 Â MineMap mine planning software giveaway
The ASIA Miner in conjunction with MineMap are giving away 10 MineMap Personal Licence  packages over the next 12 months. Each month we will draw a winner. For your chance to win one of these great packages enter this great giveaway.
MineMap is a complete mining software package used for exploration, surveying, geological modeling and mine planning and design at many mine sites throughout the world. Enter here   PHILIPPINES – Study confirms world-class nature of Tampakan
An extended pre-feasibility study for the Tampakan Copper-Gold Project in the southern Philippines indicates annual average copper production of 340,000 tonnes and gold production of 350,000 ounces based on a 20 year operation. More news   PNG – New copper discovery at Yandera
Field exploration about 4km south-east of Marengo Mining’s Yandera copper- molybdenum deposit in Papua New Guinea has resulted in discovery of a extensive zone of copper mineralization.
The new prospect named Kombruku encompasses a large area containing copper mineralization with some outcropping samples containing high concentrations of copper sulphides and oxides. More news   INDONESIA – Drilling to start shortly at Miwah 
Diamond drilling on East Asia Minerals’ flagship Miwah Gold Project in Aceh Province , Northern Sumatra , will begin in late May.
The initial drill program will comprise 10 scissor holes from five collars for a total of 2000 metres to provide a 3D validation along the full 1200 metre strike of the Miwah gold-bearing silica zone, exposed along the Miwah ridge. More news |
 INDONESIA - Churchill potential supplier to power plant
Churchill Mining’s subsidiary PT Indonesia Coal Development (ICD) has been selected as a 
prospective thermal coal supplier to Indonesia ’s PT Cirebon Electric Power (CEP), which is building a 660 megawatt power plant in West Java .
ICD is developing the East Kutai Coal Project in East Kalimantan which has a JORC resource of 1.4 billion tonnes of thermal coal.
More news  INDONESIA – On-ground exploration in West Papua
Hillgrove Resources is set to undertake on-ground exploration of two recently granted Indonesian gold tenements with particular focus on its Bird’s Head project in West Papua .
Bird’s Head is part of an advanced exploration portfolio of 5128sqkm in world-class copper and gold terrains.
Exploration efforts are targeting porphyry copper-gold and epithermal deposits and the company hopes to discover a world-class ore body.
More news
 COPPER – Cloncurry resource up to 51 million tonnes
An increase in Cloncurry Copper Project resources has boosted Exco Resources’ total north west Queensland resource base to more than 500,000 tonnes of copper.
The Cloncurry project now contains an estimated 51 million tonnes @ 0.84% copper and 0.23 grams/tonne gold.
The project comprises three key regions of mineralization - the E1 Camp, the Monakoff group of deposits and the Great Australia Deposit. The main focus of recent drilling has been the E1 Camp, which now contains 80% of the contained copper. More news
 IRON ORE – Chinese investment in Fortescue approved 
A share subscription agreement between Fortescue Metals Group and Hunan Valin Iron and Steel Group Company has received approval from the Chinese Government’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)
The approval was the key milestone for the transaction and paves the way for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange to formalize the agreement.
Once formalized, all agreement conditions will have been satisfied enabling Valin to proceed with acquisition of 260 million new Fortescue shares issued at Aus$2.48 per share to raise Aus$644.8 million in new equity capital. NDRC approval follows Australian Government approval on March 31. More news
 IRON ORE – Karara production timetables revised
Gindalbie Metals anticipates beginning hematite production at its Karara Project in Western Australia in the second half of 2010 and production from the flagship magnetite phase in the first half of 2011.
The timelines have been extended following delays with approval of a joint venture with AnSteel as well as delays with environmental approvals, which have subsequently delayed getting on site to start construction.
While waiting for the approvals Gindalbie’s CEO Garret Dixon says the company has been working hard on procurement of major long lead items and that process has been completed with most orders placed. More news
 PLATINUM & PALLADIUM – Global output declining
Global mine output of platinum and palladium was lower during 2008 with further declines likely this year.
In its annual report on the world’s platinum and palladium markets, precious metals consultancy GFMS says platinum output declined by 7% in 2008 and palladium by 10%.
The ‘Platinum & Palladium Survey 2009’ stated that much of platinum’s fall was ascribed to South Africa’s 8% drop, where production was adversely affected by, among other factors, the country’s energy crisis and serious flooding and subsequent temporary closure of the Amandelbult mine. More news
 COMPANY & PRODUCT NEWS - Innovative software a mainstay for mines
Asset management specialists Maintenance & Project Engineering (MPE) have released an innovative computer software program called ‘mainstay Maintenance Solutions’ which is designed to assist companies overcome limitations in maintenance management.
The Australian company, which has offices in Singleton, New South Wales and Oxenford, Queensland, has been in operation for more than 10 years and employs a team of 30 comprising engineers and specialists in the mechanical and electrical fields. More news
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