Queensland Mining Awards 2012
THE CONFERENCE CALLER: Before handing out the gongs for Queensland Explorer and Miner of the Year 2012, Queensland Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Andrew Cripps outlined the recently-elected state government’s dedication to the local resources industry.
He told the Brisbane Mining 2012 conference the Newman LNP government was committed to putting Queensland at the forefront of the national and international resources sector.
“Our approach is all about providing certainty for investment with a strong emphasis on assessing projects on their merit and doing so in a timely fashion,” Cripps said.
“We support the sustainable growth of your industry. We’re not going to get in the way of companies willing to invest in Queensland and create jobs in our state.
“We’re in the business of supporting growth and investment in Queensland, not stifling it.”
Queensland Mining Awards 2012
The finalists for the 2012 Queensland Explorer of the Year award.
Aeon Metals (ASX: AQR)
Aeon Metals has been successful exploring west of Monto in Southern Queensland, an area that is comparatively underexplored.
It has outlined a JORC Resource of 242 million tonnes grading 604 ppm molybdenum equivalent at Greater Whitewash.
In May 2012 the company made a new and effectively blind porphyry copper discovery at the John Hill project 10km north of Greater Whitewash.
Altona Mining (ASX: AOH)
Altona’s main project in Australia is the Roseby project in Northwest Queensland. Roseby consists of numerous oxide and sulphide deposits along a 20 km corridor.
In July an updated Resource estimate for several of the deposits resulted in an increase of 15 per cent in the global Resource, which now stands at 249 million tonnes 0f 0.6 per cent copper and 0.05 grams per tonne gold.
Red Metal (ASX: RDM)
Red Metal has 10 exploration projects in Queensland that include gold, base metals, phosphate, and uranium.
Most of these are greenfield areas outside the main outcrop area of the Mt Isa Inlier.
Based on a new geological model drilling at the Maronan silver-lead project has intersected significant high-grade silver-lead mineralisation of a similar style to that of the nearby Cannington deposit.
2012 Queensland Explorer of the Year – Altona Mining.
Minister Andrew Cripps presents the award for 2012 Queensland Miner of the Year to Altona Mining chief geologist Cloncurry project Phil Carrello
The finalists for the 2012 Queensland Miner of the Year.
MMG Limited
MMG operates the large opencut Century lead and zinc mine in northwest Queensland and associated concentrate handling and ship loading facilities at Currumbin on the Gulf of Carpentaria.
It is the world’s second-largest zinc mine and its concentrate is sought by smelters for its low iron content.
The mine employs a work force of around 600 people, of whom indigenous employees from Gulf communities account for about 23 per cent.
Xstrata Copper
Xstrata Copper’s integrated north Queensland operations include the Enterprise and X41 underground copper mines, a copper concentrator and smelter at Mt Isa, and the copper refinery and port facilities at Townsville.
A critical part of the company’s operation is the Ernest Henry copper-gold-magnetite mine near Cloncurry.
The mine was converted from a large opencut mine to an underground operation in 2011, extending the mine life for another 12 years.
About 200 of the mine’s employees live in Cloncurry and the mine supports the local community through sponsorships, donations, and in-kind support.
Sibelco Group
Sibelco Australia has sand mining operations located on Stradbroke Island and a mineral processing plant in Brisbane.
The company manages the longest, continuously operating sand dredging operation in Queensland producing rutile, zircon and ilmenite.
Sibelco has established the Straddie Sand Mining Community Fund to promote long-term quality of life for community members by re-investing profits from the sand mining back into the Island.
2012 Queensland Miner of the Year – Xstrata Copper.
Minister Andrew Cripps presents the award for 2012 Queensland Miner of the Year to Xstrata Copper exploration manager Trevor Shaw