Pointing the way. Using new indicator minerals in the nickel hunt

26th Jul 2021

Finding the next Kambalda, home of Australia’s sulfide nickel mining industry, will be a lot harder than the original discovery, but to aid the process a new indicator mineral exploration technique is emerging from CSIRO research.

Read the full article here.

Preparing the face of future mining

11th Jun 2021

Deloitte’s top 10 trends for 2021 have highlighted the mining sector’s commitment to continual improvement and in laying a foundation for tomorrow. Decarbonisation and zero harm are two of this year’s discussion points in the annual Tracking the Trends report.

Decarbonisation is established as a hot topic in the mining sector, but the trend is set to culminate in a greater way over the next two to three years.

Deloitte Australia’s mining and metals leader Ian Sanders believes the sector is at an inflection point, where the image of mining has significantly improved over 2020 and is set to continue to be a real focus.

Read the full article here.

A bright future for Australian energy, technology and expertise

12th May 2021

In the second of a series of opinion pieces from Science meets Parliament sponsors, Professor Paul Mulvaney, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science, discusses how to extend Australia’s renewable energy generation capability, create jobs and deliver better results for businesses and energy consumers.

‘Our land abounds with nature’s gifts, of beauty rich and rare’. As we progress further into an exciting but uncertain 21^st century, those words ring more truly now than ever before.’

Read the full article here.

New study backs green hydrogen production

22nd Apr 2021

The import of renewable energy is both technically and economically feasible, according to a new study from the hydrogen import coalition.

The coalition, comprising DEME, Engie, Exmar, Fluxys, Port of Antwerp, Port of Zeebrugge and WaterstofNet, has now completed a large-scale industrial study mapping out the financial, technical and regulatory aspects of the entire hydrogen import chain.

Read the full article here.

New basalt type discovered beneath the ocean

30th Mar 2021

A new type of rock created during large and exceptionally hot volcanic eruptions has been discovered beneath the Pacific Ocean.

An international team of researchers including the University of Leeds unearthed the previously unknown form of basalt after drilling through the Pacific ocean floor.

The discovery suggests that ocean floor eruptions sourced in the Earth’s mantle were even hotter and more voluminous than previously thought. Report co-author is Dr Ivan Savov, of Leeds’ Institute of Geophysics and Tectonics, in the university’s School of Earth and Environment.

Read the full article here.

Hobart’s library of rocks holds crucial value to the future of Tasmania’s mineral landscape.

02nd Feb 2021

The Mornington Core library on Tasmania’s eastern shore has geology samples that are more than a century old. It has given the ability for mine operators to gather insights on the geology of particular regions without extreme costs.

Mineral Resources Australia is looking to upgrade its current facilities to make it easier for stakeholders to have access to samples. Samples are also being used by PHD students at the University of Tasmania analysing core samples to find if they possibly contain cobalt.

Read full article here.

BHP Plans to Recycle Old Tyres into Oil, Steel, and More

03rd Nov 2020

BHP rolls out a new sustainability initiative which will turn old tyres into oil, carbon black, syngas and steel. BHP has been working to reduce the amount of carbon emissions that their company creates and this is just one of the many steps that they’re taking to push for a sustainable future for Australia. Not only are their new plans great for the environment but they’ll open up new jobs to handle the increased output.

Read the full article here.

Ever Wondered How Much Gold is Left in the World?

12th Oct 2020

Recently due to the world-wide pandemic, gold prices hit a record high of $2,000 per ounce (28 Grams). Gold is in demand as an investment item, symbol of wealth, and its more practical application within a range of electrical equipment. But like most commodities that are mined, gold will eventually run out.

A new article from the BBC covers the current state of the gold mining industry, how much is left and other unlikely places that we may need to begin mining such as the moon. Read the full article here.

A Sustainable Future for Battery Usage

07th Sep 2020

CSIRO is currently tackling one of the biggest impending environmental problems that will soon face the world. Single use batteries make up a large portion of Australia’s waste, with only 97% of batteries being properly recycled. Not only that but batteries are extremely different to recycle and make use of the entire battery rather than just parts of it. CSIRO’s plan is to reduce batteries in landfill sites, work to make them viable and sustainable for future consumption, reduce mining battery resources, and impact the worlds sustainability approach to battery recycling in a positive way. Read the full article and plan for future sustainability here.

BHP introduces new remote-in, remote-out system to adjust to travel restrictions caused by COVID-19

04th Aug 2020

BHP has announced that they will start executing new travel arrangements called remote-in, remote-out. Due to recent restrictions to do with COVID-19 many companies have had to pivot and adjust the way they approach their daily work. BHP states that this new technology will help them to overcome limitations associated with phone calls and video conferences, while avoiding the high cost and time investment involved in flying people to site when unexpected breakdowns and equipment downtime occur.

Read the full article here.