Wildcat Resources’ Bolt Cutter Central discovery is emerging as the anchor asset in a new lithium hub in Western Australia’s Pilbara, adding to a district already hosting Tier-1 spodumene operations such as Pilgangoora and Wodgina. The project sits close to existing haul roads and port infrastructure at Port Hedland, positioning any future mine for relatively short transport distances and brownfield-style logistics. For geotechs and mine planners, the development signals more drilling, pit design and waste storage studies in a structurally complex, lithium–caesium–tantalum pegmatite terrain.

Outgoing Lynas Rare Earths chief executive Amanda Lacaze has signalled she would welcome a female successor to lead the ASX-listed producer, which operates the Mt Weld rare earths mine in Western Australia and the cracking and leaching plant in Kalgoorlie. Leadership continuity at Lynas, a key non-Chinese supplier of neodymium–praseodymium (NdPr) for permanent magnets, will be closely watched as the company advances processing capacity upgrades and navigates regulatory scrutiny of its downstream operations in Malaysia.

Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group and Australian tech firm Decoda have launched KalPRO HaulSight, using front- and rear-mounted LiDAR and camera sensors plus an on-board edge computer to give real-time alerts on spillage, road undulations and high G‑force events across entire haul circuits. The system integrates with Kal Tire’s TOMS platform, allowing condition monitoring teams to auto-generate priority-based work orders and guide operators into safer loading and dumping positions. Tested for 18 months on Canadian mine sites in sub-zero conditions, HaulSight also quantifies trade-offs between lost tyre life, productivity, fuel burn and haul road upgrade costs.