About HighGrade

HighGrade is Australasia’s weekly online mining magazine delivering to readers the high-grade cut of mining industry news from around the region, and the globe. read more

Contact Us

TECHNOLOGY Sat 04/02/2012

Click for larger

People make truck decision a no-brainer

November 3 - 9, 2011

ANALYSTS who recently visited the Pilbara iron ore giants to check on expansion activity and plans made some telling references to labour among potential growth hurdles without, obviously, giving it the same gravitas as physical infrastructure and other constraints. Rio’s $A750 million (material!) investment in driverless haul trucks may start to alter the prevailing emphasis.

Read full article

Click for larger

Golden elixir

September 22 - 28, 2011

THE mining world will be keeping a very close eye on attempts over the next 12 months to produce gold without earthmoving, crushing and grinding of rock, and cyanide-based mineral separation at a remote South Australian site.

Read full article

Crocodiles speed drive to diverless

January 25 - 31, 2012

THE Pilbara has Rio Tinto’s driverless drills and mining trucks, and it now has WorleyParsons’ diverless marine environment monitoring fleet.

Read the full article


Australian mines embrace auto-guidance

January 25 - 31, 2012

AN AUSTRALIAN manufacturer has won strong endorsement of new underground machine guidance technology over the past 12 months and is now broadening its sales effort.

Read the full article


Simulation training underway

October 13 - 19, 2011

BARMINCO expects its move to simulator operator training to “deliver a significant return on investment” with the first unit already said to be delivering benefits.

Read the full article


Remote inspection and intervention

September 15 - 21, 2011

THE global demand for oil and gas remains high and will do for the foreseeable future. However, the industry is facing a number of challenges, including the struggle to retain production levels and access reserves that are often in extremely demanding environments. These challenges have led to calls to boost the level of automation in the oil and gas industry while maintaining the focus on health, safety and the environment.

Read the full article


Recruitment firm buys simulator

September 8 - 14, 2011

AN Australian recruitment and labour hire firm has made a major investment in mine equipment simulator training technology to gain an edge in the lucrative mining human resources field.

Read the full article


Advanced process agents offer environmental benefits

September 1 - 7, 2011

A US-DESIGNED processing technology which has an interesting environmental card up its sleeve should, according to its developer, be seriously looked at by Australian uranium and cobalt producers.

Read the full article


Chloride in gold recovery moves closer

August 25 - 31, 2011

WHILE some might see the use of chloride in minerals processing as being too problematic, one Canadian outfit is convinced the sometimes controversial chemical could eventually replace cyanide when it comes to dealing with refractory ores in the gold circuit.

Read the full article


Product display cements long-term partnership

August 18 - 24, 2011

WHILE many people who invest their time and money in mining are drawn to the industry because of its size, scope and grandeur, it was a moment of simplicity that got former test cricketer Glenn McGrath hooked.

Read the full article


New force in iron automation

August 4 - 10, 2011

AUGUST 1: RIO Tinto has staked its claim to the name, ‘Mine of the Future’, and leadership of the mining technology race, but it faces a real challenger in the form of Fortescue Metals Group. Not willing to eat Rio’s red dust now or at any other stage of his career is the general manager of FMG’s new $US2.5 billion Solomon project, Anthony Kirke.

Read the full article


Direct action has some appeal

July 28 - August 3, 2011

AN UNLISTED Australian junior with aspirations of helping develop currently uneconomic nickel laterite orebodies has received Commonwealth monies to establish a pilot test plant in Western Australia as it refines its metallurgical flowsheet.

Read the full article


BioHeap focus returns to WA

July 21 - 27, 2011

FROM all indications it looks as if nickel producer Western Areas will try to emulate the success of Titan Resources’ Mount Sholl bioleaching operation at its Forrestania project in Western Australia.

Read the full article


Rio points to ROC strength

June 16 - 22, 2011

RIO Tinto’s Remote Operations Centre in Perth is apparently performing so well the major has decided to roll out another ROC somewhere in the world, but the company isn’t saying where.

Read the full article


Rio Tinto to expand autonomous haulage

June 9 - 15, 2011

RIO Tinto expects to deploy a fleet of 10 driverless ultra-class trucks – including five of the units said to have “performed … well above expectations” at West Angelas in Western Australia – at its largest Pilbara iron ore mine in the first half of next year.

Read the full article


Taking responsibility

May 12 - 18, 2011

A NEW addition to the mining space is tackling the tough issues – carbon emissions, community interaction and resource utilisation – ultimately aiming for a sustainable future for mining not only in Australia but also on an international scale.

Read the full article


Contracting chief sees simulator gains as virtual reality

January 19 - 25, 2011

SIMULATION training has converted one sceptic in Barminco CEO Neil Warburton. The 30-year underground mining veteran is waiting for results of a six-month assessment program before committing to a hefty investment in the technology. But he already seems quietly confident about the outcome.

Read the full article


Technology could undermine prices

December 8 - 14, 2010

AS SURE as night follows day, high metal prices and short supply will foster technological innovation, with coking coal, thermal coal and nickel currently considered the commodities most at risk.

Read the full article


Hold on to your hat

September 22 - 28, 2010

DAN Bongers is about to start giving some serious attention to more than 8000 emails he’s received over the past couple of years enquiring about the very aptly named SmartCap. One of many impressive products of the CRCMining program, Bongers says the time has finally come to lift the lid on a promising new Australian technology SME.

Read the full article


Follow the leader

September 22 - 28, 2010

AN industry of “fast followers” just a few years ago is now one with an undisputed technology leader, according to CRCMining CEO Mike Hood. “The whole company culture has changed and there is no doubt now that Rio Tinto is now the world’s leading mining technology company,” he said at the CRCMining Australian Mining Technology Conference in Perth.

Read the full article


View entire archive