Exploration, mining and processing briefs

Updates on Austral Resources Australia, Sunshine Gold, Tombola Gold, critical minerals research and more in this week’s exploration, mining and processing briefs. Tombola adds to gold hub footprint Tombola Gold has increased its ground in the Cloncurry area with the granting of an exploration permit covering 83sq km. "While the company is currently focused on the commencement of mining at the Comstock (Golden Mile) gold mine, the granting of EPM27763 is good news as it solidifies our footing for the future with the aim to extend the Life of Mine (LOM) within the Tombola Gold Complex, which includes the mining leases of Golden Mile/Comstock and Mt Freda, and thus becoming the central mining hub," Tombola said. The newly granted EPM 27763 encompasses numerous historical copper, gold and cobalt mines. Sieve of quartz and molybdenite from RC drilling at Titov Exploration update from Ravenswood West Sunshine Gold says RC drilling at its Ravenswood West project has confirmed a large-scale vein and alteration system at Titov. Samples from the first four RC holes out of a seven-hole program at Titov have been submitted for analysis. “The size and intensity of the alteration system at Titov is most encouraging," Sunshine Gold managing director Damien Keys said. "We have observed chalcopyrite and molybdenite throughout the altered zones and look forward to receiving first assays in early/mid October 2021. This is consistent with what we expected to see based on the historic 1950/60s results.” Austral Resources Australia opens IPO North West Queensland copper producer Austral Resources Australia has opened its Initial Public Offering (IPO), offering 150 million new shares to raise $30,000,000. The company says it will offer investors leverage to copper price increases via near-term production at its ‘shovel-ready’ Anthill project, expected to produce 40,000t of LME Grade A copper cathode over four years. Its Mount Kelly heap leach SX/EW facility is operational and has spare capacity to treat more ore. “The senior management team has a strong focus on operations and extending the mine life with new copper discoveries," chairman Philip Thomas said. "Our sales contracts are in place and the price for copper has a positive outlook, based on analyst reports and underlying copper demand building from the global push towards decarbonisation –renewable energy and electric vehicles." Following closure of the offer, the company aims to list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) on November 3 under the proposed ASX Code: AR1. Extension of mineralisation at Trafalgar Hammer Metals reports that the latest drilling at its Trafalgar copper-gold discovery in North West Queensland has confirmed extension of mineralisation to the north, with new zones of mineralisation to the west of thedeposit. “Following the recent completion of the transfer of the JV, Hammer has now recommenced an aggressive exploration program pursuing mineralised zones along the 4km trend at Trafalgar and elsewhere within the JV area," managing director Daniel Thomas said. "Several exciting targets remain to be tested, with targeting being refined in the coming weeks with detailed geophysical and geochemical surveys. "We continue to see long delays associated with laboratory turnaround times, with results still pending from Hammer’s drilling at its 100 per cent owned prospects at Overlander, Serendipity, Kalman West and follow-up drilling at Lakeview.” Uni collaboration to focus on ore characterisation A new collaboration between two universities aims to help Australian mining companies better identify, characterise and extract critical minerals. Curtin University and The Australian National University say they will combine their expertise and research to assist the industry with ore body characterisation, education and training. Professor Keith Nugent, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), said ANU researchers would use their expertise in 3D modelling and custom technology developed in-house to help characterise minerals, making it easier and safer for mining companies to remove them from the ground. “Minerals are critical to existing, new and emerging technologies that power our lives and businesses every day,” Professor Nugent said. “The iron ore industry, for example, is intensely competitive worldwide and increasingly dependent on advances in product performance and energy efficiencies. “Both are dependent on innovations in management of ore material driven by a more effective characterisation of the ore product and understanding of the downstream performance potential of the ore as it progresses along the value chain from the mine to mill. “ANU has built a 3D platform for imaging, processing, physical modelling, understanding and designing the characteristics of the earth. It will enable minerals companies to quickly identify the materials they are searching for and how to best extract them.”

Exploration, mining and processing briefs

Industry Queensland

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