Despite its much lower market profile than gold, silver’s prospects are looking up. The all-important gold-silver ratio is approaching levels reached during the GFC, which subsequently led to a 400 per cent surge in the price of silver. Silver might not reach the same dizzy heights this time, but the metal’s underperformance relative to gold, … Continued
Address by Mrs Gina Rinehart Executive Chairman of the Hancock Prospecting Group and Roy Hill Tuesday 2 May 2018 Good morning distinguished guests and friends, Thank you for coming this morning, I know to get here today has meant very early starts for many of us. I hope you are enjoying this historic moment and treat of … Continued
By the end of this year, Western Australia will supply half of the world’s demand for lithium, after overtaking Chile in 2017.The state has world-class deposits of lithium hard rocks known as pegmatites due to the size of crystal grains in the rocks, with spodumene as the most important mineral. Over the last three years, … Continued
World demand for gold is unquenchable, driving mining companies to develop many new mining projects in Australia and overseas. Australia has the largest gold reserves in the world, with more than 16 per cent of global gold totalling 9100 tonnes at the end of 2015. Australian annual gold exports were valued $16 billion in 2015–16 … Continued
With nearly 60 per cent of all zinc consumed each year going toward protecting steel from corrosion, it is not a surprise that galvanised coatings dominate the discussion for zinc markets. Die castings, zinc’s second-largest market, come in a distant 15 per cent of annual consumption; however, the International Zinc Association (IZA) sees strong potential … Continued
22 November 2017 marked the fifth National Mining and Related Industries Day. This important day was celebrated with a hugely enjoyed gala dinner in Sydney. Good evening distinguished guests, Ministers, Members of Parliament, friends and mining colleagues. It is wonderful to celebrate with you the fifth annual National Mining & Related Industries Day, an important … Continued
Energy is one of the biggest expenses for mining companies, constituting approximately 30 per cent of total cash operating costs. This includes not just electricity drawn from the grid, but also the diesel, LNG and CNG it consumes, as well as the explosives that are used. Deloitte analysis shows that having an effective energy management … Continued
With the new year came the news of reconciliation between the world’s largest lithium producer, Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM), and Chilean government agency, CORFO, paving the way for a substantial increase in demand. Rival suppliers’ shares took a battering in the wake, but will Australian miners lose out in the long run? The past few … Continued
Cobalt has been used to colour pottery and glass for at least 2600 years, as evidenced by cobalt-containing glazes that having been found in Ancient Egyptian tombs. Chinese pottery from the Tang (600–900 AD) and Ming dynasties (1350–1650 AD) also contained blue colours made from cobalt-containing minerals. Cobalt has increasingly been used in specialist applications, … Continued
There is no doubt that mining keeps the Australian economy afloat, and for decades, mining, along with its related industries, has been key to our prosperity. Therefore, it is only fitting that there is a day on the national calendar to recognise and celebrate our industry. National Mining and Related Industries Day is held annually … Continued