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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.