Orange Minerals NL OzAurum Resources Ltd
ASX: OMX ASX: OZM
Listing date: December 8
IPO amount: $7 million
Share price range since listing: 16-22c
Address: 25 Colin St, West Perth WA
6430
Tel: +61 8 6102 2039
Website: orangeminerals.com.au
Social Media: @orange_minerals
Email: [email protected]
Key personnel: David Greenwood
(managing director), John Campbell
Smyth (chairman) Listing date: February 8 Focus: Gold, WA
Focus: Copper, gold, NSW, WA IPO amount: $12 million Comment:
Share price range since listing: 10-26.5c
Comment: Address: 15 William St, Kalgoorlie WA 6430 It was a relatively sedate start to listed
The latest IPO to come out of Brian life for OzAurum but by the end of 2021
Roden’s Kandahar House incubator Tel: +61 8 9093 0039 drill hits were beginning to roll in from
following Iceni Gold Ltd and Siren Gold Website: ozaurumresources.com its Mulgabbie North gold project near
Ltd, Orange’s focus is the Lachlan Fold Social Media: @ozaurum Carosue Dam with intercepts of 18m @
Belt where managing director David Email: [email protected] 1.64 g/t and 14m @ 1.58 g/t reported in
Greenwood has been exploring for November and 4m @ 3.09 g/t reported in
decades. Lead project Calarie is along Key personnel: Jeffrey Williams December.
strike of North Parkes (2.9 moz gold) and (executive director), Andrew Pumphrey
Tomingley (1.7 moz). (chief executive)
OZZ Resources Ltd Pacgold Ltd Pantera Minerals Ltd
ASX: OZZ ASX: PGO ASX: PFE
Listing date: June 15 Listing date: June 8 Listing date: August 5
IPO amount: $5 million IPO amount: $5 million IPO amount: $7 million
Share price range since listing: 11.2-33c Share price range since listing: 23-87.5c Share price range since listing: 18-57.5c
Address: C/- 15/217 Hay Street, Subiaco Address: 4/360 Collins St, Melbourne Address: 1/10 Outram St, West Perth
WA 6008 VIC 3000 WA 6005
Tel: +61 8 6141 3500 Tel: +61 3 9817 7076 Tel: +61 8 9467 2604
Website: ozzresources.com.au Website: pacgold.com.au Website: panteraminerals.com
Social Media: @OzzResources Social Media: @PacgoldASX Social Media: @PanteraMinerals
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Key personnel: Alan Lockett (non- Key personnel: Cathy Moises (chair), Key personnel: Barnaby Egerton-
executive chair), Jonathan Lea Tony Schreck (chief executive) Warburton (chairman), Matt Hansen
(managing director) Focus: Gold, Queensland (chief executive)
Focus: Gold, WA Focus: Iron ore, lead-silver, copper, WA
Comment:
Comment: A single-asset focused company, Comment:
A packed portfolio with assets in WA’s Pacgold has already enjoyed success on Initially iron ore-focused, Pantera has
Murchison and North-eastern Goldfields, its Alice River gold project in Northern expanded into copper and now lead-silver
OZZ spent most of 2021 laying the Queensland. Exploration in 2021 after picking up ground near the Abra
groundwork for 2022. Expect exploration identified a new high-grade gold target on project in WA with drilling planned for
activity at Maguires in the Murchison the Alice River shear zone and in January this year after EIS funding was secured.
where the plan is to quickly delineate a hits of 7m @ 9.3 g/t gold and 6m @ 6.5 Copper targets have also been identified
resource and take advantage of toll- g/t were reported. at Yampi, along strike from Dreadnought
treatment options in the district. Resources Ltd’s recent Orion discovery.
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 51
IPos
Panther Metals Ltd Pearl Gull Iron Ltd Polymetals Resources Ltd
ASX: NKL ASX: PLG ASX: POL
Listing date: December 10 Listing date: September 20 Listing date: June 15
IPO amount: $5 million IPO amount: $4 million IPO amount: $7 million
Share price range since listing: 17-23c Share price range since listing: 6.7-21c Share price range since listing: 11.5-23c
Address: L2/22 Mount St, Perth WA Address: 945 Wellington St, West Perth Address: Suite 6, Level 5, 189 Kent
6000 WA 6005 Street Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: +61 8 6188 8181 Tel: +61 8 9322 7600 Tel: +61 8 9322 6322
Website: panthermetals.com.au Website: pearlgulliron.com.au Website: polymetals.com
Social Media: @panther_metals Social Media: @PearlGull Social Media: @polymetals
Email: [email protected]. Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
au Key personnel: Russell Clark Key personnel: David Sproule
Key personnel: Kerim Sener (chairman), (chairman), Alex Passmore (director), (chairman), Alex Hanly (chief executive,
Daniel Tuffin (managing director) Cathy Moises (director) below)
Focus: Nickel-cobalt, gold, WA, Focus: Iron ore, WA Focus: Gold, Guinea
Northern Territory Comment:
Comment: Guinea has shone on the international
Comment: Springing up on the back of the iron gold radar thanks to Predictive Discovery
Panther immediately went to work upon ore price spike, Pearl Gull is focused Ltd’s recent success and Polymetals
listing with a 6,000m RC programme exclusively on historical Cockatoo Island will be hoping to replicate that story. The
at its Coglia nickel-cobalt project in off the Pilbara coast. The company is company has two projects – Alahine
Laverton, WA. The company is confident chasing along-strike extensions of the and Mansala. Alahine offered up some
of producing a maiden resource following previously mined Seawall mine (now encouraging results in 2021 with broad
the drilling campaign which is due for referred to as Switch pit), the potential intercepts of 14m @ 1.14 g/t gold, 10m @
completion this month. Work is yet to start for structurally repeated mineralisation at 1.32 g/t gold and 7m @ 1.63 g/t as well
on the rest of the company’s portfolio North Bay and lower grade deposits at as high-grade near-surface hits of 1m @
which includes Merolia gold and Red Flag Magazine pit. 51.73 g/t, 1m @ 96 g/t and 8m @ 5.26 g/t.
nickel around Laverton, and Annaburroo
and Marrakai gold in the NT.
Peregrine Gold Ltd
Parabellum Resources Ltd ASX: PDG
ASX: PBL Listing date: March 31
IPO amount: $2.5 million
Listing date: November 18
IPO amount: $6 million Share price range since listing: 24-39c
Share price range since listing: 18.5-26c Address: Level 9, 28 The Esplanade,
Perth, WA 6000
Address: 52 Ord St, West Perth WA 6005 Tel: +61 8 9322 6322
Tel: +61 8 6313 2950 Website: peregrinegold.com.au
Website: parabellumresources.com.au Social Media: @peregrinegold
Social Media: @ParabellumRes Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected] Key personnel: Ian Middlemas
Key personnel: Mark Hohnen (chairman), George Merhi (technical
(chairman), Shaun Menezes (director) director)
Focus: Gold, copper, NSW Focus: Gold, WA
Comment: Comment:
Largely centred on Dubbo, the Attracted to the Pilbara and its rejuvenated
Parabellum portfolio has the look of a gold prospectivity, Peregrine listed with eight
classic NSW copper-gold junior with Els covering 1,500sq km south of Newman.
potential for VMS and skarn deposits. By the end of 2021, its horizons had been
The company’s first task of 2022 is widened to include iron ore – thanks to the
to undertake an aeromag survey to identification of BIF mineralisation during
identify targets for a follow-up RC drilling a rock sampling survey – and lithium after
campaign later in the year. successfully winning a ballot for four licences
along strike from Pilbara Minerals Ltd’s
Pilgangoora lithium mine.
Page 52 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
main Dianne orebody, confirming the
QMines Ltd Resource Base Ltd polymetallic nature of the project and
completing an IP survey, reinforcing
ASX: POL ASX: RBX the belief that there is further untested
sulphide mineralisation on the project.
Listing date: May 6 Listing date: July 2
IPO amount: $11.5 million IPO amount: $5.5 million
Share price range since listing: 25-66.5c Share price range since listing: 15.5-31c Ronin Resources Ltd
Address: Suite J, 34 Suakin Drive, Address: Suite 5, 62 Ord Street, West ASX: RON
Mosman NSW 2088 Perth, WA 6005
Tel: +61 2 8915 6241 Tel: +61 8 9322 1587 Listing date: December 16
Website: qmines.com.au Website: resourcebase.com.au IPO amount: $5 million
Social Media: @qminesL Social Media: @ResourceBaseLtd Share price range since listing: 16.5-23c
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Address: L21, 459 Collins St, Melbourne
VIC 3000
Key personnel: Andrew Sparke Key personnel: Shannon Green
(executive chairman), James Anderson (executive chairman) John Lewis Tel: +61 3 8630 3321
(general manager – operations) (executive director) Website: roninresources.com.au
Focus: Gold, copper, QLD Focus: Copper, NSW Social Media:
Comment: Comment: Email: [email protected]
The undoubted flagship among the Although it listed with a suite of copper- Key personnel: Joseph van den Elsen
company’s Queensland portfolio is Mt gold targets in Victoria, Resource Base (executive chairman), Wilson Casteneda
Chalmers near Rockhampton where had always declared itself on the lookout (director)
the company has an existing inferred for other highly prospective projects. Focus: Coal, gold, copper, Colombia
resource of 3.9mt @ 1.87% copper The company believes it may have
equivalent, as well as numerous found one in the Mitre Hill project in the Comment:
exploration targets around the historical Murray Basin across the Victorian-South Led by dual Australian-Colombian citizen
mine. In December, QMines announced Australia border. The main target at Mitre van den Elsen, Ronin has two project
an increased resource of 5.8mt @ 1.7% Hill is ionic clay-hosted rare earths of the in northern Colombia Vetas – near the
copper equivalent with a further upgrade type rarely seen outside of China. The Venezuelan border – and Santa Rosa
expected in the first half of 2022. Mitre Hill ELAs sit either side of Australian but they are largely shrouded in mystery
Rare Earths Ltd’s Red Tail and Yellow Tail with no commodities or exploration plans
deposits which already boast a JORC mentioned on the company’s website.
Recharge Metals Ltd 2012-compliant resource.
ASX: REC Rubix Resources Ltd
Revolver Resources Holdings Ltd
Listing date: October 11 ASX: RB6
IPO amount: $5 million ASX: RRR Listing date: December 23
Share price range since listing: 14.5-22.5c Listing date: September 23 IPO amount: $4.5 million
Address: L11 London House, 216 St IPO amount: $12.7 million Share price range since listing: 15.5-27c
Georges Tce, Perth WA 6000 Share price range since listing: 22-63c Address: L11, 216 St Georges Tce, Perth
Tel: +61 8 9481 0389 Address: L23, 240 Queen St, Brisbane, WA 6000
Website: rechargemetals.com.au QLD 4000 Tel: +61 8 9481 0389
Social Media: @RechargeMetals Tel: +61 7 3016 5000 Website: rubixresources.com.au
Email: [email protected] Website: revolverresources.com.au Email: [email protected]
Key personnel: Brett Wallace (managing Social Media: @RevolverRes Key personnel: Eddie King (executive
director), Simon Andrew (chairman) Email: [email protected] chairman), Colin Locke (director)
Focus: Copper, WA Key personnel: Pat Williams (managing Focus: Copper, nickel, PGE, zinc, gold,
Comment: director), Paul McKenna (executive QLD, WA
Recharge got to work immediately after chairman) Comment:
listing, launching a four-hole RC drilling Another to beat the pre-Christmas rush to
programme on its Brandy Hill South copper Focus: Copper, NSW market, Rubix has a portfolio split between
project in the Murchison during November. Comment: Queensland and WA. In Queensland, the
While assays from that programme were Revolver’s goal of reviving the prolific main focus is Paperback 25km east of the
still in the lab at the time of print, they did Dianne copper mine in Far North Century base metal mine. Century-style
show visible copper mineralisation and the Queensland is on track with geophysical stratiform mineralisation is the target for
company had already returned to drilling surveys and drilling proving equally Rubix but the company also plans to test for
with a second campaign of 15 RC holes successful during 2021. In December, MVT-style mineralisation as well. In WA, it
beginning in December. managing director Pat Williams told the has ELAs adjacent to the Lake Johnstone
market the company was delivering on nickel complex and at Collurabbie North
all its prospectus commitments including 220km east of Wiluna.
completion an initial resource for the
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 53
IPos
Address: 1/77 Hay St, Subiaco WA 6008 Email: [email protected]
Solis Minerals Ltd Tel: +61 8 9481 8669 Key personnel: Ian Finch (executive
ASX: SLM Website: tambourahmetals.com.au chairman), Neil McKay (chief financial
officer)
Social Media: @TambourahM
Listing date: December 24 Focus: Gold, WA
IPO amount: $5.5 million Email: [email protected] Comment:
Share price range since listing: 18-23.5c Key personnel: Rita Brooks (executive Torque has enjoyed some success on
chair)
Address: 595 Burrard St, Vancouver, its Paris gold project along the Boulder-
British Columbia, Canada Focus: Gold and nickel, WA Lefroy fault zone, reporting hits of 9m @
Tel: +61 8 6117 4798 Comment: 11.52 g/t gold, 12m @ 1.21 g/t and 6m
Named after its Marble Bar gold project,
@ 34.6 g/t during a 41-hole, 3,746m RC
Website: solisminerals.com Tambourah’s attention has shifted drilling campaign in August-September.
Social Media: @SolisMinerals somewhat to the Julimar region where The company planned to restart drilling of
Email: [email protected] it has secured more than 1,110sq km deeper targets in January.
Key personnel: Jason Cubitt (chief of ground near Chalice Mining Ltd’s
headline-making Julimar discovery. The
executive) company undertook an airborne gravity Torrens Mining Ltd
Focus: Copper, Chile, Peru survey in November and expects to
Comment: conduct a follow-up ground MLEM survey ASX: TRN
TSX-V listed Solis chose to dual list on the in the first few months of this year. Listing date: January 7
ASX to help with funding for exploration IPO amount: $10 million
of its Mostazal copper project in Chile.
The company had planned to start drilling TechGen Metals Ltd Share price range since listing: 16.5-17c
in January with a 2,900m diamond Address: Level 11 London House, 216 St
programme targeting both porphyry and ASX: TG1 Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
manto-style mineralisation. The company Listing date: April 7 Tel: +61 8 9481 0389
also has IOCG prospective ground in Website: torrensmining.com
neighbouring Peru. IPO amount: $6 million
Share price range since listing: 13.5-37.5c Social Media: @MiningTorrens
Star Minerals Ltd Address: AMP Tower, Level 28, 140 St Email: [email protected]
Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000
Key personnel: Bill Bloking (chairman),
ASX: SMS Tel: +61 8 6557 6606 Steve Shedden (managing director)
Website: techgenmetals.com.au Focus: Gold, copper, cobalt, SA,
Listing date: October 27 Social Media: @TechGenMetals Victoria
IPO amount: $5 million Email: [email protected] Comment:
Share price range since listing: 16-23c Key personnel: Maja McGuire (chair), While its 30/70 JV with Coda Minerals Ltd
Address: L1, 85 Havelock St, West Perth Ashley Hood (managing director) in South Australia is the most advanced,
WA 6005 Focus: Copper, gold, WA Torrens is throwing most of its own
Tel: +61 8 9226 1860 Comment: energy at the Mt Piper gold project, 30km
south-east of the Fosterville gold mine in
Website: starminerals.com.au TechGen has gone for a classic junior central Victoria. A maiden drill programme
Social Media: @MineralsStar explorer mix of copper, gold and base delivered a best hit of 5.4m @ 3.2 g/t
Email: [email protected] metal tenements across major WA gold from the Northwood Hill prospect
while rock chip sampling at the Goldie
Key personnel: Ian Stuart (chairman), mineral districts, in this case the Yilgarn prospect returned samples of up to 30.45
Greg Almond (chief executive) Craton, Ashburton Basin and the g/t gold over a strike length of 120m in a
Paterson Orogen. The most advanced
Focus: Gold, WA project appears to be the Blue Rock 150m-wide corridor. The company said it
Comment: Valley asset in the Ashburton where 7 RC would continue with systematic sampling
A simple investment proposal; two holes have been drilled for 1,153m. and mapping in the first quarter of 2022.
projects in WA’s Murchison district
with prospectivity for copper-gold. At
Tumblegum South, the company is intent Torque Metals Ltd Tulla Resources plc
on adding to the existing inferred resource
of 600,000t @ 2.2 g/t. That work was ASX: TOR ASX: TUL
undertaken by Bryah Resources Ltd Listing date: June 3 Listing date: March 18
which spun out both assets into Star.
IPO amount: $7 million IPO amount: $78.3 million
Share price range since listing: 18-33.5c Share price range since listing: 38.5-69c
Tambourah Metals Ltd Address: 4 Glencoe Road, Ardross WA Address: 2/2 Grosvenor Street, Bondi
ASX: TMB 6153 Junction NSW 2022
Tel: +61 8 6323 6826 Tel: +61 2 9095 4266
Listing date: August 12 Website: torquemetals.com Website: tullaresources.com
IPO amount: $8 million Social Media: Social Media: @TullaResources
Share price range since listing: 18-35c Email: [email protected]
Page 54 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
Key personnel: Kevin Maloney is focused on NSW and the Bulla Park, Mt best interval of 1m @ 10.85 g/t gold bodes well
(executive chairman), Michael Anglin Jack, Cawkers Well and Nantilla projects in for the company with follow-up drilling due to be
(non-executive director) particular. A diamond drilling programme at completed this month.
Focus: Gold, lithium, WA Bulla Park defined an overall mineralised zone
Comment: of 1km by 500m (open to the south) containing Widgie Nickel Ltd
stratabound copper and lead-zinc-silver
Tulla’s flagship asset is its 50% interest mineralisation including hits of 33m @ 0.45%
in the Norseman gold project, being copper and 22m @ 1% lead and 20 g/t silver. A ASX: WIN
brought back into production by Pantoro second programme was planned to start at the
Ltd with first gold expected in August. The Mt Jack copper-gold project in January. Listing date: September 22
Norseman belt also has lithium potential IPO amount: $224 million
and in December the JV partners struck a Share price range since listing: 18.5-29c
farm-in agreement with Mineral Resources Western Gold Resources Ltd Address: 1/1292 Hay St, West Perth WA
Ltd over the battery metal. MinRes can earn 6005
up to 65% of the lithium rights at Norseman ASX: WGR
by funding the project through to first Tel: +61 8 9322 1182
production. It must spend $2.5 million in the Listing date: July 19 Website: widgienickel.com.au
first 18 months of the agreement. IPO amount: $7 million Social Media: @WidgieNickel
Share price range since listing: 13-25c Email: [email protected]
Victory Goldfields Ltd Address: 97 Outram Street, West Perth Key personnel: Steve Norregaard
WA 6153 (managing director), Andrew Parker
ASX: 1VG Tel: +61 8 9201 1552 (chairman)
Listing date: July 14 Website: westerngoldresources.com.au Focus: Nickel, lithium, WA
IPO amount: $5 million Social Media: Comment:
Share price range since listing: 17-36c Email: admin@westerngoldresources. A new home for Neometals Ltd’s nickel
assets. Widgie has had a quiet start to date,
Address: Level 25, 108 St Georges Tce com.au launching its maiden drilling programme
Perth WA 6000 Key personnel: Gary Lyons (chairman), in November. The initial focus is on the
Tel: +61 8 6557 8656 Warren Thorne (managing director) north-east margin of the Widgiemooltha
Website: victorygold.com.au Focus: Gold, WA Dome where it holds the Widgie Townsite,
Widgie 3 and Gillett West resources. Drilling
Comment:
Social Media: @VictoryGoldAU Western Gold will be hopeful recent high- is set to test extensions of the Gillett West
Email: [email protected] grade intercepts from drilling on its Gold Duke mineralisation with 20 holes planned for a
Key personnel: Trevor Matthews project near Wiluna, WA can be repeated total of 6,115m.
(executive chairman) in 2022. RC results reported on January 11
Focus: Gold, WA showed continuity along strike and at depth of
high-grade mineralisation at the Eagle deposit Winsome Resources Ltd
with a southern extensional hole returning 6m
Comment: @ 11.66 g/t gold (including 2m @ 27.04 g/t). A ASX: WR1
Victory appears fully committed to gold follow-up programme is planned as part of the
exploration in the Murchison with the initial 22,000m the company committed to in Listing date: November 30
company holding 7,520ha of licences and November. IPO amount: $18 million
a further 1,060ha of ELAs around Cue. A Share price range since listing: 26-46c
3,821m RC programme was completed Address: 5/123a Colin St, West Perth,
in November across the Coodardy, Emily Western Mines Group Ltd WA 6005
Wells and Nemesis projects with assays
still in the lab at the time of print. ASX: WMG Tel: +61 419 853 904
Website: winsomeresources.com.au
Listing date: June 28 Social Media: @WinsomeResources
West Cobar Metals Ltd IPO amount: $5.5 million Email: administration@
Share price range since listing: 15.5-24.5c
ASX: WC1 winsomeresources.com.au
Address: Level 3, 33 Ord Street, West Key personnel: Chris Evans (managing
Listing date: October 1 Perth WA 6005 director), Justin Boylson (chairman)
IPO amount: $5.5 million Tel: +61 475 116 798 Focus: Lithium, Canada
Share price range since listing: 11-25c Website: westernmines.com.au Comment:
Address: 11/216 St Georges Tce, Perth Social Media: @westernmines Former Altura Mining and Mali Lithium
WA 6000 Email: [email protected] executive Chris Evans is back, this time
Tel: +61 8 9481 0389 Key personnel: Rex Turkington hunting the battery metal in Canada.
Website: westcobarmetals.com.au (chairman), Caedmon Marriott The company has three projects in the
Social Media: @West_Cobar_Met (managing director) James Bay region of Quebec. The lead
project is Cancet were the company has
Email: [email protected] Focus: Nickel, gold, WA an exploration target of 15-25mt @ 1-2%
Key personnel: Robert Klug (chairman), Comment: Li2O. The focus in the first half of 2022 is
David Pascoe (chief executive) With its traditional gold/nickel portfolio, Western on resource definition with a scoping study
Focus: Copper, Gold, NSW Mines Group should be a straightforward story, expected to be launched before the end of
particularly if high-grade gold continues to be
the year.
Comment: found on the Rock of Ages project in WA. A
As the name suggests, West Cobar Metals
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 55
skIlls
Welcome to the
aspirational age
he mining and resources industry has
T never before found itself under such
heightened social and environmental
scrutiny with much of it coming from a
new workforce generation.
Graduate geologist Ryan Wade at the Carosue
Dam gold mine’s Million Dollar pit
he world’s youth are becoming in- “If we take a step back and look at to- their values.
Tcreasingly aware of ideals concerning day’s high school leaver, we’re seeing Northern Star Resources Ltd graduate
climate change, gender representation, something I’ve never seen before, it’s an geologist Ryan Wade said safety on site
decarbonisation and ethical sourcing of evolution [of values],” Hitch told Paydirt. and a healthy workplace was at the top of
minerals; and the age of industry partici- “An evolution of what motivates the his list among employer qualities.
pants is lowering each year. school leaver. Initially, they wanted travel “I like that they valued safety,” Wade
Such rapid education has only become and adventure…then it became about said of his new employer. “And I’ve also
possible through permeating digital plat- the money and lifestyle, the FIFO con- seen a good emphasis on mental wellbe-
forms such as YouTube, TikTok, Insta- cept and working half a year. Now we’re ing. Northern Star offers a lot of support
gram, Twitter, Facebook and more; a seeing something completely different, for anyone that is struggling. I think the
movement made apparent in 2019 when what I call the ‘aspirational leaver’. industry as a whole is promoting good
crowds of high school students garnered “This is the leaver that’s interested in mental health programmes and getting
widespread attention for unified and changing the world. They’re informed rid of the existing stigma.
worldwide protests demanding govern- like no other and they’re environmentally “The initiatives changing workplaces
ment intervention into climate change. aware; thank you Greta. They’re acutely for the better has already started taking
Many attributed the protests to a push aware that we’re in trouble and they want place, and it’s up to us as graduates, and
from young activist Greta Thunberg and to be part of the solution. It’s really cool the ones after us, to keep implementing
her far-reaching channels across social to watch.” those changes and create a better work-
media. But environmentalism isn’t the only is- place environment for everyone.
Western Australian School of Mines sue at the forefront for future workers. “The industry does need to be rec-
(WASM) head of school for minerals, en- Students graduating from institutions ognised for the strides it has made in
ergy and chemical engineering Michael such as WASM are becoming more combatting other issues like sexism, but
Hitch says future resource workers are aware of their rights as employees and there is still room for improvement. An
adopting advanced and progressive val- are seeking employers who provide safer ideal world is where none of that behav-
ues before they even leave high school. and more welcoming workplaces that fit iour is taking place. It is good to see peo-
Page 56 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
ple already taking the initiative to stop it.” “[At WASM] we’re really looking at
Wade graduated from WASM last year, it through a holistic manner and really
and like many of his peers, was already breaking down some of the boundaries
transitioning to the early stages of his of these traditional disciplines,” he said.
career before finishing his studies. He “This year, my biggest focus was to get
started with Saracen Mineral Holdings people talking to each other and start
prior to its merger with Northern Star as breaking down some of the boundaries.”
part of its vacation work programme. Hitch, who has taught at institutions
Undergraduate programmes like that such as the University of British Colum-
are common in the industry as compa- bia, said Australia needs to start export-
nies take the initiative to fill roles in a con- ing its world-class skills to the rest of the
strained labour market. world.
Investment house Argonaut reported “Our mining sector is the best in the
in January that labour constraints had world,” he said. “Our safety is the best
become a standout issue last year in in the world. Our operating practices are
WA, and was only exacerbated by the best in the world. We should be looking
pandemic stemming international travel. at how we can share that with the rest of
It became a “perfect storm”, as Hitch the world as well. I think that’s a really
explained, when the pandemic struck, Michael Hitch important thing.
and Australia struggled to import expat “How do we take what we do so well
workers. school children, to “build awareness of here and export it to other places that
“The challenge we’re facing is that opportunities in the modern technology- haven’t quite got there yet, places like
we’re not getting the front end; people driven Australian minerals industry”. Latin America, Africa or Central Asia?
coming into the programme,” he said. Video games include “Old as Dirt!”, a “How can we work with those places
“Therefore, we’re not getting the people software teaching students about iron to transfer the technology and the best
coming out of the programme to satisfy ore’s journey from pit to port and “Re- practices that are phenomenal here. The
the current demand for graduates. source, Respond, Rescue” – a Minecraft bottom line here of what we do is ex-
“What some companies have begun modification explaining what a mine port prosperity and improve livelihoods.
to do, is look at disciplines and skill sets emergency response team does. Through that and the materials we pro-
that may not necessarily be perfect for Hitch, a North American expat, has duce, we assist in alleviating poverty.
what they need – but they’re able to em- taught and worked across many coun- That’s what we do, that’s our job.
ploy and train them to be a fit…taking a tries and continues to marvel at WA’s ex- “That feeds into the DNA of being as-
chemical engineer instead of a metallur- pertise in the resources industry. pirational.”
gical engineer, for example.” In combatting labour constraints, he – Fraser Palamara
The Minerals Council of Australia has believes fostering collaboration across
employed techniques such as education- disciplines will continue to produce
al videogames to promote the industry to world-class innovation.
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 57
detectORE:
A game-changer for
gold exploration
With assay labs backlogged Set for commercial release in the next few months, detectORE™ could trans-
and logistics chains stretched, form gold exploration in remote areas where the orebodies of the future are
being searched for, thanks to its ability to provide low-level gold responses
Portable PPB is demonstrating in XRF machines in the field, in near-real time.
impeccable timing with the Invented and patented by CSIRO, detectORE™ has been in commercial
development for four years with Portable PPB testing the technology across
launch of its new detectORE™ sample media, mineralisation styles and types and regolith terrains globally.
product into the gold The commercialisation process has been led by Portable PPB managing
exploration sector. director Simon Bolster who formed the group after a 30-year career in global
gold exploration, specialising in regolith geochemistry and remote sensing.
Bolster says detectORE™ will be a “game-changer” for the global gold
exploration sector.
“This will fill a gap in the market and will transform the way gold explorers go
about their business, particularly in remote locations,” Bolster says, “increas-
ing the probability of discovery and quickening the pace of discoveries”
Portable PPB expects detectORE™ to be of greatest benefits to explorers in
remote areas where access to labs are poor and field seasons are short.
“Currently, geologists can’t move a project forward until they receive the
assay results and with labs overloaded, that means long turnaround times,”
Bolster says.
“The explorationists currently are guided by proxies for gold, such as indica-
tor elements and alteration but many have found the best guide to gold, is
gold”.
“The detectORE™ technique can produce a result inside eight hours, mean-
ing for the geologists’ workflow, you can have fieldies collecting samples
and mapping and you will quickly know where to focus field activities or drill
programs, the next day.”
According to Bolster, the technique will bridge the gap between portable
XRF readings and low-level gold detection.
“The use of portable XRF machines is common in gold exploration but until
now remained ineffective for the actual detection of low-level gold,” he
explains. “
The detectORE™ system uses the patented consumable plus specially
designed software to prepare a sample capable of being reliably tested for
gold using commercially available but optimised portable XRF machines.
After acquiring the licence for the technique and technology, Portable PPB
established a sponsorship scheme with industry participants allowing it to
both fund commercial development and further refine the technique.
“The sponsorship scheme was about more than just getting money in the
door, it also delivered us samples to demonstrate the product,” Bolster says.
“In West Africa, there are few labs and long
distances along poor roads from projects.
The wet seasons mean exploration windows
can be short but with labour plentiful,
employees can be rapidly trained to use
detectORE™ eliminating the need to truck
samples, reducing the turnaround time.”
“This will fill a gap in the market and
will transform the way gold explorers
go about their business, particularly in
remote locations.
“It is a similar situation in the Guiana Shield of South America.
That is one of the last great gold exploration frontiers with
many world-class gold deposits, but it has been underexplored
because of access issues. Transporting samples by air, boat or
ATV is slow and expensive but detectORE™ allows for real-time
adaptive gold sampling on-the-fly from a jungle field camp which
would be a game changer.”
The technology has been extensively tested on different sample
media, mineralisation types, regolith styles and with different
“Kirkland Lake Gold [Inc] and Gold Road Resources [Ltd] were portable XRF products. Bolster says it has stood up to all testing.
the first two sponsors to sign up and we have since welcomed
21 other gold companies, including the likes of Barrick Gold Corp, “We have worked with five different manufacturers and different
Newcrest Mining Ltd and Gold Fields Ltd. instruments and it performs consistently well,” he says. “We have
been cross checking detectORE™ values with traditional lab as-
“They are supplying a lot of samples. We have completed tests says and Chrysos Photon assays continually and found there is no
and experiments on more than 25,000 samples with more than upper detection limit. It can identify 20 ppb or 120 g/t gold.”
10 tonnes of drill samples coming in from Australia, West Africa,
South America and North America. With commercial launch looming, Portable PPB is gearing up to
handle expected demand.
“It has taken three years of hard work but we are now there. We
started with a product which had a few issues and could be diffi- “We started with a small team but we are now up to 11 employ-
cult to use. We wanted a product which was simple, safe, robust, ees and still growing. We have 2,000 sqm block with a 900 sqm
reliable and easy to use. Something which was ‘fieldy proof’ and in the Perth suburb of Canning Vale and we are now scaling up to
could eliminate human error.” produce 10,000 of the collector devices a day,” Bolster says. “We
have experienced COO and CCO appointed and will have the
Having spent extensive time working in exploration in West Africa software ready in the next few weeks.”
and South America, Bolster recognises the enormous benefits
detectORE™ could bring to teams in remote locations. After more than three years of building the detectORE™ story,
Bolster is excited by the prospect of seeing it operate in the field.
“In West Africa and South America, there are few labs and long
distances along poor roads from projects. The wet seasons “It is the equivalent of three phases of exploration in one day and
mean exploration windows can be short but with labour plentiful, compresses the assay timeline, which is something every explora-
employees can be rapidly trained to use detectORE™ eliminating tion team is looking to do. That leads to really robust targeting
the need to truck samples, reducing the turnaround time. and hopefully it will help increase the rate of discovery.”
For more information about the detectORE™
system and technology, visit Portable PPB at
portableppb.com or email [email protected]
skIlls
Millennials can make December. This included 15 newcomers out
of 33 overall appointments for WA-based
companies.
a difference applicants into their very first executive role.
Acacia itself helped place a record 72% of
It was also a breakthrough year for gender
diversity with the Perth-based recruitment
firm reporting that 60% of its board appoint-
cacia director Abbi Vermey is pleading energy and chemical engineering Michael
Afor more millennials to consider enter- Hitch, who urged the rest of the industry to ments were female.
ing the resources sector where she believes take a leaf out of BHP Ltd’s book and identify “At Acacia, we’re absolutely seeing more
they have a genuine opportunity to deliver on better ways to promote “how cool the sector females shortlisted for roles and more fe-
their vocal ideals for a cleaner world. can be”. males keen on putting their hand up for
While she is full of praise for the way in “We’ve been thinking outside of the box for board-level roles,” Vermey said.
which the industry embraced a new genera- 6-7 years now, this is not something that hap- “Of course, we’ve still got a long way to go,
tion of executives over the past 12 months, pened yesterday,” he said. “Many domestic but if I’m comparing last year to the last 10,
Vermey continues to wonder if past stigma students aren’t interested in this industry, for I definitely feel like the last 12 months has
around mining being a “dirty” business was whatever reason. It could be the ‘three D’s’ – seen the biggest increase in females going
still a barrier to entry for today’s youth. dangerous, dirty and dark – which isn’t true. into executive roles.”
“There’s a very big disconnect between “Although corporations such as BHP have Vermey attributed some of the changing
place and, on the other, you’ve got an indus- “ I definitely feel like the last 12 months has
millennials and what they stand for in this
modern world, and the opportunities that the
industry can offer now in terms of having an
impact through decarbonisation and clean
energy production,” Vermey told Paydirt.
seen the biggest increase in females going
“On one hand, you’ve got these millen-
into executive roles.
nials that want to make the world a better
try that’s actually changing and entering this
new industrial revolution for a cleaner world, done a remarkable job in public advertising,
but there still seems to be that connotation they also do fabulous work in showing how attitude towards board and executive ap-
of it being a male-dominated, dirty industry. cool the sector can be. If I was starting again, pointments to the wave of new project oppor-
“We need to find a way to bridge that gap BHP’s television ads would have convinced tunities being promoted across the industry.
because there’s a real opportunity here to me long ago.” “If you look at the last five years, it’s all
make a difference. We definitely still have a Vermey hailed a changing of the guard been about gold and iron ore predominately,
lot more work to do, particularly at a school at the executive level last year with 19 first- so building underground gold mines and pro-
level.” timers among 47 total managing director/ cessing plants, and if you look at the people
Vermey’s view is shared by Western Aus- chief executive appointments in the metals coming through, a lot of that has always been
tralian School of Mines head of minerals, and mining industry over the six months to dominated by men,” she said.
“With these new projects in commodities
like lithium and rare earths that a lot of people
are still getting their heads around, the slate
is a bit cleaner in terms of female versus male
experience. There aren’t a lot of specialists
in some of those commodities and so I think
boards have been forced to look outside the
box to try and find someone with a different
skillset who can move a project forward.”
Vermey also noted companies were be-
coming more flexible about where their sen-
ior executives could base themselves. For
example, Acacia recently placed a Singa-
pore-based executive for a WA project and a
Sydney native to oversee a North American
project, with the rest of the board operating
out of Perth.
“We’re definitely seeing people are more
open to executives residing anywhere,
whereas before if a board lived in a particular
city, they would ideally want the executive to
be in same location as the asset or the rest of
the board,” she said.
– Michael Washbourne
Abbi Vermey
Page 60 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
Location, location, relocation
hile Western “quite creative
WAustralia’s and think outside
hard border to the the box” in order
rest of the country to transport many
through the pan- essential workers
demic has been to site.
frustrating for many, it has given compa- with widespread frustration, including from Over the last six months of 2021, ATPI
nies an insight into what a FIFO workforce mining companies looking to urgently ship chartered close to 280 flights and at one
based entirely within the State would look in critical labour. stage even contemplated commandeering
like on a permanent basis. Speaking to Paydirt prior to the bor- cruise ships to quarantine workers where
Following strong encouragement from der backflip from the McGowan Govern- required.
the State Government, the likes of Rio Tinto ment, Muller said proposed reopening was “The belief was that rather than putting
Ltd, BHP Ltd, Woodside Energy Ltd and poised to have a major impact on the cur- these people into hotels, we would put
Inpex have restructured their recruitment rent labour squeeze. them onto cruise ships that weren’t being
policies to ensure all WA-based FIFO work- “We really see that there is a great op- utilised and we could put these cruise ships
ers are residing within the State by the end portunity for employers in WA to be able into the Gulf of Mexico, for example,” Muller
of 2023. to hire labour outside of WA, to be able to explained.
Corporate travel and logistics specialists bring them in without the quarantine pro- “People would then do their 14 days
ATPI has been assisting companies with cess, obviously with negative COVID tests quarantine on the cruise ship in the Gulf
the transition, moving interstate FIFO work- etc,” he said. of Mexico before being helicoptered from
ers and their families across borders to see “That will have an effect on the labour there onto rigs, etc. It never got off the
what a life in WA would look like on a per- market itself. No doubt, if they’re able to ground, but it was something that we actu-
manent basis. cast the net wider, then I think you’re going ally looked at to see whether it was viable
ATPI regional managing director, Pacific to possibly see some sort of impact on wag- or not.”
and Africa, Peter Muller said the incom- es in WA as well within this arena. It’s prob- Muller was full of praise for the resources
ing employment mandates would be a big ably not significant, but it won’t dampen sector for propping up both the WA and
step-change for all mine workers around any wage enthusiasm that there has been national economy during the pandemic.
the country. where it’s been so difficult to bring people in In particular, he highlighted the collabora-
“We can see it from the bookings that from the rest of the world.” tion within industry which ensured opera-
we’re making that these companies are tak- Moving workers and adhering to the vari- tions continued almost uninterrupted when
ing this very seriously,” he said. ous quarantine requirements around the it could have been so easy to simply shut
“Pre-COVID, I would say something like world has proved a challenge for a travel down.
50% of our FIFO workers were located in logistics company such as ATPI, with Mul- “We saw traditional rivals really coming
WA and about 50% of them were located ler conceding the business had to become together and looking at cost-effective solu-
around the rest of the country or internation- tions to move their crews around,” he said.
ally. As we went into COVID, together with a “Commercial flights are obviously very
number of our businesses that we deal with expensive but individual companies still
– who were pretty far sighted actually – we needed to utilise them…so what we were
had to move a number of families to WA on also able to do as part of that process was
temporary relocations. really facilitate companies working togeth-
“At that time, we moved in a number of er. So companies that traditionally might not
family groups who were temporarily re- necessarily talk to each other, we were able
located for what we believed to be six to facilitate that and say, ‘look, we’ve taken
months, and they’ve been there now for the a charter on behalf of X, Y, and Z, they’re
entire process or period.” going to take up 30 of the 80 available
Having a FIFO workforce based entirely seats on this 250-seat charter, or whatever
within the State will likely go a long way to- the case might be, would you like to utilise
wards addressing its growing skills short- some of the other seats on that?’.
age. According to a recent report from Pit “This is enabled companies to work to-
Crew Consulting Services, an extra 40,000 gether, amortise costs to reduce the overall
workers will be required to fill gaps in the cost of moving people. It’s been a quite an
WA resources sector over the next two interesting scenario.”
years. – Michael Washbourne
WA Premier Mark McGowan’s decision
last month to delay the reopening of both in-
terstate and international borders was met
Peter Muller
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 61
skIlls
WA miners stiffen for
COVID influx
W est Australian Premier Mark spread.
“[Guidance assumes] development of the
McGowan’s decision to delay reo-
pening of the State’s borders has granted pandemic does not lead to government-im-
the local resources sector more time to posed restrictions and widespread protract-
prepare for the impact of community ed cases related to new highly contagious
spread of COVID. variants with high severity, which could re-
McGowan’s surprise January 20 an- sult in a significant number of our production Stuart Tonkin
nouncement that the planned reopening on critical workforce and contractor base being
February 5 would not go ahead will allow unable to work due to illness and/or isolation
WA miners to continue almost two years of requirements,” the company said. ing the end of mining at its prolific DeGrussa
largely uninterrupted operations. “This risk extends to prolonged interrup- copper operation in the Murchison district of
The WA industry has bucked global trends tion of service from a key partner or supplier WA – has been stockpiling ore in anticipation
in the last two years, enjoying near record which could lead to severely constrained of community spread.
levels of production and revenue thanks operational activity of a key asset or project. “In the back of our mind, we are conscious
to surging demand and the State Govern- This risk is exacerbated globally by tight la- of the border opening and have been trying
ment’s decisions to declare mineworkers bour markets and supply chain delays.” to build some buffer depending what hap-
“essential” while placing strict border con- BHP Ltd also acknowledged the impact of pens regards community transition once we
trols on the outside world. the virus and related restrictions on recent reopen,” chief operating officer Jason Grace
Impact to industry has been limited to and future iron ore production. said.
access to non-domestic labour pools with “The proposed easing of Western Aus-
many workers unable to travel between tralia’s border restrictions on February 5
states and others reluctant to relocate to may introduce some short-term disruption to The Federal Government’s decision to
WA. the operating environment as the COVID-19 offer rebates on international student and
Rio Tinto Ltd’s half-year results showed a pandemic evolves in the state,” the company backpacker visas has been welcomed by
4% decrease in production from its Pilbara reported in its half-year statement. the Chamber of Minerals & Energy WA
iron ore operations. While the company WA’s largest gold miner, Northern Star Re- (CMEWA).
placed much of the blame on above-aver- sources Ltd, also saw production and costs Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the
age rainfall, cultural heritage management hampered by the border closures but with a initiative on January 19 in an effort to entice
and delays in growth and brownfields pro- recent COVID-19 outbreak on its Pogo mine young people to Australia to ease employ-
jects, it also pointed to the ongoing impact of in Alaska still fresh in the mind, the company ment issues across several sectors.
COVID-related policies. is confident it will adjust to any community
“Ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and a spread in WA. CMEWA chief executive Paul Everingham
tight labour market have further impacted “We remain on track to meet our FY22 said the initiative could help relieve some of
our ability to access experienced contrac- guidance, which incorporates the current the 40,000-worker shortfall the WA industry
tors and particular skill sets,” the company WA border closure and associated labour could face in the next two years.
said in its half-year report. and cost impacts,” managing director Stuart “International entrants are likely to react
The proposed February 5 reopening Tonkin said during the company’s quarterly positively to initiatives like this visa rebate,
would’ve meant a switch in industry strategy presentation. which will remove one of the potential barriers
from struggling to get workers into opera- “Overall, it is still difficult to establish what associated with travelling to Australia,” Ever-
tions, to keeping the virus out of mine sites. the actual impacts could be. All the com- ingham said.
Prior to the decision to reverse the reo- panies [in WA] are very well prepared and
pening, CMEWA chief executive Paul Ever- particularly given our experience at Pogo in “The backpackers among them will provide
ingham said the relaxation of border restric- Alaska we’ve implemented a lot of the same an important labour source for the agricultural,
tions was crucial to easing the growing skills things to mitigate the amount of contacts our retail and hospitality sectors in particular,
crisis. teams are having. We have a lot of contin- which may in turn free up other workers to
“The reopening of borders into WA…will gencies and diversification in where opera- pursue opportunities in mining.
be a very important first step towards alle- tions, activity and skills fit. “Many of the students, meanwhile, will be
viating some of these skills pressures, pro- “There is trepidation, probably more re- studying subjects that will equip them with
viding access to labour pools interstate and lated to the regime of quarantine related to knowledge and skills that will very much be
overseas that industry has traditionally been positive cases and close contacts. If it is the required by our sector, both in the short and
able to call on in times of need,” he said. 14-day quarantine, that becomes a problem longer terms.
Rio Tinto acknowledged the new threat as the domino effect of more cases [takes
in its report, leaving open the possibility that hold]. We believe that will be reviewed and “CME and its member companies are very
COVID-19 could impact WA iron ore opera- that there’ll be a risk-based approach and much committed to helping prepare the
tions even after hard borders were lowered that will involve the rapid antigen tests that mining and resources sector workforce of
in the same way business in the rest of everyone is stockpiling.” the future, and students benefiting from this
Australia has been affected by community Sandfire Resources Ltd – which is near- rebate will be part of that.”
Page 62 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
Wherever we are...
trend with us
#paydirtmedia #magazines #conferences
Paydirt journalist Fraser Palamara (far right) with senior geologist Dave Mallon, technical
director Neil Hutchison and managing director Chris Daws of Estrella Resources Ltd,
on site at the Carr Boyd nickel project near Kalgoorlie.
MInInG seRVIces
Zenith’s solar farm at the Nova
nickel mine. More companies
are looking at alternative
power generation options
as companies work towards
carbon neutrality over the
coming decades
Countdown to the available technologies that we can put
in place to achieve that outcome.”
As the only independent power producer
to be a member of the Electric Mines Con-
net zero sortium, Zenith is part of a working group
evaluating long-term mass storage technol-
ogies which can potentially be integrated to
mine sites in a bid to lower emissions.
ith an increasing number of miners and ers, Zenith Energy Ltd, is perhaps in the Da Cruz said while the industry was
Wdevelopers committed to achieving net unique position of being able to strike the likely still looking at potentially “three or four
zero emissions over the next three decades, right balance between ambition and ability generations” of fleet equipment before true
the focus is now pivoting towards how these to deliver given it is piloting specific tech- electrification of a mine could be achieved,
companies will meet such targets. nologies aimed at helping the company companies can realise immediate benefits
Most of the world’s mining giants have achieve its own zero emissions target of with simple modifications to existing power
pledged to cut all emissions by 2050, includ- 2035. stations.
ing the likes of Rio Tinto Ltd, BHP Ltd, Glen- Zenith executive manager – growth “In terms of percentage reductions, you
core, Newmont Corp and Vale SA. Others Dominic Da Cruz said the company had can have a 34-35% immediate reduction in
such as Anglo American plc and Fortescue adjusted its carbon neutrality timeline fol- the carbon footprint of a power station, which
Metals Group Ltd have been more ambitious lowing discussions with its customer base. accounts for a lot of the footprint, with the sim-
with their targets and are confident of attain- “We felt we needed to establish some- ple installation of solar and a battery,” he said.
ing carbon neutrality by 2040. what of a leadership position in the market “Hopefully very soon we’ll be able to an-
Leading gold producers Northern Star Re- to be seen as an enabler for our custom- nounce a demonstration of that, where we
sources Ltd and Evolution Mining Ltd are also will be able to provide uninterrupted renewa-
part of the net zero 2050 club, while developer ble-only power for a mine site for up to nine
Bellevue Gold Ltd has spruiked a “green pre- hours in a day through the use of just solar
mium” for the upcoming underground revival and battery.
of its namesake project in Western Australia. “A lot of the reservation in the industry re-
Some companies have flagged reach- volves around the ease with which they can
ing those targets even earlier than currently integrate things like wind and solar, and this
stated, raising concern from some as to how particular demonstration will provide the proof
prepared the industry is for the transition to that integration of offshore and wind to pro-
zero emissions. vide secure, reliable and safe supply of elec-
ASIC has already begun to caution some tricity is very achievable.”
IPO companies on their net zero state- Zenith is also looking to develop a modular
ments, a move welcomed by BDO global fleet of renewables which will allow for greater
head of natural resources Sherif Andrawes. energy penetration on site where long-term
“Net zero is kind of the buzzword, par- Dominic Da Cruz tenure is not possible.
ticularly after COP26, and it’s become very “Tenure is a massive issue for miners and
easy for a company to say they’re going to ers to achieve those targets,” Da Cruz told IPPs where you got a lot of capital deployed
be net zero by a certain date, but you really Paydirt. in infrastructure, but if the mine life is only for
can’t say these things without having some “Everything was all gearing towards a eight years and you need to recover capital,
substance behind it,” Andrawes said. more aggressive timeframe than 2050, and then it’s probably uneconomic and makes the
“ASIC are actually having a good strong so looking at the technologies available to cost of electricity just unpalatable,” Da Cruz
look at this and said any net zero comments us and the likely timing around those com- said.
or commitments in an IPO prospectus has ing to market and being commercial, we “We need to look at the ability to relocate
to be backed up. You can’t just say you’re felt that 2035 struck the right balance. It that infrastructure over its life, because the life
going to be net zero by 2030 and have a was something that we could work towards of these assets can be 20-30 years. Having
vague plan to do it. quite quickly and easily. the ability to reduce the cost to install, demo-
“It’s an easy thing to say but a much “We’re actually working on a greenfields bilise and redeploy renewable energy assets
harder thing to actually justify. In reality, it’s project at the moment which we think we is going to be a key factor in achieving higher
quite a long process to get to net zero and can take to a point by 2026 where it can levels of penetration across the sector.”
understanding all the issues around it and be zero without having to purchase offsets
how you’re going to get there.” to do that. It’s at the aggressive end of the – Michael Washbourne
One of Australia’s leading power produc- spectrum, but it’s also realistic in terms of
Page 64 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
Old hands become new
face of Bostech
t a time when the exploration industry is management, they will still have the support for other drilling techniques,” Nelson added.
Astriving to find a balance between reli- of Boswell’s engineering prowess. “And our support equipment enables us to
ability and speed, Bostech Drilling may have Having both started as offsiders before keep rig availability up anywhere in WA and
landed on the perfect mix. rising through the ranks, Nelson and Hru- Australia wide.”
With nearly 30 years’ experience in the bos are well aware of the clients’ need for The approach to engineering and mainte-
Australian exploration sector in the locker, reliable performance and rapid response. nance standards is repeated in personnel,
Bostech offers the best elements of estab- “We lead from the top and have no inten- where Nelson and Hrubos pride themselves
lished exploration drilling services. Howev- tion to stop getting out in the field,” Nelson on a positive, trusted working environment.
er, with a new ownership team in place, the said. “If a rig breaks down, one of us will “We have a very strong company culture,”
company is ready to show industry it has the pack a bag and grab a toolbox straight away Nelson said. “We trust our workforce. If you
capability to also take on new challenges. if needed.” don’t trust your workforce, you don’t have a
“We have a traditional approach, but Equipment downtime is an inevitabil- company, you have a half-arsed outfit. The
you’ve got to move with the times,” newly ity when it comes to the harsh environ- advantage of being a small company is we
appointed managing director Justin Hrubos ment and tough conditions associated with know all of our employees and their fami-
told Paydirt. “We have very strong relation- Aircore drilling in Western Australia, but lies. We are happy to invest in that working
ships with our clients, but we want to move Bostech has been able to consistently keep environment to improve performance and
into other avenues with them. We are con- rig availability above 96%. well-being, even if it means losing a bit of
tinually upgrading our systems and our fleet; “Reputation, reliability and responsibility margin.”
improving connectivity and diversifying into is what it is all about for us,” Hrubos said. There is a similar pride in Bostech’s health
other services.” “We have a big workshop, with full rebuild and safety record.
Hrubos has teamed up with Ben Nel- capability and everything goes back into the “Our approach to health and safety is
son to acquire Bostech from founder Peter rigs. We have got more rigs, but we don’t crucial,” Hrubos said. “We are fairly strict on
Boswell. Between them, Hrubos and Nel- want to be running them all, all the time. We employees and have solid systems in place.
son have more than 30 years of on-ground want a back-up.” Importantly, if anything does go wrong, we
and management experience with the com- “Our rigs are capable of drilling a range don’t bury our heads in the sand, we tackle
pany. of unconsolidated, sandy and heavy clay it head on. It is how you react, learn and fix
To bolster the strength of the new Bostech horizons which have proven a challenge mistakes that sets you up.
“You also need to be ahead of the curve
when it comes to workplace safety. We have
Covid protocols already in place and have
ordered rapid antigen test kits for when the
WA hard border comes down.”
Aircore drilling can be a competitive field
but Hrubos and Nelson need only point to
Bostech’s returned customer list as evi-
dence of the company’s standing among
exploration teams.
“We have several long-term clients such
as AngloGold Ashanti [Ltd], Sandfire Re-
sources [Ltd] and Silverlake Resources [Ltd]
who we have worked with well for a number
of years,” Nelson explained. “As senior ge-
ologists from those clients move onto other
companies, they return to us because they
are confident in our capability.”
One of those clients is De Grey Mining Ltd
which is currently using Bostech Drilling in
its rapid delineation of more than 6 moz gold
in less than two years at its Hemi project in
the Pilbara.
“De Grey is an example of that return
work,” Hrubos said. “We knew several
members of the team, and Allan Kneeshaw
in particular, from AngloGold Ashanti and
they were keen to get us on board. Since
then, we have let our results speak for them-
selves and we have proven what we are
capable of.”
Ben Newport and Justin Hrubos are the new management team at Bostech Drilling
a aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 65USTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 65
MInInG seRVIces
A lab technician’s
new best pal
ith cash costs creeping up and
Wgrades generally falling across the
industry, Australian gold miners are in-
creasingly focused on getting every drop
of value out of each tonne moved.
While little can be done to combat ris-
ing consumables and labour costs, min-
ers can exert more control over the type
of material heading to the mill and Perth-
based technology company Mineral Pro-
cess Control (MPC) believes it has the
ideal tool to achieve the quality required.
Established in 1995, MPC has built
its reputation on innovation in cyanide
leaching technology, including its Leach-
Well catalysts, assay tabs and bottle-roll
machines. However, increasingly it is its
PAL-1000 system which is taking a grip
in the gold sector. Mineral Process Control’s PAL-1000 cyanide gold assaying process can produce up to 52
The cyanide gold assaying process cyanidation assay samples an hour
combines both pulverising and leach-
ing in a single unit, producing up to 52
samples for cyanidation assay in one cyanide leachable yield quickly and im- have installed seven units because it is
hour, without the requirement for sample portantly, offer a safe way to manually cheap, needs little support and requires
preparation. handle cyanide with as little dust as pos- very little training to operate,” Edwards
MPC business manager Nathan Ed- sible.” said.
wards told Paydirt PAL-1000’s speed Edwards said MPC’s focus on total re- While cost will be an obvious attraction
and reliability had seen it adopted by coverable gold in the process gave min- to miners, MPC clients have all experi-
leading assay labs and gold miners ers far greater insight into exactly how enced unexpected additional benefits.
around the world. orebodies are performing. One client in the Eastern Goldfields
“It has taken a foothold in gold mining “The ability of the system to produce a was able to redraw its mine design fol-
and assaying due to its low cost [both total cyanide recoverable gold assay al- lowing the introduction of a PAL-1000
opex and capex], high rate, assay re- lows our customers to start their process unit.
peatability and simplicity,” Edwards said. control at the mine face,” he said. “The “The installation of a two PAL system
The company has already sold more PAL assay will replicate the total theo- allowed us to reduce our mining fleet re-
than 70 units with major labs Intertek, retical CIP recovery within one hour. No quirements,” the company said. “Turning
ALS, SGS and CRS all taking up ma- other system on the market can achieve around 52 samples in close to an hour
chines as well as gold miners such as this, they produce total gold assays.” – with a detection limit of 0.01 ppm gold –
Newmont Corp and Kinross Gold Inc. As well as the more accurate reporting allowed us to provide high-quality grade
CRS is the largest assay lab provider of total recoverable gold, MPC estimates control assays from our mine site lab
in the Nordic region. Since purchasing its PAL-1000 can be operated at around quickly and accurately. Within six months
first PAL-1000 a decade ago, it has pro- 20% of comparable methods at the mine we were able to reduce their mining fleet
cessed 500,000 samples through three site. due to the decreased time between
machines. “And, with a purchase price of less grade control sampling and results.”
“The PAL-1000 technology is very sim- than $100,000, a grade and process Edwards admitted even MPC was sur-
ple to use, is easy to maintain and pro- control lab can easily be set up on site prised by that outcome but reinforced the
vides low cost and repeatable gold as- for little additional capital,” Edwards said. consistency and reliability of the process.
says,” CRS general manager Ville Anttila The low-cost nature and operational “The end result will mimic exactly what
said. “PAL is effective for free milling, simplicity also mean it is suited to remote the mine is doing,” he said. “If you are
preg robbing and also many sulphide locations. getting low recoveries through PAL-1000
sample types. “It is proving particularly popular in you will be getting them through the mill.”
“Assay tabs provide us with a thorough West Africa and in Suriname where we
Page 66 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
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MInInG seRVIces
Man’s best friend is machine
he COVID-19 pandemic has greatly ex- The cap and heavy
Taggerated a tight supply of workers in vehicle, outfitted with
the resources and mining industry’s labour autonomous software,
market. can avoid collisions al-
A decreased number of students enter- together and improve
ing mining disciplines, and an even lower safety. WA’s mining in-
number exiting as graduates, has only em- dustry alone saw 12 fa-
phasised the lack of expat workers unable talities related to under-
to travel into the country and Western Aus- ground heavy vehicles
tralia. from 2008-2018.
Investment firm Argonaut reported in IMDEX Ltd is one of
January that WA’s labour pool migration the latest to boast in-
decreased to sub-10,000 by the end of last novation as it pushes a
year. new development onto
Such labour constraints are expected to the commercial path.
continue throughout this year, in conjunc- The BLASTDOG, an
tion with a possible shortage of equipment, automated approach to The IMDEX BLASTDOG was shown off to the general public for
materials and services capacity. downhole logging in col- the first time at the company’s Balcatta headquarters last year
However, where gaps in employment laboration with Queens-
burn, technological innovation has risen land company Universal
to the occasion to support exploration and Field Robots (UFR), is an outfitted CAT ex- sults, efficiencies, and safety that will be its
mining projects. cavator with a semi-autonomous downhole trademark.”
For a number of years, robotics and au- sensor. Work between IMDEX and UFR be-
tomation has found its way into the mining The product was shown off at an industry gan in 2019 and a physical prototype was
sector as manufacturers and services com- event in November where the general pub- birthed just four months later. Testing fol-
panies seek to innovate, alleviate gaps in lic had the opportunity to see the BLAST- lowed in WA, Queensland and Chilean
manpower and improve efficiency. DOG in person and functioning for the first copper mines.
Mineral Resources Ltd, for example, has time. BLASTDOG’s path to commercial re-
partnered with automation solutions com- BLASTDOG uses GPS and advanced lease includes development partners such
pany Hexagon to develop “world-first” au- visioning systems to position itself above as METS Ignited. IMDEX has flagged there
tonomous road trains to pedal iron ore from holes, autonomously lowers its sensor is strong industry interest in the product due
down to measure physical to its reliable and speedy real-time data col-
properties of the rock and lection.
then geophysically logs BLASTDOG’s quick success is a far cry
the blast holes. from UFR’s beginnings which began with
Benefits other than im- the simple task of teaching a robot to pick
proved efficiency, speed fruit off trees.
and safety include im- “We first started off trying to pick avo-
proved fragmentation, cados autonomously on farms,” UFR me-
material and grade con- chanical engineer Hai Doan said. “That is
trol, reduced geotechnical where UFR started out, with the idea that
risk, vibrations and fumes, we would put a robot on top of another ro-
better defined ore bound- bot, to pick avocados all day and all night.”
aries and better preven- UFR engineering projects lead Rhys Mc-
tion of ore waste. Kercher said downhole logging was perfect
IMDEX chief executive for a robot’s liking.
Paul House said there “It repeats that process and it’s a very
was no other offering like nice application for the robot because it is
BLASTDOG that could repetitive in a well-structured environment,”
produce data for an im- McKercher said.
The BLASTDOG can be mass produced as robotics company pact on productivity and With the pathway to commercialisation
Universal Field Robots outfits existing CAT excavators with the downstream processing. well under way, IMDEX systems integra-
autonomous technology
“[BLASTDOG] has the tion manager John Jackson said meeting
capacity to improve pro- demands would be easy.
pit to port – allowing for a sole operator to ductivity, efficiency, and…will significantly “Because it can be mass produced, the
command an entire fleet. increase mine to mill efficiency,” House capital cost is low, as well as the operat-
Meanwhile, Barminco is collaborating said. ing cost and because it is autonomous,
with Newtrax Technologies on a “smart “Moving to a commercial prototype is a we’ll be able to have a number of these on
cap” that can automatically halt under- significant development. We will work with the bench if needed so we can deploy and
ground heavy vehicles in their tracks to prospective clients to ensure that when it scale them,” he said.
keep pedestrians on site safe. is released, the product will deliver the re-
– Fraser Palamara
Page 68 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
Austin keeps on truckin’
ustin Engineering Ltd commemo- and logistics industries that are part of The Hub recently underwent a $6.5 mil-
Arated a long history of successful the mining industry and resources sector lion investment for improved quality and
business with a special celebratory, cus- here in WA. You’re all a very important production capacity.
tomised dump truck body; unveiled at a part of that. The manufacturing is high Such innovation was given its own nod
ceremony in Perth in November. quality, it’s very technologically capable at the truck body celebration in Kewdale.
The services and manufacturing com- and highly skilled. “What matters today to our state, to Rio
pany splashed the dump truck body in “[Throughout the pandemic], the min- Tinto, and to Austin, is how we develop in
a unique coat of bright blue, marking ing industry hasn’t missed a beat, and the future,” Singleton said in November.
the 1,000th truck body the company the manufacturing sector attached to it “The objectives are clear from Rio
has supplied to Rio Tinto Ltd. After the didn’t stop. Supply industries didn’t stop. Tinto around decarbonisation, produc-
curtain raised at the Kewdale facility to Everything proceeded as normal here in tion efficiency and safety. The objectives
reveal the significant high-performance WA and that was because people were from the State Government are clear,
ULTIMA body, speeches were made by prepared to do difficult things during dif- backing apprentice skills development,
those in attendance includ- developing our industries and
ing Austin managing direc- getting more out of the valu-
tor David Singleton, Rio Tin- able resources for people in
to Iron Ore chief executive our state.
Simon Trott and Premier “That’s why Austin is invest-
of Western Australia Mark ing in innovation, in advanced
McGowan. manufacturing capabilities
“Our association with Rio that will be implemented in
Tinto started 34 years ago,” this facility from the early
Singleton said. “We built part of [2022] and with more
our first original truck body efficient products so that our
for Rio 21 years ago and partnership with Rio Tinto and
our first fully customised our contribution to this state
body for them 14 years ago. lasts for another 33 years.”
It’s an association that has This pledge to innovation
grown and developed over was backed with the expan-
time. sion of six Austin locations
“Importantly, it has been a across Australia and New
partnership that has created Zealand in December.
a strong WA business that New Austin locations for
has employed thousands Austin Engineering and Rio Tinto workers with the celebratory 1,000th the assembling and building
of locals over the years and truck body. WA Premier Mark McGowan, Austin managing director David of truck bodies were estab-
now takes WA products to Singleton and Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott were among lished across Queensland,
the rest of the world.” the high profile guests in attendance New South Wales and New
Both Trott and McGowan Zealand. The company ex-
echoed Singleton’s sentiment with ado- ficult times. That goes for each and every pects the expansions to implore new
ration for WA’s strong mining sector, par- one of you.” customer orders and increased revenue
ticularly throughout the global pandemic, The celebration, which included a in the Asia Pacific.
that has contributed to financial success- serving of cake featuring an image of “In this new phase of Austin – Austin
es for both the state and country. the truck body, followed by a swarming 2.0 – we are looking at the world’s major
“If I take my Rio hat off, as a West Aus- of appreciators taking selfies around mining regions to see how we better ser-
tralian, I’m incredibly proud of the work McGowan, preceded a $300 million five- vice our customers with market leading
that happens here, feeding a global in- year business contract signed between products and enhanced customer sup-
dustry,” Trott said as Rio and Austin the two companies. port at commercially competitive rates,”
workers stood in attendance. Austin will continue to supply its trays Singleton said.
“My congratulations to each of you and and truck bodies, heavy machinery and In November and December of 2021
the role you have all played in delivering other fabricated products to Rio Tinto. alone, Austin inked more than $60 million
1,000 truck bodies. I look forward to the The contract will also see Austin repair in orders as part of a 19% year-on-year
delivery of the next 1,000.” and service both its own supplied ma- increase in the order books.
McGowan put extra emphasis on chinery and third-party hardware at Rio “It is natural that we are now focusing
thanking the workers for their efforts Tinto sites. on one of the largest truck fleets in the
throughout the pandemic. Austin will use resources and workers world, right on our doorstep in eastern
“A lot of people, particularly those in from its facilities across Australia, Indo- Australia and New Zealand,” Singleton
other states, don’t realise that we have a nesia, North America and South Amer- said.
manufacturing industry here in WA,” he ica.
said. “They all think it’s just a mining in- Austin’s recently established “Innova- – Fraser Palamara
dustry where we dig up things and send tion and Technology Hub” will support
them elsewhere. ongoing product development for meet-
“The reality is that we have a whole ing Rio Tinto’s needs in safety, lifecycle
range of manufacturing, supply, design and productivity in heavy machinery.
a aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 69USTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 69
ReGIonAl RoUnD-UP
Red, white, blue and Greenland
n July last year, Ironbark Zinc Ltd flow of $US1.46 billion and a post-tax
Imanaging director Michael Jardine NPV of $US363 million, IRR 15.2%
was waiting on the one signal needed and a capex of $US654 million. Cit-
to complete the company’s quest for ronen’s lifespan was also upgraded
debt funding that could make or break from 14 years to 20.
its flagship Citronen zinc project. Jardine said the company was de-
Jardine, who joined Ironbark in liberately conservative with the study.
2019, was awaiting word from US “The project’s economics are es-
bank EXIM which would be the key to sentially locked down in that BFS, but
awakening Citronen, a project slum- there are flexibilities,” he said. “We
bering in Greenland for more than a modelled the study at $US1.30/lb and
decade. the zinc price over the last six months
The wait continued for another five has already been above that.
months, but in December the Ironbark “For every 10c in the zinc price that
team was given reason to celebrate moves, we could add $US150 million
the new year when EXIM awarded to the NPV and about $US360 million
the preliminary approval for $US657 to the post-tax-free cash flow.”
million in funding. Ironbark now has a list of criteria
Although non-binding, the clearing to focus on during Phase 2 of due
of Phase 1 due diligence was a major diligence which includes further fi-
achievement as Phase 2 begins early nancial, technical, environmental and
this year. Ironbark’s long-idling Citronen project in Greenland still legal reviews as determined by EXIM
“It is a huge step forward for the busi- has a long way to go but a recent preliminary debt funding (such as finalisation of construction
ness, there is absolutely no doubt,” Jar- approval from EXIM Bank has propelled it closer than ever arrangements).
dine told Paydirt. “We’re not completely before to moving its wheels Jardine said there is no definitive
there yet, but we have cleared a major timeline for this next stage.
hurdle in terms of completing a project ance on zinc imports, which amounted to “We’ve had an aspirational target
funding package. 710,000t in 2020 – 83% of its domestic con- to be on site in Greenland in the summer of
“There’s a series of gateways with EXIM sumption. [2022]. If that’s to be achieved, then we need
bank that you need to keep making your “[Zinc’s] credibility absolutely has to make pretty significant progress on both
way through before you get to the final point changed,” Jardine said. “It’s beginning to get furthering the debt and getting the equity-
which would be board approval. We are now more recognition in that it forms part of the side of the equation completed within the
closer today than we have ever been before base metals suite that will futureproof the first half of [2022],” he said.
to having this asset financed. world. Ironbark raised $4 million in capital in De-
“There is now a very clear pathway in “If the electrification goals that govern- cember to aid the next phase of EXIM’s due
terms of what is required to happen in tak- ments are committed to are actually going to diligence. This was completed through a
ing that debt all the way through to uncondi- happen, then really all of the possible, prob- share offering at 4.4c/share – a 2% discount
tional approval. The fact that we successfully able and likely base metals projects around to the five-day average at the time.
cleared Stage 1 really does count for a lot. If the world need to start getting up.” Ironbark plans to test a “very large” ex-
there were things to perceive as red flags… Zinc spot prices saw a steady climb ploration target on top of its existing reserve
then they wouldn’t have issued the prelimi- throughout 2021, travelling from $US2,694/t and resource to boost its grade profile. Zinc
nary letter.” to $US3,586/t on the year at time of writing. grades across the entire tenure currently
The preliminary offering brings with it an A major spike occurred in October, reach- range from 3% to up to 6.5%.
interest rate of 2.2% per annum over 8.5 ing a high of $US3,794/t which hadn’t been But any exploration or infill drilling won’t
years with the option to extend. EXIM en- seen since January of 2018. happen until construction begins. In the
listed independent Washington based firm “[The spike in October] was off a relatively meantime, Jardine still has much to admire.
Greengate LLC to advise the due diligence. small amount of zinc metal being taken out “I want to commend the work of the team
After the successful indication, Jardine of the supply chain, mostly in Europe,” Jar- and the people around me,” he said. “The
called it a “genuine turning point in the life of dine explained. “What that said to me, is that company achieved a lot in 2021 but we are
Citronen”, being arguably the first time it has the zinc market is much tighter than anyone certainly not satisfied yet.
received large-scale recognition in capital expected.” “We’re fortunate to have some very com-
markets. Ironbark seeks to fill this tight market with mitted people in the company and support-
Recognition and credibility have long been Citronen, which has been sidelined for more ing it, and I would like to thank all of them for
an important factor for Jardine, in terms for than 10 years. the hard work they have put in the past year.”
the company, Citronen and zinc as a com- The project contains a mineral resource – Fraser Palamara
modity. Zinc, along with nickel, was recently of 85mt @ 4.7% zinc and 0.5% lead, and
identified as an official critical mineral by the an ore reserve of 48.8mt @ 4.8% zinc and
US Geological Survey. 0.5% lead.
This was reflective of the country’s reli- A July BFS indicated a post-tax-free cash
Page 70 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
eURoPe
Europe, Australia
make perfect match
ooking back on the past year’s swarm of Parkin, whose company operates in Spain, to reasons such as securing the supply chain
LIPOs to the ASX, it was abundantly clear said Australian juniors can reap benefits from in terms of where these materials are coming
that Australian-based projects once again European government initiatives which wel- from.”
dominated the new resource floats joining come foreign investments. European Metals Holdings Ltd executive
the market. “When you think of the European Union, chairman Keith Coughlan said those who not
However, European opportunities are in- there has been a lot of support [for resources] seeing the opportunities in Europe for ASX
creasingly rearing their head on the market through the likes of the European Battery Alli- juniors need to be patient and trust the pro-
with four companies planting their IPO flag ance…that does filter its way down,” he said. cess.
on the continent and others rushing to invest “What we’re really seeing is that there has “The EU is absolutely focused on mak-
in its burgeoning battery minerals space. been a long understanding of the critical re- ing this happen, but it does take time to filter
Sandfire Resources Ltd received foreign quirement for raw materials in Europe and down to the project itself,” he said.
investment approval for its purchase of the it’s underpinning their future and moving to a “At the end of the day, if you look at the
MATSA copper mining complex in Spain for greener economy. The populous is starting EU’s commitment, they’re not going to com-
$US1.86 billion approved in late December. to harness that.” mit [the money they have] on a green energy
The binding deal with Trafigura is due for The EU’s focus on promoting a future-fac- stimulus package and then have to rely on
completion this quarter. Managing director ing mining industry, as prevalent by the 2021 other parts of the world – notably China – for
Karl Simich noted the efficiency of the gov- United Nations Climate Change Conference a key element in the supply chain for this new
ernments in supporting the deal. in Glasgow last year, highlighted the conti- industry. This is why they are committed to
Last month Adriatic Metals Plc completed nent’s current dependency of foreign supply developing their own critical raw materials.
a $US142.5 million debt package with Orion chains. “The demand for lithium in Europe is go-
for its Vares silver project in Bosnia-Herze- The US has found itself in the same boat, ing to grow quicker than anywhere else in the
govina. with its Geological Survey highlighting the world for the foreseeable future and there’s
These are just two of the ongoing success importance of the battery elements it contin- simply not enough production.”
stories for ASX companies operating in Eu- ues to import, with zinc and nickel recently George, who was an exchange student
rope. Despite this, many investors still hold added to its official list of critical minerals. in Sweden in his formative years, has aptly
their wallets in hesitation and harbour a belief Altamin Ltd managing director Geraint returned to the country through his work with
that Europe is a red-tape laden nightmare for Harris, who joined the panel remotely from Alicanto.
getting projects off the ground, “I went down the Sala mine
perhaps spurred by strict environ- in Sweden about 25 years ago
mental requirements. and it has virtually remained
Alicanto Minerals Ltd manag- untouched,” he said. “There are
ing director Peter George, one of opportunities like that in Europe
the panellists at Paydirt’s Europe just screaming for an ASX ex-
Unlocked event in November, ar- plorer to have a look.”
gued the red tape cliché was sim- Harris agreed but also sug-
ply “not fair”. gested a collaboration with
“I’ve spent a large part of my Australian leadership and Euro-
career in both Australia and Swe- pean educational institutions to
den, and I would actually put them address labour shortages.
on par in terms of the amount of “Italian universities are strong.
green and red tape involved in There’s also been a buoyant in-
getting a project up and started,” dustrial minerals industry there
he said. for a long, long time,” he said.
“Going back to the 1980s, Paydirt’s Europe Unlocked welcomed (from second left) “There are young people go-
some of Australia’s practices in Alicanto’s Peter George, Infinity Lithium’s Ryan Parkin and ing through disciplines such as
the mining sector were pretty European Metals’ Keith Coughlan, as well as Altamin’s earth sciences in these univer-
shocking to be fair. But the indus- Geraint Harris, who joined the panel remotely sities in Europe – not from the
try has really got its act together traditional mining universities
on the environmental and general we would have seen 20 years
ESG front. the UK, pointed out that Europe has recently ago, but ones that are slightly off the radar.”
“Sweden is no different with Tier-1 min- had to source up to 95% of some materials
ing jurisdictions and a really well educated from China, a scenario which initiatives such – Fraser Palamara
populous that understands how things work. as the European Raw Materials Alliance is
They want to live in a nice part of the world so seeking to change and, in doing so, create
there is a requirement to make sure you do opportunities for Australian companies. Watch the full replay on Paydirt TV
the right thing by the environment and local “Europe is very much like positioning a
people.” surfboard in the sweet spot and waiting for
Infinity Lithium Ltd managing director Ryan the wave,” he said. “That wave is coming due
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 71
ReGIonAl RoUnD-UP
Tanzanian rebirth down on paper
Black Rock was one of three ASX-listed
he Tanzanian mining sector’s rejuvena- the signing of individual agreements opens companies to have economic framework
Ttion gathered steam in December with a the path to project development. agreements ratified by Tanzanian President
flurry of licences issued for key Australian- Strandline completed a DFS on its Fun- Samia Suluhu Hassan in December. The
backed projects in the East African country. goni mineral sands project in November graphite hopeful will now focus on securing
At a signing ceremony in December, 2018 which pointed to a pre-tax NPV of project finance for Mahenge
President Samia Suluhu Hassan ratified $US48.7 million and IRR of 61%.
economic framework agreements with Managing director Luke Graham said the
OreCorp Ltd, Strandline Resources Ltd framework agreement was pivotal for the
and Black Rock Mining Ltd, paving the way company. entity, while allowing OreCorp to maintain
for the development of their respective pro- “This agreement puts us on the path to its focus on developing Nyanzaga.”
jects. establishing a world-class mineral sands For Black Rock, the agreement and SML
“Today we are participating as a key business in Tanzania, adding to our Tier-1 represent another link in the development
shareholder in mining our precious resourc- Coburn mineral sands project now under chain for its Mahenge graphite project, with
es which have an important role in the eco- construction in Western Australia,” he said. financing already started and an offtake
nomic development of our country,” Hassan The agreement will see Strandline own agreement with Korean conglomerate
said at the ceremony in Dar Es Salaam. 84% of a new JV company, Nyati Mineral POSCO in place.
A fourth company, Peak Rare Earths Sands Ltd, with the Tanzanian Government “Reaching agreement with the Tanza-
Ltd, was present at the ceremony but did acquiring a 16% non-dilutable free-carried nian Government, including free-carried
not have its framework agreement signed. interest in the JV vehicle. interest, is a watershed moment for Black
Peak chair Tony Pearson said significant Gold developer OreCorp is now in a simi- Rock,” managing director John de Vries
progress was being made in finalising the lar position. Its economic framework agree- said. “This enables the company to rapidly
agreement. ment will also see the Government take move forward to deliver a new clean source
“There is one company that was to sign the now-standard 16% free carried stake. of high-grade graphite to a growing global
today but they did not agree to the in- OreCorp will nominate five directors for market.”
country value addition and refining point, the new JV company with the Government Investors welcomed the news on all four
hence the delay in signing,” Hassan said, nominating two. companies, with each enjoying share price
referring to Peak. “However, because there The signing coincided with the granting appreciation in the weeks following the an-
have been previous discussions and agree- of a special mining licence (SML) for the nouncement.
ments on this and the timetable was already company’s 3.07 moz Nyanzaga gold pro- President Hassan’s Government spent
in place, I authorise the Ministry of Minerals ject in the country’s north. The issuing of much of 2021 working to redress investor
to finalise and sign so that the project can the SML and ratification of the framework sentiment towards Tanzania after taking
start as soon as possible.” agreement enabled OreCorp to make a fi- over from the late President John Magufuli.
Peak, which is planning on developing nal payment of $US8.05 million to Barrick Magufuli had taken a confrontational ap-
the Ngualla rare earths project in south- Gold Corp for the project. proach to foreign miners, accusing Acacia
east Tanzania, intends to produce a NdPr It also allowed the company to restruc- Mining of failing to pay $300 billion in back
concentrate in country before refining the ture its portfolio. In January, OreCorp an- taxes and royalties and suspending all min-
product at a specialised facility on Teesside nounced it would spin out its WA gold as- ing and exploration licences.
in the UK. In contrast, Hassan’s Govern- sets into a new vehicle, Solstice Minerals Hassan has adopted a more concilia-
ment has continued to insist on in-country Ltd, which will list on the ASX later this year. tory tone. Barrick is enjoying strong per-
value-addition. “With the grant of the SML for Nyanzaga, formance from the North Mara and Buly-
Tanzania aims for the mining sector to we believe the time is right to demerge our anhulu gold mines it acquired as part of its
contribute 10% of GDP by 2025, Hassan WA exploration assets and unlock the latent Acacia acquisition and in January BHP Ltd
said, adding that the current trend was en- value for our shareholders,” OreCorp man- entered the country with a $US40 million in-
couraging as mining currently accounts for aging director Matthew Yates said. “We vestment in the Kabanga nickel project (see
around 6.7% of GDP. believe Solstice will attract stronger inves- page 8-9).
For Strandline, OreCorp and Black Rock, tor attention and valuation in a standalone
Page 72 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
BOOK NOW!
31 Aug - 1 Sept 2022
Perth, Western Australia
Australia’s premier Africa-Australia business forum
For details about exhibiting, presenting and participat
For details about exhibiting, presenting and participating ing
call Christine Oelschlaeger on +61 (0)8 9321 0355
call Mitchelle Matambo on +61 (0)8 9321 0355
[email protected]
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www.africadownunderconference.com
AFRIcA
Base’s Kwale mineral
sands mine in Kenya has
continued to meet guidance
throughout its history
B
Base readies for ase readies for
widespread approval idespread approval
w
buoyant commodity market, excellent boundary as evidence the Kenyan regu- good and it needed cleaning up but that
A operational performance, improved latory system does work, eventually. has been in place for nearly two years
project economics – Base Resources Ltd “There was never any actual doubt ago now,” he said. “But, it seems ap-
has all the right ingredients for a bumper about whether we would get the exten- propriate for the companies going about
2022; it just needs approval to capitalise sion for the South Dune reserve, it was things the right way, the established op-
on the opportunities. just about the time which is because it is erators,” Carstens said. “It is a big focus
Last year was equal part rewarding a slightly dysfunctional process,” he said. of the permanent secretary to get licenc-
and frustrating for African-focused min- The extension pushes Kwale mine life es by February 2022. They know that
eral sands miner Base with its flagship to December 2023, but Carstens is ea- post-February, government begins to
Kwale mine in Kenya performing strongly ger to see further approvals which will al- shut down ahead of elections. Then you
and prices for its three main products – il- low Base to add further life to operations. have the election itself and then the wait
menite, rutile and zircon – defying expec- “We need to be doing exploration in until the minister is appointed and settles
tations. In addition, an updated DFS for Kenya to extend the mine life beyond in. That will all create further delays.”
its Toliara development in Madagascar 2024 but with the moratorium it is diffi- Longer-term, Carstens expects for
redefined the project’s parameters, lifting cult,” he said. more clarity in the regulatory system.
the resource beyond 2bt and NPV past While the Kenyan Government hasn’t “Hopefully there will be a reset after
$US1 billion. always displayed a deep appreciation of the August elections and things move
However, before the company can get resources industry dynamics, Carstens along smoother after that,” he said. “It’s
the most out of either asset it needs li- said there was recognition about the frustrating because we can see fantastic
cences granted by the Kenyan and Mala- need to speed up the system. opportunity in Kenya and not just imme-
gasy authorities. “The permanent secretary of mines is diately surrounding Kwale.”
“That’s been the challenging issue in aware the country needs Base, as the Ideally, Base will be granted explora-
both assets,” Base managing director largest mining company in Kenya, to con- tion licences this month, allowing it to fire
Tim Carstens lamented. The company tinue,” he said. up exploration with the aim of finding fur-
remains confident it will receive both ex- The Kenyan Government placed a ther reserves for Kwale.
ploration licences in Kenya and a devel- moratorium on the issue of new explo- “As long as we get exploration up and
opment agreement in Madagascar, but ration licences in early 2020 and while running in early 2023, we could have
frustration comes from a lack of clarity in Carstens is broadly supportive of that something lined up to coincide with the
timelines. decision, he hopes to see changes soon. end of Bumamani but then also step that
Carstens pointed to the granting of “The moratorium was put in place for out a bit further, even if it is only as a
an extension to the Kwale mining lease the right reasons, the governance wasn’t bridge to something else,” Carstens said.
Page 74 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
“I think we should be able to keep that said commodity prices “more than made “Base is no Robinson Crusoe in this re-
continuity.” up for that”. gard, there are two hydropower projects
A September PFS suggested min- The hope is that price environment and an airport upgrade caught up in the
ing high-grade zones of Bumamani and prevails through the development of To- tangle of spaghetti which is the permit-
Kwale North Dune concurrently with liara. ting system there,” he said. “We are try-
Kwale South Dune would extend mine Acquired in 2019, Toliara has grown ing to straighten the spaghetti out so the
life by 7.5 months to July 2024, with into an even larger project under Base’s Government can understand the project
11.4mt of material mined from the zones. stewardship. and the economic impact. It is now a
At Kuranze, the company has received The DFS2 study update, delivered in question of bringing the President [Andry
approvals to begin exploration on the September, increased the Toliara NPV to Rajoelina] over the line.
Tanzanian side of the border. $US1 billion and free cash flow by 60% to “We are confident we will get the right
“We will begin auger drilling shortly $US5.9 billion. The increased economics answer. It could be two weeks or two
which gives us that first-pass window to come as a result of a larger reserve base months but the closer we get to the elec-
see the structures we would expect to and a scaled-up Stage 2 which will see tion, the more impetus there is.”
continue on the Kenyan side,” Carstens mining rates of 25 mtpa. Finalisation of the fiscal terms will al-
said. “If you get onto something, you can Carstens said the study had delivered low Base to begin financing discussions.
move quickly.” beyond even the company’s expecta- Carstens said the current supply/demand
Carstens’ focus on extending Kwale is tions. scenario gave the company several fund-
understandable given the recent perfor- “It probably looks even better than ing options.
mance of the mine. when we bought it,” he said. “This fea- “Given the structural supply short-
The September quarter saw 72,866t of sibility study really gives the market a age, people are begging for rutile and
ilmenite, 17,762t rutile and 6,069t zircon sense of the full potential of the project it is seen as a long-term trend,” he said.
(as well as 506t of low-grade zircon) pro- even though we still haven’t included all “That is good for us in terms of potential
duced, keeping Kwale on track to meet the drilling in the resource or the rare JV partners because a lot of groups are
guidance of 310-340,000t ilmenite, 73- earths [monzanite] and garnet potential,” looking to put their foot on supply.”
83,000t rutile and 24-28,000t zircon for he said. Having carved a niche for itself as an
FY2022. “We had anticipated the expansion of independent producer in a tightly con-
“Across its life, Kwale has been pre- Stage 2 and now that we’ve done that trolled sector, Base won’t be short of suit-
dictable in terms of production, tonnes – and the ability for further expansion ors when it comes to financing Toliara.
and grade,” Carstens said. is enormous – it becomes the best un- “It is harder for a start-up because
Base is being rewarded for that con- developed mineral sands project in the you don’t have the track record on op-
sistency in the sales column with com- world by some margin.” erations,” Carstens said of mineral sands
modity prices surprising to the upside As Carstens admits however, the most project development. “You can’t under-
throughout 2021. significant development hurdle remains estimate how important ESG is to the big
“In April 2020, the consensus was the permitting process. The Malagasy Western pigment companies. They need
that pigment use would drop by 30% but Government placed a suspension order to prove their credentials throughout the
it was actually up 4% by the end of the on Toliara in late 2019 ahead of nego- supply chain. It has become a real factor
year and prices in China are the highest tiations over the fiscal terms of Base’s that they know us and are happy to tie up
they’ve been since 2012,” Carstens said. investment. More than two years on, with Base.”
While some FOB value has been erod- Carstens is confident the process will – Dominic Piper
ed by increased shipping rates, Carstens soon be completed.
Base can boast a vaccination rate of 98% (first dose) and 80%
(second dose) at Kwale, against a national average of 4%
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 75
SIGNED, SEALED & DELIVERED
Orica gets explosive the start of a new era for safer and more “Working with NRW is another fantas-
productive underground development tic example of great partnerships helping
with Newcrest charging,” he said. transform a critically important industry
Meanwhile, Orica has sold its ground into a safer, more efficient and envi-
Newcrest Mining Ltd’s Cadia gold mine control subsidiary Minova to European ronmentally-friendly component of the
is set to boast the world’s first mecha- investment firm Aurelius Group for $180 world’s economy,” Du Plessis said.
nised and wireless development charg- million. Meanwhile, NRW has executed a $702
ing system. million mining services works contract at
Through a deal with services company Karara Mining Ltd’s namesake iron ore
Orica Ltd, the semi-automated explosives NRW seals deal to mine.
delivery system, named Avatel, will hit site maximise tonnes NRW will undertake load and haul
in the second half of the year for its debut works, drilling and blasting, ROM re-
commercial trial. NRW Holdings Ltd expects to deliver handling and train loading of product
Swedish manufacturer Epiroc AB also “more safe tonnes” for its customers af- stockpiles. Some of these works will be
collaborated on the service offering. ter striking a deal with MaxMine – a pro- undertaken by the Action Drill & Blast Pty
Avatel’s unique automation is expected vider of military-grade hardware sensors Ltd subsidiary.
to better keep remote workers from harm’s which store and process data from min-
way and increase productivity in under- ing vehicles.
ground operations. Only a single opera- The installation process of MaxMine’s Lycopodium snags
tor is required to prepare and wirelessly technology has already begun at the Dal- Indonesian contract
charge a development face from within the garanga gold mine in Western Australia
safe confines of an enclosed cabin. where NRW is the lead mining contrac- Lycopodium Ltd has been awarded a
The wireless capability is powered by tor. $36 million engineering and construc-
another Orica service, WebGen 200. MaxMine’s offering automatically cap- tion management services contract from
At time of print, Avatel was still under- tures, enhances and contextualises up to PT Amman Mineral Nusa Tenggara (PT
going testing at Epiroc’s Kvantorp under- 10,000 times more data at open pit min- AMNT) for the Batu Hijau process plant
ground trial mine in Sweden. It will then ing operations. This data is then contex- expansion project in Indonesia.
travel to Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd’s Kittila tualised to generate possible increases Batu Hijau is an open pit copper-gold
mine in Finland to complete trials. in productivity. mine located on the island of Sumbawa,
Newcrest directional studies and in- According to MaxMine, existing cus- 1,500km east of Jakarta. It stands as the
novation group manager Tony Sprague tomers have experienced up to an 11% second largest copper-gold mine in In-
expects some “teething issues” when the payload increase while streamlining op- donesia and has so far produced more
new technology is first deployed. erating costs through the service. than 8 blb copper and more than 8.5
“However, it will be well worth it if we Prior to the deal, NRW was already moz gold since kicking off production 22
can ensure our tunnel faces are charged seeking a mining technology provider to years ago.
with all human work completed from the deliver reliable and automated technol- This is the third contract PT AMNT has
safety and comfort of Avatel’s operator ogy to its existing fleet, in aims to further awarded to Lycopodium in two years, in-
cabin,” Sprague said. its operating ambitions. cluding FEED to double mineral process-
Orica chief technology officer Angus MaxMine chief executive Coert Du ing capacity. Last year, the company was
Melbourne shared mutual excitement Plessis said technological advance- awarded a professional engineering and
to continue a working relationship with ments in the mining and resources in- management services contract to facili-
Newcrest. dustry was integral to achieving net zero tate the process plant’s expansion.
“Together, we eagerly await the deliv- targets by 2050. The latest contracted work has already
ery of the first Avatel unit as it will herald begun and is expected to run for two
years.
“We are very pleased to have this
opportunity to continue to support PT
AMNT with the expansion of the Batu
Hijau mine as it progresses through the
construction stage,” Lycopodium manag-
ing director Peter De Leo said.
Perenti turns sands of
time
Perenti Global Ltd’s surface min-
ing subsidiary, African Mining Services
(AMS), has received a contract for the
provision of open pit mining services at
Sandfire Resources Ltd’s Motheo copper
project in Botswana.
The contract is valued at $US493 mil-
lion over a seven-year and three-month
term, with the option to add a year.
Orica’s wireless charging system provides a safer and more remote method of detonating
explosives underground, as the sole operator is seated safely inside a cabin
Page 76 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
AMS is also currently seeking a JV analysis process and are extremely de- The West Australian Department of
partner within the Botswanan community lighted to award this work to Hatch,” Ga- Mines has records showing Sailor Prince
to further support the Motheo project. lan managing director Juan Pablo Var- to have been mined for 4,924 troy ounc-
Works from this contract are expected to gas de la Vega said. es up until 1930. Under the ownership of
start early this year. “They are a welcome addition to the Stone Resources, Rowena recorded 110
“We have commenced mobilising team, and we look forward to working troy ounces and Jubilee recorded 150
heavy equipment to site and our team are with Hatch in this important phase of the troy ounces.
looking forward to working with Sandfire development of HMW. The lithium indus- “In many cases, despite being previ-
on what will be a significant project in a try is growing faster than anyone could ously owned by exploration companies,
very prospective and emerging copper anticipate requiring lithium batteries at an these projects have suffered from a lack
mining province,” Perenti managing di- unprecedented rate. We like to think that of funding by being overshadowed by
rector Mark Norwell said. together, we can make a small, however, other projects,” Brightstar managing di-
“The finalisation of the Motheo contract important difference globally in helping rector William Hobba said.
with Sandfire is an important milestone to transition to an environmentally better “Brightstar is in a position to provide
that will support our engagement with world.” these projects with effective modern ex-
potential Botswana-based JV partners, Hatch commands a global workforce ploration to assess any value in the tar-
who we will work with ahead of the start- of more than 9,000 people across 150 gets.”
up of mining activities in early 2022.” countries.
Perenti also divested its MinAnalytical
Laboratory Services Australia Pty Ltd Cobham takes Nifty flight
subsidiary to ALS Ltd for $43.6 million in MACA sits atop of
December. Roy Hill
Roy Hill Iron Ore Pty Ltd has selected
Winsome heats up Canada MACA Ltd to carry out mining services
with lithium works at its namesake iron ore project in the
Pilbara.
Winsome Resources Ltd has enlisted As part of the $70 million-revenue
geological and metallurgical operations generating contract, MACA will under-
company SGS Canada to undertake take open pit mining services, load and
data collation, field work planning and hauling, and drilling and blasting over a
metallurgical testing at its lithium projects 12-month term – beginning early this year. Cobham’s E190 plane is a new addition
in Quebec. The addition of the contract bumped to its fleet which accommodates for low
The SGS work is in line with Win- MACA’s work in hand position to $3 bil- emission, modern and reliable flights for
some’s own data planning and will assist lion. FIFO workers
the company in the management of sub- Roy Hill, about 115km north of New-
sequent field exploration work and drill- man, is collaboratively owned by Han- Cobham Aviation Services Australia
ing programmes. cock Prospecting Pty Ltd, Marubeni Corp, has launched its inaugural FIFO flight to
Test work at Winsome’s Cancet site POSCO and China Steel Corp. Cyprium Metals Ltd’s Nifty copper mine
builds on previous metallurgical test work “Our team has a long-standing relation- in the Pilbara.
and will involve heavy liquid separation ship with Roy Hill, starting with first mining The debut “Embraer 190”, or “E190”
(HLS), magnetic separation and flotation at the Roy Hill project, and MACA is proud plane, touched down 350km east-south-
batch tests. to be an ongoing part of this operation,” east of Port Hedland last month.
SGS will also undertake metallurgi- MACA Chief Executive Mike Sutton said. The E190 was added to Cobham’s fleet
cal test work on drill samples from Win- “This project will utilise an existing fleet last year and further additions to the ros-
some’s other project, Adina, using HLS while contributing to MACA’s secured ter are expected later this year as part of
and magnetic separation to determine mining work in hand for FY22 and FY23, a commitment to provide resources com-
recovery rates from the ore through and further secures our strong position in panies with modern and reliable trans-
dense media separation. the Pilbara region.” port for FIFO workers.
“The E190 is a great fit for FIFO to
Galan closes the hatch Strike upon a star Nifty,” Cobham business development
director Tim Pirga said.
on study tender Strike Drilling Pty Ltd has been con- “The aircraft is compatible with exist-
tracted by Brightstar Resources Ltd to ing jet capable FIFO runways and has
Galan Lithium Ltd has enlisted Hatch to undertake a 2,000m aircore programme
undertake the feasibility study and analy- over a number of targets at the Brightstar the range and performance to reliably
sis of its Hombre Muerto West (HMW) South gold project in Laverton. uplift 100 passengers on longer FIFO
lithium project in Argentina. Brightstar said the “short impactful” routes all year round whilst lowering car-
Hatch will work alongside Galan’s own programme was designed to test for bon emissions and minimising refuelling
consultants Ad-Infinitum, SRK, WSP and anomalism in areas of historic mining requirements at site.
other project teams in Argentina, Chile and prospecting. “Passengers love the comfortable,
and Australia. The feasibility study is ex- Targets to undergo the drilling include modern cabin and everyone gets either
pected to be delivered in late Q4. Sailor Prince, Rowena and Jubilee – a window or an aisle seat, making an
“We have been through a very thor- which have all shown previous anomal- E190 flight a great way to start and finish
ough feasibility study tender, review and ism but bare modern exploration. a FIFO swing.”
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 77
DRILL BITS www.capdrill.com www.capdrill.com
Emmerson soars on reflect very extensive, high-grade copper our exploration programme and increases
mineralisation, with intervals of high-grade
our confidence that we are unlocking a
Hermitage hit gold and cobalt – all associated with iron- sizeable opportunity within our tenement
oxides of hematite and magnetite,” Emmer- package,” he said.
son managing director Rob Bills said.
“Whilst it is still early days, the metal Helix rapt with copper
zonation and mineralisation in drill hole
HERC003 displays increasing gold and sulphide result
copper grades with depth – the subject of
future diamond drilling. Although based Helix Resources Ltd has intersected vis-
on limited data, it appears that HERC003 ible copper sulphide mineralisation at the
intersected a subvertical, brecciated, high- Canbelego JV in New South Wales.
grade metal-rich feeder zone which has The hit is about 50m down-dip of a previ-
channelled and concentrated the copper ously reported high-grade intercept of 18m
and gold and remains open at depth.” @ 3.4% copper (including 14m @ 4.22%
copper).
A 12-15 hole RC drilling programme is un-
Drilling delivers deep der way to test for parallel lode positions to
result for Dacian the south-west. VTEM and soil geochem-
istry also indicates potential for new lodes
Dacian Gold Ltd believes a series of to the north-east, but with denser vegeta-
promising intersections below the Double- tion cover, further target definition work is
jay open pit at its Jupiter mining complex planned prior to clearing access for drilling.
could unlock a “sizeable opportunity” within Helix managing director Mike Rosenstre-
the company’s tenement package at the Mt ich said it was an encouraging start to the
Emmerson managing director Rob Bills Morgans operation. resumption of drilling at Canbelego, which
Significant intersections of 202.6m @ is subject to a JV with 30% owner Aeris Re-
Emmerson Resources Ltd shares surged 1.1 g/t gold from 479m (including 34.8m @ sources Ltd.
almost 200% after the company reported 2.2 g/t from 585m, 19.8m @ 1.6 g/t from “It’s still very early days but we are also
one of the best drill intersections ever re- 641.3m and 20.6m @ 1.5 g/t from 560.6m) very interested to test the concept of repeat
corded in the Tennant Creek mineral field and 2.8m @ 11.6 g/t from 428.2m were re- lodes which is typical for the ‘Cobar-style’
in the Northern Territory. ported last month. The company confirmed of copper deposits, which are often blind
RC drilling at the Hermitage prospect mineralisation now extends to a depth of at surface or have small footprints but can
struck 117m @ 3.38% copper from 75m 400m below the base of the open pit de- extend for up to several thousand metres
(including 7.26% copper and 2.69 g/t gold sign. vertically,” he said.
from 126m, including 3m @ 14.91 g/t gold This result continues recent success with
and 4.24% copper to end-of-hole) in early the drill bit as part of the Jupiter extension More zinc flows into
December. programme at Heffernans and Ganymede.
The drill hole was abandoned in miner- Extensional drilling is continuing at the Thalanga
alisation at 192m and is set to be continued former and Doublejay, with further assays
with a diamond tail at a time yet to be con- pending at the time of print. Red River Resources Ltd has reported
firmed. Dacian managing director Leigh Junk results from almost 8,000m of drilling at the
Another hole at Hermitage also intersect- said the result also confirmed broad min- Liontown project, near its existing zinc op-
ed 18m @ 1.4% copper and 0.23% cobalt eralisation in a third pipe within the syenite erations at Thalanga in North Queensland,
from 117m and 24m @ 4.2 g/t gold from intrusive system beneath the Jupiter com- including a hit of 68m @ 2.3% zinc equiva-
159m (including 3m @ 17.61 g/t gold and plex. lent at the Cougartown prospect.
0.46% bismuth from 162m). “This confirmation of considerable addi- Other intersections from Cougartown in-
“These results are some of the best seen tional mineralisation within our Jupiter com- clude 43m @ 1.6% zinc equivalent, 18m @
in the Tennant Creek mineral field as they plex is a fantastic result at this early stage in 1.6% zinc equivalent from 101m and 1.7%
Complete
Mining Services
Contact us to discuss your project [email protected] | www.capdrill.com
Page 78 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
www.capdrill.com www.capdrill.com
zinc equivalent from 142m. and remains open at depth,” Cannon chief the “very long” assay turnaround times of
Another encouraging intercept of 40m @ executive Steve Lynn said. up to 14 weeks being experienced across
3% zinc equivalent was recorded at Cou- “Downhole EM results from the new the industry.
gartown West. holes complement these deeper intercepts “With the recent determination of the Al-
Red River has earmarked Liontown and indicate there is substantial upside with bion process as our preferred processing
(current resource of 4.1mt @ 12.7% zinc further infill drilling as well as extensional method for the high-grade sulphide-asso-
equivalent) as the likely third deposit for its drilling along the southern resource mar- ciated orebodies at Youanmi, which show
Thalanga operations. gin.” we can likely achieve metallurgical recover-
Camelwood’s resource currently stands ies around 95% (92.2% average for under-
Cannon plunges deeper at 2mt @ 2% nickel. ground), we are well positioned to benefit
from the increased resource,” he said.
into Camelwood Rox moves early on
Drilling has extended the mineralisation Youanmi resource Party time for Carnavale
at Camelwood, one of the key prospects at Carnavale Resources Ltd is the lat-
Cannon Resources Ltd’s Fisher East nickel Rox Resources Ltd has added 1.34 moz est explorer to find drilling success in the
project in Western Australia. to the resource at its Youanmi gold project, Kookynie district, returning several high-
Cannon reported diamond drilling inter- which has now surpassed 3 moz. grade intercepts in January.
sected southerly down-plunge extensions Drilling results to the end of October were Kookynie – 100km north of Kalgoorlie –
to mineralisation at Camelwood, including included in the resource update which in- has been the subject of recent success by
hits of 4.67m @ 2.31% nickel from 434.33m corporated a 156% uplift in the Youanmi the likes of Genesis Minerals Ltd, Nex Met-
and 0.71m @ 3.26% nickel from 728.85m. Deeps resource. als Ltd and Metalicity Ltd.
Nickel mineralisation at Camelwood re- The company reported an estimated $7/ Carnavale appears to have joined them
mains open in all directions at depth, with oz discovery cost as part of the resource after returning assays of 16m @ 20.92 g/t
the southern plunge the most prospec- update. from 161m, 4m @ 17.82 g/t from 78m and
tive zone for further drilling and resource Results from the last few months of the 3m @ 3.27 g/t from 109m at its McTavish
growth. recent drilling campaign at Youanmi Deeps East prospect.
“These results follow on from our suc- were not included in the resource. The results came from the first 10 holes
cessful drilling programme at Musket and Rox managing director Alex Passmore of a 21-hole RC programme at McTavish
now confirm that the Camelwood miner- said the company made the decision to East with the remaining assays expected
alisation extends down-plunge to the south publish an interim updated resource given before the end of January.
Cannon has extended the nickel
mineralisation at both Musket (pictured)
and Camelwood, part of its Fisher East
project
Carnavale shares shot up more than 80% on news of high-grade hits at Kookynie
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aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 79
coMInGs AnD GoInGs
lobal Lithium Ltd has ap- arol Marinkovich has re- z Minerals Ltd has made ment and production of the
Gpointed Ron Mitchell as Cplaced Patricia Vanni De Oseveral new appoint- Sukari gold mine
executive director for mar- Oliveira as company secre- ments to its executive lead-
kets and growth and former tary for Alvo Minerals Ltd. ership team. They include
Fortescue Metals Ltd chief Marinkovich has more than Matt Reed as operations ex-
operating officer Greg Lil- 25 years’ experience in the ecutive, Claire Parkinson as
leyman as a non-executive mining industry as both a integration executive, Bryan
director. Mitchell previously company secretary and in Quinn as strategy and growth
worked as a sales direc- corporate governance roles. executive and Michelle Ash
tor for Tianqi Lithium Corp. as technology executive.
Meanwhile, managing direc- ony Chamberlain has re-
tor Jamie Wright has also re- Tturned to Vimy Resources rant Hudson has officially
signed but will remain with the Ltd as chief operating officer. Gbegun duties as chief Paul Roberts
company until March to assist Chamberlain stepped down executive for Globe Metals &
with transitions of work. from the role in 2019 after five Mining Ltd, as per the com- ot Chili Ltd has appointed
years with the company but pany’s announcement in No- HNicole Adshead-Bell as a
continued as non-executive vember. Hudson previously director, coinciding with the
director. Most recently he served as managing director company’s dual listing on the
has been project director and for Bikita Minerals and Tanta- TSX-V. Adshead-Bell is also a
chief operating officer for BCI lite Holdings. non-executive director for Al-
Minerals Ltd. tius Minerals Corp and Mata-
ustralian Strategic Mate- dor Mining Ltd.
he Minerals Council of Arials Ltd has appointed
TAustralia has appointed Kerry Gleeson as a non-ex- hristine Keener has been
Cathryn Tilmouth as execu- ecutive director. Gleeson is Cappointed as chief oper-
Greg Lilleyman tive director for Northern Aus- currently serving the same ating officer for Barrick Gold
tralia. She previously served position for St Barbara Ltd, Corp North America. Keener
ill Goodall has been in- as a senior government and New Century Resources Ltd previously served as vice
Wstalled as acting chief public affairs adviser under and Chrysos Corp Ltd. president for Alcoa Corp’s
executive for Aura Energy Ltd Santos Ltd for three years. European and North Ameri-
following Peter Reeve’s res- ustin Barton has been can divisions.
ignation. Aura also appointed ova Minerals Ltd non- Jelevated to managing di-
Phil Mitchell as a non-exec- Nexecutive director Colin rector of Metalicity Ltd after rdiden Ltd has appointed
utive chairman, and Warren Belshaw has resigned from serving as the chief execu- AMichelle Roth as a non-
Mundine and Bryan Dixon as the board to lead the com- tive and chief financial officer executive director. She found-
non-executive directors. pany’s newly established since June. A search is under ed Roth Investor Relations in
in-house technical advisory way for a new chief financial 1987, headquartered in New
ustralia-Africa Miner- panel. Belshaw is a min- officer. York City. Roth is currently in-
Aals and Energy Group ing engineer with more than volved with TSX-V listed com-
(AAMEG) has appointed 40 years’ experience. He is redictive Discovery Ltd panies Maple Gold Mines Ltd
Roger Staley as chief execu- joined on the panel by chief Phas appointed Andrew and Nova Royalty Corp.
tive to replace the departing geologist Dale Schultz, senior Pardey as managing director,
William Witham. A mining ex- metallurgical and processing replacing Paul Roberts who old Industry Group wel-
ecutive and geologist, Staley engineer Mike Hallewell and has transitioned to technical Gcomed several new di-
brings with him a decade of chief executive Christopher director. Pardey previously rectors at last year’s annual
experience in Zambia and the Gerteisen. served as the chief execu- general meeting, including
Republic of Congo. tive for Centamin Plc and was Saturn Metals Ltd managing
present during both develop- director Ian Bamborough, St
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Portable PPB Pty Ltd, Perth, WA. Australia
Large sample to reduce nugget effect
W: portableppb.com E: [email protected]
Global tests with many different sample
media and gold mineralisation styles
Portable PPB Pty Ltd, Perth, WA. Australia
W: portableppb.com E: [email protected]
Explore smarter, discover faster
Barbara Ltd head of people, Greenvale Mining Ltd, tasked previously held executive po- as an independent non-exec-
culture and corporate affairs with overseeing the Alpha tor- sitions with Tawana Resourc- utive director.
Justine Fisher, Northern Star banite project in Queensland es, Brockman Resources and
Resources Ltd group man- with colleague Dagmar Par- Strike Resources Ltd. anami Gold NL non-ex-
ager for government rela- sons, ahead of plans for com- Tecutive director Gerard
tions and social performance mercial development this year. dam Handley has been McMahon has resigned after
Guy Singleton, Gold Road Aappointed as a non- nine years with the company.
Resources Ltd chief finan- ohn Haley has been ap- executive director for North-
cial officer John Mullumby Jpointed as chief financial ern Minerals Ltd. Handley iluna Mining Corp Ltd has
and Perth Mint manager of officer and company secre- is currently the national vice Wappointed Rowan John-
business development and tary of Aus Tin Mining Ltd, president and director of the ston to its board of directors.
industry research Cameron replacing Karl Schlobohm, Australia China Business Johnston is experienced as a
Alexander. who served the company for Council. mining engineer and fills tech-
12 years. nical skills left by Tony James
YI Resources Ltd non- who left the company in July.
eoff Walker has been Fexecutive director Adrian
Gappointed as company Jessup has resigned after 12 trandline Resources Ltd
secretary and chief financial years with the company. Shas appointed James
officer of DGR Global Ltd, to Chialo as an alternate direc-
replace Karl Schlobohm after allymore Resources Ltd tor alongside Alexandra At-
a transition period. Bhas appointed Andrew kins. Chialo has been a direc-
Greville as a non-executive tor for Strandline’s Tanzanian
revor Dixon has been ap- director. Greville has more subsidiaries since 2016 and
Ian Bamborough Tpointed as managing di- than 36 years’ experience in is based in the country.
rector for Redcastle Resourc- the international mining in-
N on-executive director es Ltd while non-executive dustry, previously serving as
director Mauro Piccini has
Mathew O’Hara has re-
vice president for commercial
placed Melanie Leydin as resigned. operations at BHP Copper.
company secretary for Peak
Minerals Ltd. agnetite Mines Ltd has
Mappointed Sam Chee as
liver Kreuzer has been a strategic advisor, prioritising
Oappointed as a non-ex- financing for the Razorback
ecutive director for Eclipse high-grade iron ore project.
Metals Ltd. Kreuzer is a geo- Chee is an investment banker Elizabeth Gaines
World first in-field gold technology
scientist by trade and also on with more than 27 years’ expe-
the boards of 92 Energy Ltd rience and previously played lizabeth Gaines has tran-
and NickelX Ltd as a non-ex- a role in the financing of Han- Esitioned to a non-execu-
ecutive director. Robust, simple and safe tive director role for Fortes-
cock Prospecting Pty Ltd’s Roy
Hill iron ore business. cue Metals Group Ltd. Gaines
Self operate, same day gold results
xecutive director of cor- stood down from her position
Eporate business Blair Wayne Richards im McKerlie and Paul as chief executive after origi-
Sergeant has resigned from TM JWhite have joined Magnet- nally joining the company in
Celsius Resources Ltd. detectORE works with standard pXRF
2013 and assuming her last
ite Mines Ltd as non-execu-
urley Minerals Ltd has ap-
Large sample to reduce nugget effect
ark Turner has been ap- Bpointed Wayne Richards tive directors. executive role in 2018. She
continues to work within the
as chief executive, succeed-
Mpointed executive direc- ing Gary Powell who is now GL Resources Ltd has company under a fully renew-
tor and general manager of a technical director. Richards Kappointed Denis Gately able hydrogen initiative.
Global tests with many different sample
media and gold mineralisation styles
World first In-field gold technology
Same day Gold Results, anywhere!
Robust, Simple & Safe
Fast, adaptive decision making AVAILABLE
RC/AC, Core & Soils all suitable SOON!
Large sample to address nuggety gold
Overcome time and capital constraints Portable PPB Pty Ltd, Perth, WA. Australia
Globally tested and trialled. W: portableppb.com E: [email protected]
aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2022 Page 81
leFtFIelD
Sponsorship swish for NRW
ational Basketball League (NBL) Wildcats chief executive NRW Holdings chief executive Jules Pemberton (centre) with
Nteam the Perth Wildcats will be sport- Troy Georgiu highlighted Perth Wildcats players Bryce Cotton (left) and Victor Law
ing a new look for the next two seasons NRW’s importance as a
with NRW Holdings appearing as a spon- resources contractor and
sor on the back of all team jerseys and employer to many WA
training singlets. residents and basketball
The NRW logo has been emblazoned fans.
on all players’ kits since late last year “We’re proud to partner
when the mining contractor was con- with NRW who employ
firmed as “platinum partner” to the 10- [many] West Australians
time NBL championship-winning club. on projects in WA and
“We are extremely proud to partner across Australia,” Geor-
with the Perth Wildcats,” NRW chief ex- giu said. “We both strive
ecutive Jules Pemberton said. “They are for excellence and place
a true West Australian success story and a high value on the people
we are excited to support them as they who drive our businesses
begin the new season.” forward.”
InDeX Burley 36, 81 Global Lithium 23, 42, 80 Marvel 24, 28, 39 Red River 78-79
Redcastle 81
Matador 80
Globe Metals 80
C29 Metals 36 Glencore 8, 45, 64 Medallion 48 Regis 37
Cannon 23-25, 36, 79 Gold 50 43 Metal Tiger 48 Resilience 45
29Metals 22, 27, 29-30 Carnavale 79 Gold Mountain 80 Metalicity 79, 80 Resource Base 53
92 Energy 23, 24, 27, Celsius 81 Gold Road 81 Midas 48-49 Revolver 53
29-30, 81 Centamin 80 Green Technology 43 Mineral Resources 18, Rio Tinto 4, 10, 17-18,
Chalice 28-29, 37, 40, Greenvale 81 55, 68 39, 61, 62, 64, 69
Adriatic 71 47-49, 54 Mincor 33 Ronin 53
Aeris 78 Charger 36-37 Hamelin 43 Minerals 260 29, 49 Rox 24, 25, 28, 36, 79
AGC 34 Cobre 48 Hancock 77, 81 Mitre 49 Roy Hill 77
Agnico 76 Coda 54 Heavy Minerals 43 Monger 49 Rubix 53
Albion 30 Codrus 37 Helix 78 Mt Malcolm 49
Alcoa 80 Cooper 37 Hot Chili 80 Mt Monger 49 Sandfire 62, 65, 71, 76
Allkem 46 Copper Search 37 77
Alicanto 71 Cosmos 37 Iceni 43, 51 Neometals 6, 33, 55 Saturn 80
Almonty 30 37, 40, 47-49, 54 IGO 8-9, 50 New Century 80 Sedibelo 8
Altamin 71 ChemX 6-7, 24 Industrial Minerals 44 Newcrest 76 Silver Lake 37, 65
Altius 80 Core Lithium 25 Infinity Lithium 71 Newfield 7 Siren 51
Altura 18 Culpeo 37-38 Infinity Mining 44 Newmont 10, 12, 64, 66 Solis 54
Alvo 30, 80 Cyprium 77 Inpex 61 Nex 79 Solstice 72
American West 26, 27, Iris 44 Nexus 12-13 South 32 8, 10
32 Dacian 78 Ironbark 70 Nickel Mines 11 St Barbara 49, 80-81
Anglo American 8, 64 Dalaroo 38 iTech 44 Nickelsearch 49-50 St George 32
AngloGold 40, 50, 65 De Grey 41, 65 NickelX 50, 81 Star 54
Arcadia 33 DGR 81 Juno 44 Nimy 50 Stavely 38
Archer 6, 44 Diablo 38 Noront 8 Strandline 72, 81
Ardea 44 DMC 38 Kabanga 8, 50 Northern Star 4, 13, 49, Strike Resources 28, 46,
Ardiden 80 Dreadnought 51 Kalgoorlie Gold 44 56, 62, 64, 81 81
Armada 33, 48 Dundas 38 Karara 76 Nova 80 Syrah 39
Askari 33 KGL 81 Nyati 72
Aura 80 E79 Gold 38 Kincora 45 Tambourah 54
Auric 33 Eastern Metals 38-39 Kinross 66 Odessa 7 Tanami 81
Auroch 30 Eclipse 81 Kirkland 40 Orange 51 TechGen 54
Aurum 34 Element 25 36 Koonenberry 45 Orecorp 72 Torque 54
Aus Tin 81 Emmerson 78 Kuniko 23, 45 Oz Minerals 80 Torrens 54
Austral 34 Encounter 43 OZZ 51 Tulla 29, 54-55
Australasian 25, 27, 34 Equinox 39 Lachlan Star 49 OzAurum 51
Aus. Rare Earths 34,53 Estrella 14-15, 33 Larvotto 43 Vale 64
ASM 80 European Metals 71 Legacy 45 Pacgold 51 Victory Goldfields 55
EV Resources 35 Legend 9 Panoramic 50 Vimy 80
Balkan 35 Evolution Energy 23-25, Liontown 17-19, 28-29, Panterra 51 Vulcan 45
Ballymore 35, 81 28, 39 49 Panther 51
Barton 35 Evolution Mining 64 Lithium Americas 46 Pantoro 55 West Africa 29
Barrick 8, 80 Lithium Australia 37 Parabellum 51 West Cobar 26, 55
Base 74-75 Falcon 22, 28-29, 40 Lithium Energy 23, 46 Peak Minerals 81 Western Areas 8-9, 32,
Bastion 35 Far East 11 Locksley 47 Peak Rare Earths 72 50
BCI 80 Firebird 41 Lode 47 Pearl Gull 51 Western Gold 55
Besra 36 First Quantum 50 Lucapa 7 Perseus 29 Western Mines 55
Bellevue 64 Flynn 41 Lunnon 47 Pilbara 17, 42, 52 Widgie Nickel 55
BHP 4, 8-10, 15, 50, 60, Forrestania 41 Lycaon 47 Polymetals 52 Wiluna 81
61, 62, 64, 72, 81 Fortescue 10, 42, 64, Lykos 47 Predictive 29, 52, 80 Winsome 25, 55, 77
Black Canyon 36 80-81 Woodside 61
Black Rock 72 FYI 81 M3 Mining 48 QMines 53 Wyloo 8
Blackstone 37 Magmatic 34
Breaker 42 Galan 77 Magnetite 80-81 RareX 37
Brightstar 77 Genesis 79 Mamba 48 Recharge 53
Bryah 54 Genmin 22, 41 Maple Gold 80 Red 5 49
Burgundy 7
Page 82 FeBRUaRY 2022 aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT
C 001Jul2021_Axis_Paydirt V9_printready.pdf 1 2021/07/06 05:37:45 PM
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
PAL1000 Gold Assay System
• High quality
• Proven technology
• Onsite gold assays
• Rapid turnaround
• Large sample size
• Single operator
• Low CAPEX/OPEX
• Robust
Up to 400
SAMPLES per
FAST, HIGH-QUALITY, 12-hour shift
LOW-COST GOLD ANALYSIS
MPC’S PAL MACHINE OPERATING NOTES
The PAL1000 is an ideal tool for rapid turnaround gold assays, The PAL 1000 is fully enclosed for
delivering a large number of assay results at low cost. safety and noise reduction with safety
Short pulverizing/leach times of 1-hour have assays reported interlocks.
within 2 hours. Operating parameters such as grinding
Large sample size capability makes the PAL100 ideal for coarse gold media charge, reagent dose rate,
analysis, reducing the nugget effect. sample size, run time and speed can
all be varied onsite to suit sample
requirements.
TECHNICAL NOTES
The PAL1000 contains 52 sample pots, each capable of processing
up to 1kg ore samples.
Samples are completely pulverised (typically >90% passing 75um) and
simultaneously leached with MPC’s uniquely formulated Assay Tabs™.
Once leaching is complete, leach solution is collected and analysed
for gold by AAS. Silver and Copper analysis can also be performed.
The pots and grinding media are washed before returning the media
to the pots for the next sample. By simply adding water, ore samples
and Assay Tabs™, the unit ready for the next run. • Grade Control
• Mill Samples
• Exploration
For your onsite gold analysis needs, contact your PAL’s at:
Mineral Process Control (MPC) Pty Ltd
30 Furniss Rd, LANDSDALE, WA, 6065
TEL +61 8 9303 2334 WEB www.mpcwa.com EMAIL [email protected]
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