The Australasian Mining Review Magazine

Queensland is accelerating its shift towards a more circular mining economy, backing new research that could convert long-ignored coal tailings into high-value critical minerals. The State Government has awarded $1.5 million to Coreo to advance a study designed to unlock resource streams traditionally written off as waste – an approach aligned with broader industry pressures around decarbonisation, supply resilience and long-term competitiveness.

IMARC 2024 is set to unite the global mining community once again from October 29-31 at ICC Sydney, marking a significant event for Queensland’s mining sector. As the largest mining conference in Australia, IMARC continues to attract C-level executives, procurement experts, site managers, and technical specialists eager to engage with the latest industry developments and innovations.

EQ Resources (EQR) has received a $250,000 grant through Queensland’s METS (mining equipment, technology, and services) collaborative project fund. This financial boost will support trials of advanced X-ray transmission (XRT) ore sorting technology, aimed at redeveloping the historic Wolfram Camp tungsten mine. This EQ Resources tungsten mine redevelopment is key to advancing Queensland’s critical minerals strategy while promoting local economic development.

The future of a large-scale mining project in South Australia’s Lake Torrens hangs in the balance, with federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek being urged to issue a heritage protection order. This could block a mining venture that aims to rival the giant Olympic Dam operated by BHP.

A mining company has received the green light to resume mineral production in the Atherton Tableland and Mareeba Shire regions. The State Department of Resources recently approved exploration permits for minerals at EQ Resources’ Wolfram Camp (133km west of Cairns) and Bamford Hill (143km southwest of Cairns) mines.

A group of major mineral producers have supported replacing fossil fuels with zero-emissions alternatives. Industry bodies representing the nation’s largest resources companies recently endorsed the federal opposition’s plan to replace coal-fired power plants with nuclear technology.

A highly trained shooter was ordered to neutralise demonstrators who stepped out of line at a foreign-owned mine site. Authorities recently organised a helicopter and sniper to take down protestors who interfered with Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit to Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia. A full police presence was also deployed to support aerial surveillance efforts as Li inspected the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controlled Kwinana processing plant.

New resources developments should freely create employment opportunities, Northern Australia representatives said. Many First Nations people would rather benefit from major projects instead of missing out due to eco friendly demonstrators. This is the conclusion one group reached after consulting with Indigenous Australians across the Tiwi Islands, Arnhem Land and other regions.

Queensland resources employees may soon enjoy greater privacy and safety at work. State Parliament recently proposed new rules that remove the requirement for crew members to disclose “irrelevant” medical records. This means jobseekers might not be forced to disclose their whole personal medical history when applying for roles, especially when it has nothing to do with the job.

More modern and productive workplace practices will be required across the Sunshine State’s resources industry. State Parliament recently passed the Resources Safety and Health Legislation Amendment Bill to improve employee safety and better protect individuals.