Ora Banda Mining has expanded gold mineralisation at its Little Gem prospect in Western Australia and identified a new zone near the Round Dam deposit, located about 3.5km from the 1.2Mtpa Davyhurst processing plant. The proximity to existing crushing, grinding and CIL infrastructure at Davyhurst materially improves the potential for near-term trucking and low-capex development of Little Gem ore. For mine planners and geotechs, the emerging satellite orebody offers optionality for short-haul open-pit designs tied into the current Davyhurst production schedule.

Liontown Resources has doubled revenue in the December half-year as the Kathleen Valley lithium project transitions to fully underground mining, with the first stopes now in steady production. The Western Australian operation is ramping up spodumene concentrate output from its initial nameplate capacity while bedding in underground haulage and ventilation systems designed for high-grade ore zones at depth. Management is guiding to a stronger second half as underground tonnages displace remaining open-pit feed, with unit costs expected to fall as development metres convert to ore.

Tasmania has moved to secure the long-term future of Grange Resources’ Savage River iron ore operation, tabling a bill to extend the mine’s existing lease beyond its current expiry in 2037. The magnetite mine, which feeds the 2.3 Mtpa pellet plant at Port Latta via a Savage River–Port Latta slurry pipeline, is the state’s largest mine and a major regional employer. Legislative certainty is expected to support ongoing strip mining, tailings management and staged resource development across the Savage River deposits.