Blog Layout

Westgold powers through weather challenges

April 4, 2024

Westgold Resources remains on track to deliver its production and cost guidance for the 2023–24 financial year (FY24), despite weather challenges impacting production.


The gold miner’s Murchison and Bryah operations suffered lost time due to intermittent yet heavy rainfall across Western Australia.


Flooding impacted surface and underground haulage and the processing of wet and sticky ore constrained mill throughputs and increased the reliance on low-grade surface stocks.


Wet feed was also a contributing factor to crusher failures at the Fortnum processing hub and Tuckabianna mill.


However, crusher repairs at both mills are now complete and both mills have returned to processing at capacity and are expected to commence building crushed ore stocks.


Despite recent production setbacks, Westgold’s FY24 production guidance will remain 245,000–265,000 ounces (oz) at $1800–$2000/oz.


“It has been a challenging period for our teams in the Murchison and Bryah operations, who have responded quickly to weather and operational challenges and safely got our processing plants back up and running,” Westgold managing director and chief executive officer Wayne Bramwell said.


Despite Westgold ceasing operations at its Paddy’s Flat underground mine, it has delivered “exceptional drilling results” at the Starlight underground mine.


The drilling has extended the Nightfall lodes, which are the continuation of the Starlight lodes to the north. Westgold said the Nightfall lodes exhibit “exceptional grade and a high level of grade variability”.


Results extending the Nightfall lodes include:


  • 39m at 7.05 grams per tonne of gold (g/t Au) from 272m in NF1130RD11



  • 65m at 10.37g/t Au from 145.35m in NF1125RD12


  • 5m at 64.53g/t Au from 111.5m in NF1125RD03


“Westgold’s investment in drilling across our mines continues to bear fruit at Starlight,” Bramwell said.


“Our high-grade nightfall lode continues to expand, with our geology team expecting further mineral resource growth over the coming quarters. Key to our resource development success is Westgold’s drilling division.


“Our inhouse capability continues to expand with the purchase of six state of the art underground drill rigs, taking our drill fleet to 13 and reducing our need for contractor support across the group.”


Westgold has subsequently mined more than 266,000oz from Starlight.




Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/westgold-powers-through-weather-challenges/

Queensland breaks ground on CopperString

July 9, 2024
The Queensland Government has broken ground on the first construction works of the $5 billion CopperString project. Work commenced yesterday on the CopperString projects’ first and largest workforce accommodation site. The site will house those charged with building the project’s 840km high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mount Isa to the ‘SuperGrid’ for the first time. The workforce accommodation will house up to 550 construction workers at its peak. These workers will construct a nearby substation and progress early stages of the transmission line development heading west from Hughenden out to Mount Isa. Supercharging the state’s north-west aims to unlock Queensland’s $500 billion north-west minerals province. It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting. Queensland Premier Stephen Miles said CopperString is the biggest ever expansion to the state’s publicly owned energy system. “Queenslanders deserve cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy – to power their homes, our schools, hospitals, shopping centres and more,” Miles said . “CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming Queensland’s north and north-west – opening up mining opportunities, creating more jobs and unlocking critical minerals which will be essential in developing renewable technologies. “This is the start of a long and exciting future for the region and our state.” Commencing later this month, project owner, Queensland Powerlink, will be offering free sessions for businesses along the CopperString corridor to build their capabilities. The program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance to help businesses build confidence to bid on major projects and supply chain work in the region. “All of North Queensland understands the immense opportunities that CopperString presents for local jobs both directly and indirectly which is why this is such a momentous day,” Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said.  “Critical minerals are the next big boom for the resources industry and the feedback I’ve had from companies is that this project is key to unlocking those opportunities.” Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/queensland-breaks-ground-on-copperstring/

Showcasing the best in underground mining

July 8, 2024
Underground mines are busy places, and it’s vital companies are on top of their processes to enable an efficient and safe underground operation. Whether it’s having the best equipment to drive higher production, maximise return on investment, minimise waste or keep workers out of harm’s way, mining companies benefit from understanding and investing in the right underground technologies. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/showcasing-the-best-in-underground-mining/

BHP goes green at ‘world’s largest’ copper mine

July 8, 2024
BHP has started environmental processing to have the transport at its Escondida copper mine in Chile transitioned to an electric trolley system. The Big Australian will invest around $US250 million ($371.6 million) in the project at Escondida, which it owns in a joint venture with Rio Tinto. The funds will go towards installing key infrastructure to electrically assist the movement of extraction trucks in areas where the highest fuel consumption currently takes place. BHP has submitted an environmental impact statement to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. “The electric trolley system is one of the initiatives with which we seek to move towards a safer and more sustainable way of operating hand in hand with technology,” BHP Escondida president Alejandro Tapia said . “This project will allow us to reduce the fuel consumption of our extraction trucks and thus advance our goal of net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” The project includes the construction of a new electrical substation and transmission lines both inside and around the Escondida Norte pit. These facilities will electrically assist the movement of trucks inside the mine in the areas where they go up loaded with ore and, consequently, consume more fuel. With this new technology, instead of using diesel, they will be propelled by electrical power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving productivity associated with truck performance given the higher travel speed. Once construction kicks off up to 160 jobs are expected to be created. The trolley project is in addition to other technological transformation initiatives that the company maintains in different stages of study and execution, including the progressive incorporation of autonomy in its mining equipment.  To date, Escondida has six autonomous trucks in full operation and by 2025 it expects to have the largest fleet of autonomous equipment in South America. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/bhp-goes-green-at-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
Share by: