Industry Awards 2019 finalists announced (0) May 9, 2019 Finalists of the 2019 Women in Industry Awards are in to showcase the exceptional women who have achieved success through leadership, innovation and commitment to their sector.
Lepidico and Desert Lion to merge lithium prospects (0) May 8, 2019 Lithium companies Lepidico and Desert Lion have announced they will merge to create a “global leader in the development of lithium chemicals from Lepidolite.”
AVZ confirms Manono as world’s largest lithium resource (0) May 8, 2019 AVZ Minerals has declared the Manono lithium-tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the world’s largest measured and indicated lithium resource.
BHP slapped with record lawsuit over Brazil dam collapse (0) May 8, 2019 BHP has been hit with the largest damages claim in British legal history through a group action lawsuit seeking $US5 billion ($7.2 billion) over the 2015 Fundão dam collapse in ...
Volvo propels Northern Star Resources at Pogo (0) May 8, 2019 Northern Star Resources has added 60-ton Volvo A60H articulated trucks to meet the Alaska-based Pogo mine’s requirement of producing four million ounces of gold by the middle of next year.
Latest Vale setback boosts Australian iron stocks (0) May 8, 2019 Australian iron ore stocks have responded strongly following news that Brazilian courts have again stopped operations at Vale’s Brucutu mine.
New airborne gravity survey set to explore Pilbara (0) May 8, 2019 The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has launched its latest airborne gravity survey in the Pilbara region covering an area of 170,000 square kilometres.
Hancock Prospecting stretches Riversdale bid to $645m (0) May 7, 2019 Hancock Prospecting has increased its takeover offer for Riversdale Resources, taking its proposed buyout to over $645 million, provided it owns more than 85 per cent of the target company.
Scientists make breakthrough discovery about ‘fool’s gold’ (0) May 7, 2019 A team of German scientists has proven for the first time that the concentration of gold in the notorious ‘fool’s gold’ directly depends on the level of arsenic in the ...
Victoria bolsters mining guidelines as sector grows (0) May 7, 2019 The Andrews government has moved to strengthen Victoria’s resource guidelines, setting a higher standard for those accessing the state’s mineral resources.
Mondium inks $100 million contract for Greenbushes expansion (0) May 6, 2019 Talison Lithium has awarded Mondium a $100 million contract for the design and construction of a new tailing retreatment processing plant at the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia.
SIMPEC extends contract agreements at Cataby and Greenbushes (0) May 6, 2019 SIMPEC has secured more than $5 million in scope extensions with MSP Engineering and Iluka in Western Australia, solidifying a $48 million contract portfolio during the 2019 financial year.
The top five mining stories last week (0) May 6, 2019 Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including an opportunity for further growth at Pilbara Minerals’ lithium site at Pilgangoora.
QLD Government flips the bird on Adani mine plans (0) May 3, 2019 Adani Mining has delivered a call to action urging Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to “take charge and show leadership” regarding the company’s outstanding approvals for the Carmichael coal mine project ...
Riley mine restart pays off for Venture Minerals (0) May 3, 2019 Venture Minerals has secured a binding iron ore offtake agreement with Singaporean company Prosperity Steel at the Riley mine in northwest Tasmania.
Alkane Resources confirmed today that development of the Tomingley gold project’s underground expansion at the Wyoming One deposit is on budget and ahead of schedule.
Santos has revealed the Dorado-2 appraisal well has confirmed a major oil and gas resource in the Bedout Basin, offshore Western Australia.
Northern Minerals is continuing its streak of capital raisings, this time seeking $22 million to help repay debts and further advance the Browns Range heavy rare earths pilot project in ...
The 2019 Women in Industry Awards took place in Melbourne last night, celebrating the brilliant, hard-working women helping advance Australian industry.
Seaborne iron ore is expected to fall into a larger deficit this year as a result of disruptions at Vale SA’s operations, according to S&P Global.
Rio Tinto has awarded a contract worth close to $30 million to Onsite Rental Group to provide ancillary and light mobile equipment over the next three years.
Sandvik has introduced its new DR416i rotary blasthole drill as part of a focus on enhancing safety, productivity and reducing costs for mining companies.
Inca Minerals says it expects South32’s first round of earn-in funding on the Riqueza copper project in Peru will start in the next seven days.
Rio Tinto has released details of encouraging intercepts at the Winu copper-gold project in the Paterson province, Western Australia.
RNC Minerals has unearthed its second high-grade gold discovery in nine months at its Beta Hunt mine near Kambalda, Western Australia.
Epiroc has revealed its ‘6th sense’ approach, combining digitisation and automation to boost the productivity, sustainability and safety of machinery.
Cooper Energy is continuing to grow its gas contract portfolio with the announcement of a new supply agreement with AGL Energy.
The off-grid sector in Australia has emerged as one of the best business cases for energy storage and hybrid energy systems to reduce diesel and gas consumption for power generation.
Dacian Gold has lowered its production guidance at the Mt Morgans operations in Western Australia, blaming the return of underground performance issues.
In environments with high explosion risk (Ex zones), such as on oil and gas platforms, interfaces must fulfil special safety requirements so that plugging and unplugging does not ignite the ...
Wesfarmers has bolstered the resources experience on its board through its appointment of Fortescue deputy chairman Sharon Warburton.
St Barbara has formed a joint venture (JV) with the subsidiary of gold explorer Alice Queen for the Horn Island project in the Torres Strait, far-north Queensland.
Orica releases automated rock sizing measurement technology, FRAGTrack as part of its BlastIQ digital blast optimisation platform suite.
The South Australian Government will inject $10 million into the exploration of untapped mineral resources, at a time when the state’s exploration investment figures are the lowest in a decade.
The world’s 40 largest mining companies continued their steady growth last year despite decreased investor sentiment, according to PwC’s Mine 2019 report.
Anglo American has opened applications for its 2020 apprenticeship program at the Moranbah North mine in central Queensland.
It is time for Australia to “seriously discuss” the benefits of developing a nuclear power industry, according to comments made by the Australaisian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).
BHP has awarded the largest single contract through its Local Buying Program to a Pilbara Aboriginal Traditional Owner business, Gumala Enterprises at the Yandi iron ore mine site.
The value of capital raising deals in the mining industry has increased significantly in the first quarter this year to more than $US11 billion ($15.7 billion), according to GlobalData.
Aurelia Metals has put the Nymagee copper development nearby its flagship Hera mine in central New South Wales on hold, tripling its exploration budget instead.
BGC Group has appointed Daniel Cooper as its next chief executive officer.
Referred to as the ‘fifth utility’, air compressors play a vital role in the mining industry. While compressed air is a valuable resource on any mine site, the costs of ...
Gold prices have today hit an all-time high, breaking the $1900 per ounce mark in the Australian currency for the first time.
NRW Holdings will continue its capacity as a mining contractor to Gascoyne Resources at the Dalgaranga gold project in Western Australia irrespective of the latter’s voluntary administration.
Western Australia is driving a boost to mineral exploration spending in the March 2019 quarter, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data.
St Barbara is allowing investors who applied for new shares under the company’s acquisition of Atlantic Gold to withdraw their applications by the end of the week.
The minerals industry has welcomed the New South Wales government’s commitment to not increasing mining royalties in the upcoming state budget.
Clean TeQ Holdings is appointing Macquarie Capital to search for a partner to work on the company’s Sunrise battery materials complex in New South Wales.
Macmahon has confirmed market speculation about its potential takeover of the GBF Underground Mining group, which could provide it with a strong access to the Western Australian Goldfields.
Santos managing director and chief executive officer Kevin Gallagher claims the proposed Narrabri coal seam gas (CSG) project could fill an important niche for the domestic gas market on the ...
Gascoyne Resources has moved into administration due to an expected material cash shortfall over the coming months.
Lucapa Diamond Company has continued its successful run at auction after securing $US10 million ($14.5 million) for the sale of alluvial diamonds from its Lulo mine in Angola, central Africa.
Mount Gibson has approved Shougang Concord and SCIT Trading’s novating interest as guarantor and buyer under the existing Koolan Island offtake agreement to Newton Resources and its subsidiary Ace Profit ...
In a national first, a joint venture (JV) between Australia Pacific LNG and Armour Energy in Queensland will seek out gas only for use by Australian manufacturers.
Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including approval of modifications to the expansion of a leading coal mine in ...
Adani Mining has received its long-awaited approval for the black-throated finch management plan at the Carmichael coal development.
Fortescue Metals Group has launched a recruitment trailer that is touring around the Pilbara region of Western Australia, spreading employment opportunities to the Aboriginal communities.
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has indicated that Lynas Corporation’s rare earth elements (REE) processing plant near Kuantan, Malaysia, will probably receive its renewal to operate later this year.
Gina Rinehart, with a net worth of $13.81 billion, is placed second in the Australian Financial Review’s rich list this year.
Newly elected Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape has declared he is “striving to economically free” the country through mining law reform.
Gold Fields has appointed underground mining contractor Pybar Mining Services to develop the Hamlet North project at the St Ives gold mine outside Kambalda, Western Australia.
Caterpillar has released its new R2900 Underground Loader which offers expanded emission control options in response to global regulations surrounding diesel engine emissions.
Fenix Resources has signed a joint cooperation agreement (JCA) with Geraldton Port to export iron product from the Iron Ridge project in the Mid West region of Western Australia.
Champion Iron has completed an agreement with the Government of Quebec to acquire the stake it does not already own in Quebec Iron Ore (QIO).
SRG Global has impressed GFG Liberty OneSteel with its capability and performance in recent months, setting it up for a long-term contract at the Whyalla Steelworks site in South Australia.
Liquified natural gas (LNG) now dominates Australia’s petroleum production due to high demand from Asia, according to energy advisory firm EnergyQuest.
The Queensland Government is expecting the state’s biggest mining companies to voluntarily fund infrastructure development in regional communities.
The Queensland Government has granted a prescribed project status to Agripower Australia’s $663 million fertiliser expansion project near Townsville.
The Queensland Government has continued to drive national gas policy, awarding companies permission to explore energy rich land in the state.
Lucapa Diamond Company’s second diamonds tender this year has attracted $US3.5 million ($5 million) in Antwerp, Belgium.
Birimian has selected DRA Global to provide engineering services to optimise the process flowsheet for its Goulamina lithium project in Mali, West Africa.
New Hope Group produced 40 per cent more coal during the quarter ending April against a year ago after twice increasing its stake in the Bengalla joint venture in New ...
Superior Resources has signed an earn-in and joint venture (JV) agreement with South32 to advance exploration at its Nicholson zinc project in northwest Queensland.
Australian Vanadium (AVL) has returned high-purity vanadium pentoxide during a benchmark metallurgical test work program at its Western Australian project.
BHP Petroleum has conducted an ocean bottom node (OBN) survey in the Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) to allow the company to drill deeper and more complicated targets.
Rio Tinto has backed the Western Australian Government’s launch of its first ever five-pillar approach to enhancing science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) capabilities throughout the state.
Safescape and 3ME Technology have launched a light electric vehicle that will be trialled at an underground gold mine.
Peabody Energy has started re-ventilating the first segment of the North Goonyella underground coal mine following consultation with the Queensland Mines Inspectorate.
Auroch Minerals is set to bolster its presence in Western Australia through a planned acquisition of Minotaur Exploration’s Saints and Leinster nickel projects.
Gold Road Resources has revealed positive assay results from its exploration program at the Yamarna gold project in Western Australia as it works towards delivering a maiden mineral resource.
Unemployment among Australian geoscientists has continued to fall in the first quarter of 2019, however those that are self-employed continued to struggle.
Rio Tinto has received delivery of the 100th repower engine component for its Komatsu 830E and 930E haul trucks from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and Cummins.
Simex twin header rotary cutters give excellent results when conventional digging systems are too weak and percussion tools have little effect.
A TAFE mining program has released figures suggesting the number of women in the industry is increasing, but concedes there is still more work to be done to achieve gender ...
Queensland’s coordinator-general has announced the two remaining key approvals for Adani’s Carmichael coal mine and rail project will be finalised in the next three weeks.
The Victorian Government is set to introduce a 2.75 per cent royalty to gold miners, in line with all other Australian states.
South32 has awarded a long-term engineering services contract at the Worsley Alumina bauxite operations in Western Australia to SRG Global.
The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has backed the Morrison Government’s economic focus of creating jobs, responsible economic management and delivering strong budget surpluses.
Australia has experienced its highest March quarter of gold production since 1998, according to Melbourne-based gold mining consultants, Surbiton Associates.
Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including the ongoing rise of iron ore prices in 2019.
The price-conscious consumer is now more educated than ever with access to worldwide prices on their smartphone, but they are often unaware that local warranty, technical support and parts availability ...
Austmine 2019 has announced its award winners at the Industry Leaders’ Dinner and Awards in Brisbane, Queensland this week.
An approved large coal project three times the capacity of Adani’s proposed Carmichael project in the Galilee Basin, Queensland will no longer be going ahead.
The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has announced that former federal cabinet minister Helen Coonan will replace Vanessa Guthrie as the organisation’s new chair.
Australian scientists have discovered gold-coated fungi near Boddington, Western Australia that may offer clues for finding gold deposits.
Kalium Lakes has awarded four contracts associated with the development of the purification plant facilities for its Beyondie sulphate of potash project (BSOPP).
Mincor Resources will raise up to $23 million to fast-track its plans to restart high-grade nickel sulphide mining near Kambalda in Western Australia.
Ausdrill subsidiary, BTP has secured a further three year contract with Peabody Australia in its Hunter Valley and Bowen Basin coal mines, its second extension in two years.
Wesfarmers has secured a scheme implementation deed (SID) with Kidman Resources regarding a proposed takeover deal announced in early May.
Lynas Corporation will spend $500 million on growing its production to 2025, including the creation of a new upstream processing plant in Western Australia.
Havilah Resources has been granted approval from the Department for Energy and Mining for the right to mine at the Kalkaroo copper-gold project in South Australia.
Lucapa Diamond Company has revealed the largest diamond recovered from its Mothae kimberlite mine in Lesotho, South Africa since commercial operations commenced in January.
Barrick Gold plans to acquire the remaining Acacia Mining shares it doesn’t own in a buyout offer to douse a long stand-off with the Tanzanian Government.
Nearly a third of participants involved in the current round of an ongoing state-backed commodity exploration scheme in Western Australia are focusing on battery metal discoveries.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged for a timeline to be set for the approval of Adani’s proposed Carmichael mine.
NRW Holdings has denied media speculation that it has been in advanced talks to acquire BGC Contracting.
BHP is aiming to maximise shareholder value through continuing to diversify its portfolio and adapt to “the changing world”, according to its long-term strategy.
Rockwell Automation is an associate partner of the Austmine 2019 Conference and Exhibition, currently being held from May 21-23 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland.
Fortescue’s Queens Valley mining area is moving forward having received all necessary environmental and heritage approvals.
A list of the top five Australian cities for graduates has been published, with the country’s larger urban hubs nowhere to be found.
CITIC has had its appeal case against Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy rejected, forcing the Chinese company to pay royalties from its iron ore project in Pilbara, Western Australia.
BHP has released statistics suggesting that the global uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) could be larger than the company initially anticipated.
An emerging specialty chemicals producer EcoMag has set its sights on producing magnesium carbonate using wastewater streams from salt production in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
The Labor Party’s unexpected loss in the federal election over the weekend could owe to its anti-mining policies, evident in regional Australians’ eroding support for the party.
An amateur prospector in Western Australia has discovered a 49-ounce (1.4-kilogram) gold nugget worth almost $100,000.
NRW Holdings subsidiary RCR Mining Technologies has received a significant original equipment manufacturer equipment package for Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Koodaideri project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
AngloGold Ashanti is set to process ore produced from Matsa Resources’ Red October gold mine in Western Australia, which 60 kilometres from its Sunrise Dam operation.
Anglo American will team up with Traditional Owners for mining exploration in North West Queensland thanks to a new agreement with the Pitta Pitta Aboriginal Corporation.
Lynas Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Blue Line Corporation to develop rare earths separation capacity in the United States.
Metminco will merge with unlisted company Andes Resources to create a leading Colombian gold explorer and developer with one of the largest portfolios of gold-copper exploration assets in the Cauca ...
Vale has warned of the possible dam collapse at the Gongo Soco mine in Barão de Cocais, Minas Gerais, 65 kilometres away from the site of the Brumadiho dam failure.
The Australian minerals industry believes it will benefit from the re-election of the Coalition Government through reduced taxes and increased investment in the sector.
Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including the approval of new mine development in Queensland.
Mining services company Ausdrill is dropping a previously announced refinancing plan due to ongoing heated trade debates between the United States and China.
NRW Holdings has been awarded a $137 million contract by Rio Tinto for the Koodaideri iron ore project’s rail formation south earthworks.
Thyssenkrupp is strengthening its post in Australia by establishing a service centre in Brisbane.
Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM), a subsidiary of Pure Minerals, has appointed Lycopodium to undertake a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for its battery materials refinery in Townsville.
Job vacancies in the mining and resources sector dipped in April by 1.1 per cent, despite strong commodity prices over the past three months.
National Group managing director Mark Ackroyd says the adoption of a port-to-pit approach has been pivotal to the company’s success.
Santos is set to boost its presence in Papua New Guinea by acquiring the P’nyang natural gas field from the existing licence participants for $US187 million ($271 million).
Antipa Minerals’ exploration at its Citadel joint venture (JV) project in Western Australia this year will extend to the vicinity of Rio Tinto’s Winu operation.
Galaxy Resources is set to become the largest shareholder in Alliance Mineral Assets following the joint announcement of a $32.5 million raising.
OZ Minerals has awarded a €15 million ($24.3 million) contract to design and deliver a mine paste backfill system at the Prominent Hill copper-gold operation to Outotec.
Queensland Parliament is set to cut red tape for explorers, allowing them to change their work program without seeking extra approvals starting next year.
South Australia’s appetite to meet the rise in demand for copper, electric vehicles and renewable energy has been matched by the vision of its miners.
Newmont Exploration has struck a $14.5 million joint venture agreement with WA-based Prodigy Gold over the Tobruk project in the Northern Territory.
Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 130-carat, gem-quality diamond from the Lulo project in Angola, West Africa.
Pantoro has acquired a 50 per cent share in the Central Norseman gold project (CNGP), giving the company assets in two high-grade gold regions in Western Australia.
Ramelius Resources’ proposed expansion of its Greenfinch open pit operation at the Edna May gold mine has been rejected by the Western Australian Environment Minister Stephen Dawson.
With the ability to monitor everything from a single machine to an entire plant from a central location, the SKF Multilog IMx-16Plus integrates seamlessly with other devices (such as the ...
Breaker Resources continues to gain momentum with its Bombora gold resource in Western Australia following a $6.3 million raising to fund a pre-feasibility study (PFS).
Lincoln Electric has served the welding industry by delivering industry leading welding and cutting solutions since 1895.
Rio Tinto is strengthening a commitment to become a key supplier of materials for battery and electric technologies at the Jadar lithium project in Serbia and at its copper ventures ...
Engineering contractor Civmec has recorded a 51 per cent increase to its order book in the March quarter on the back of major contract wins with BHP and Albemarle.
BHP has indicated it will keep the Nickel West business in Western Australia as the company looks to capitalise on the emerging global battery market.
Fortescue Metals Group is distributing over $1 billion worth of dividends to shareholders ahead of Labor’s plan to crack down on franking credits should it win Saturday’s federal election.
OZ Minerals is to loan carry Minotaur Exploration’s Jericho copper project through to the start of commercial production in exchange for an increased stake in a joint venture.
Resolute Mining has been granted approval for nine mining leases that will help catapult the Ravenswood gold project in Queensland into expansion.
The Queensland Government has approved Pembroke Resources’ $1 billion Olive Downs metallurgical coal project in the Bowen Basin.
Clive Palmer plans to pursue legal action against the Queensland Government for allegedly refusing to provide Queensland Nickel Resources with access to the Port of Townsville.
The human element of mining technology is set to be a major focus of next week’s Austmine conference in Brisbane.
TNG has taken an important step forward in ensuring the validity of the Mount Peake vanadium-titanium-iron project thanks to a new binding offtake agreement.
Aus Tin Mining has received regulatory approval to start mining at the Taronga tin project in New South Wales.
Adani Mining has claimed the Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) has gone back on its commitment to cease reviews regarding the Carmichael coal project’s Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Management ...
Rio Tinto’s proposed expansion of the West Angelas iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia is a step closer to construction with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)’s approval.
Logistics specialist Qube Holdings is expanding its reach into mining and oil and gas with the purchase of services provider LCR Group.
Australia has announced a new mining initiative, and Queensland, with its abundant mineral resources and world-class assets, can expect to be the centre of investor interest making Brisbane the ideal ...
Brazilian mining giant Vale has reported a US$1.6 billion loss ($2.3 billion) in the March quarter after the Brumadinho dam disaster led to disruptions to its supply of iron ore.
Galaxy Resources has returned its strongest month of production to date during April at the Mt Cattlin operation in Western Australia.
The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is testing the viability of longer coal trains capable of running closer together through the Hunter valley.
Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including a machinery and technology alliance between Rio Tinto and Caterpillar in the ...
Tropicana gold mine joint venture partners AngloGold Ashanti and Independence Group have ignited the first blast at the Boston Shaker underground development in Western Australia.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared his support for the mining industry, pledging $30 million for a new school for miners in Central Queensland.
Coal miner TerraCom Resources has rolled out a $63 million restructuring plan that will support its growth ambitions.
Kirkland Lake Gold has raised its annual guidance for the second quarter in a row following strong results that included record production at the Fosterville mine in Victoria.
Aurelia Metals has responded to ongoing speculation surrounding potential interest in Glencore’s CSA Mines, confirming it is no longer in discussions with the copper mine.
Rio Tinto’s products “have a major role to play in transition to a low-carbon economy”, according to a speech by chairman Simon Thompson.
TNG has signed a contract with construction group McMahon Services to progress the non-process infrastructure (NPI) for its Mount Peake titanium-iron project in the Northern Territory.
The world’s largest gold complex in Nevada, United States is set to be born with the expected completion of the joint venture (JV) between Barrick Gold and Newmont Goldcorp.
Fortescue Metals Group’s ambition for a fully autonomous fleet of haul trucks is a step closer after the first Cat 789D trucks fitted with the technology started operating at Cloudbreak.
Talison Lithium has received approval from the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to expand the Greenbushes lithium mine.
Greyhound Resources has secured two contracts to provide bus services for mining companies in Australia’s north.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics trade figures have revealed that the value of Queensland exports has surged over the past year to yet another record high for the state.
Rio Tinto’s $2.6 billion Amrun mine in Queensland is cementing Australia’s standing as the world’s top producer of bauxite.
Hancock Prospecting has achieved a breakthrough in its takeover bid for Riversdale Resources by gaining acceptance of the offer from the coking coal company’s largest shareholder.
Finalists of the 2019 Women in Industry Awards are in to showcase the exceptional women who have achieved success through leadership, innovation and commitment to their sector.
AVZ Minerals has declared the Manono lithium-tin project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the world’s largest measured and indicated lithium resource.
Heron Resources has marked the start of full production activities with ore processing at its Woodlawn zinc-copper mine in New South Wales.
BHP has been hit with the largest damages claim in British legal history through a group action lawsuit seeking $US5 billion ($7.2 billion) over the 2015 Fundão dam collapse in ...
Northern Star Resources has added 60-ton Volvo A60H articulated trucks to meet the Alaska-based Pogo mine’s requirement of producing four million ounces of gold by the middle of next year.
Australian iron ore stocks have responded strongly following news that Brazilian courts have again stopped operations at Vale’s Brucutu mine.
The Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) has launched its latest airborne gravity survey in the Pilbara region covering an area of 170,000 square kilometres.
Hancock Prospecting has increased its takeover offer for Riversdale Resources, taking its proposed buyout to over $645 million, provided it owns more than 85 per cent of the target company.
Caterpillar will supply machinery and autonomous technology for Rio Tinto’s Koodaideri iron ore project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.
A team of German scientists has proven for the first time that the concentration of gold in the notorious ‘fool’s gold’ directly depends on the level of arsenic in the ...
The Andrews government has moved to strengthen Victoria’s resource guidelines, setting a higher standard for those accessing the state’s mineral resources.
AngloGold Ashanti has awarded Kalgoorlie Power Systems with a contract expansion to increase power capacity for its Tropicana underground development in Western Australia.
Talison Lithium has awarded Mondium a $100 million contract for the design and construction of a new tailing retreatment processing plant at the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia.
AuStar Gold has entered into discussions with the administrators of Centennial Mining to assess proposing a deed of company arrangement with its creditors.
Resolute Mining is taking advantage of new technology in the mining sector at its Syama underground gold mine in Mali, West Africa.
Perseus Mining has approved the construction of its third gold mine, the Yaouré gold project in Côte d’Ivoire.
SIMPEC has secured more than $5 million in scope extensions with MSP Engineering and Iluka in Western Australia, solidifying a $48 million contract portfolio during the 2019 financial year.
Rail operator Aurizon has signed agreements with coal mining customers for a revised rail access deal via the Central Queensland Coal Network (CQCN).
Stay on top of the most read articles on the Australian Mining website over the past week, including an opportunity for further growth at Pilbara Minerals’ lithium site at Pilgangoora.
Venture Minerals has secured a binding iron ore offtake agreement with Singaporean company Prosperity Steel at the Riley mine in northwest Tasmania.
Rio Tinto plans to ramp up its assessment of the Winu copper-gold discovery in the far east Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Susan Warby has replaced longstanding Dingo chief executive officer Paul Higgins.