Posts by International Mining:

Japanese car makers line up for Australian producers’ lithium

Emerging lithium producer Galaxy Resources has signed an offtake agreement with Mitsubishi for a significant proportion of its battery grade lithium carbonate production, starting this year. The agreement involves long term offtake sales and distribution of Galaxy’s product to the Japanese market. This follows closely on Toyota’s agreement with Australian-based Orocobre to a 25% stake [...]
International Mining | February 15, 2010 | 8:00 pm

Cameco re-enters underground development at Cigar Lake uranium mine

Crews safely re-entered the main working level of the Cigar Lake mine, 480 m below surface, on February 10. Prior to re-entry, the mine was fully dewatered and the main shaft refurbished including installation of the ladderway, replacement of electrical and mechanical components, and extension of the in-shaft pumping system. The workings at the 420 m [...]
International Mining | February 12, 2010 | 12:29 am

Scottish Coal orders ten Cat 785D off highway trucks for Broken Cross

Scottish Coal has ordered ten Cat 785D off highway trucks for its fleet modernisation program at the Broken Cross surface mine  in Ayrshire, Scotland (IM October 2009, pp 61-62), which will make it the first company in the UK to operate Cat’s new D-Series version. The new trucks will be delivered, serviced and maintained by [...]
International Mining | February 11, 2010 | 8:00 pm

Guidelines on the difficult but very ‘doable’ task of working with small-scale miners

ICMM has launched Working together a guidance note (of over 100 pages) for companies engaging with the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector. This is a very important subject, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America. The document is the product of a fruitful partnership with Communities and Small-Scale Mining (CASM), the International Finance Corp’s [...]
International Mining | February 10, 2010 | 9:00 pm

Jubilee and Sylvania to offer total processing capability for low grade and high chrome concentrate PGM tailings

Jubilee Platinum and Sylvania Resources have entered into a Framework Agreement to form a smelting company and a separate tailings processing company. The companies intend to process and treat low grade and high chrome concentrate PGM resources on South Africa’s Bushveld Complex, which have previously been deemed uneconomic. Smelting and refining activities will be carried [...]
International Mining | February 10, 2010 | 8:00 pm

Caterpillar dealer Finning wins big contract for new Alberta oil sands mine

Imperial Oil has chosen Finning as a mining mobile equipment supplier for the Kearl oil sands project. The ten-year agreement includes the supply of Caterpillar equipment, parts, specialized maintenance labour and training. The Kearl project is envisioned to be developed in three phases and could ultimately produce more than 300,000 barrels/d of bitumen. The first [...]
International Mining | February 9, 2010 | 9:10 pm

Free mineral exploration archive available from MineralsUK.com

Relative to its size, Britain is well endowed with mineral resources. Considerable mineral exploration was carried out by the British Geological Survey (BGS) over a 25-year period as part of its Mineral Reconnaissance Program (MRP). This provided geological, geochemical, geophysical, mineralogical and metallogenic information on prospective areas across Britain. By the end of the MRP [...]
International Mining | February 8, 2010 | 8:00 pm

Combating acid rock drainage (ARD): industry collaborates on ARD Guide

The Global Acid-Rock Drainage (GARD) Guide is a recent development to support sustainable management of ARD. This internet-based global best practices guide for the prevention and mitigation of ARD was recently published by the International Network for Acid Prevention (INAP). INAP is an international consortium of major mining companies, working collectively to combat the issue [...]
International Mining | February 8, 2010 | 4:56 am

High technology products from methane: Australian/Indian joint venture

Eden Energy has executed a non-binding terms sheet with Indian Oil Corp (IOCL) through which, subject to certain conditions being satisfied, the two companies will enter into a farm-in agreement to scale up a new Pyrolysis technology jointly developed by Eden and the University of Queensland, to produce hydrogen and ultra-strong solid carbon fibres and nanotubes [...]
International Mining | February 8, 2010 | 4:26 am

Bucyrus VFD controls improve performance of room & pillar mining equipment

Adding a variable frequency drive (VFD) to a compatible Bucyrus machine has a positive impact on the bottom line. Costly DC motors are replaced by more efficient brushless AC motors which require less maintenance and have a longer service life. A Un-A-Hauler® with VFD control transports more tonnes per shift. A VFD-equipped Vers-A-Trac® completes longwall moves [...]
International Mining | February 8, 2010 | 2:01 am

High altitude Sandvik Mining and Construction partnership with Barrick in Pascua-Lama

Sandvik has come to an agreement with Barrick regarding the supply of several classifications of equipment for its Pascua-Lama project. Sandvik says: “Barrick’s positive experiences with Sandvik products in the past and the results generated by the proactive relationship between and within the two organizations will benefit both companies. At Pascua-Lama’s 5,200-m altitude all equipment must be able [...]
International Mining | February 3, 2010 | 9:33 pm