Minerals Council of Australia has been confirmed as Endorsing Partner for the Global Resources Innovation Expo (GRX26), positioning the event as a ‘by industry, for industry’ platform for Australia’s mining and METS sector. The MCA, the peak body for major iron ore, coal, gold, copper and critical minerals producers, will use the partnership to promote technology-led productivity, decarbonisation and skills development. For engineers and suppliers, GRX26 now offers a more direct channel to operators and policy influencers shaping mine automation, electrification and processing innovation in Australia.

Sandvik has launched the DD423i automated twin-boom development drill rig, built on the DD422i platform but engineered for higher drilling accuracy, automation readiness and data integration in underground hard-rock mines. The rig is designed for multi-face development with intelligent drilling controls, compatibility with Sandvik’s AutoMine and OptiMine systems, and upgraded onboard diagnostics to reduce unplanned downtime. For mine engineers, the DD423i targets tighter drill-and-blast control, improved overbreak management and more consistent advance per blast in high-cost development headings.

St George Mining has signed an MoU with Boston Metal to trial molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) for niobium production at St George’s 100%-owned Araxá niobium-rare earths project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The joint project will test MOE’s ability to improve niobium recovery and processing efficiency compared with conventional pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical routes. For mine developers and metallurgists, the trial will indicate whether MOE can offer a lower-emission, potentially lower-cost flowsheet option for future niobium and REE concentrate processing at Araxá-scale deposits.