Epiroc and Major Drilling are advancing the DiscovOre and Arrow 3S wireline core barrel system, first introduced in 2016 to boost mineral exploration drilling performance while reducing manual handling at the drill string. The system integrates a latch mechanism and overshot design that allow inner tubes to be retrieved without workers leaning over the rotating drill string, cutting exposure to dropped-object and entanglement hazards. Current development focuses on further cycle-time reductions and safer operation in deep-hole, high-angle exploration drilling.

Civmec has secured more than A$400 million in new contracts and extensions with BHP and Fortescue, converting a previously flagged pipeline of brownfield and sustaining capital opportunities into firm work. The awards, spanning structural, mechanical and piping packages as well as site maintenance, are structured around early-contractor involvement to lock in constructability and schedule before final investment decisions. For project teams, this signals continued demand for integrated fabrication–construction delivery and long-term shutdown and upgrade support on major iron ore operations in Western Australia.

Initial drilling at Saga Metals’ Radar iron-titanium-vanadium project in Labrador has defined Trapper as its strongest target, with hole R-0009 cutting 296 m from 2.5 m depth grading 39.75% Fe₂O₃, 7.46% TiO₂ and 0.25% V₂O₅, including 63 m at 44% Fe₂O₃ and 9% TiO₂. A second hole, R-0008, returned 269.36 m at 36.21% Fe₂O₃, 6.57% TiO₂ and 0.244% V₂O₅ from 3.4 m, with internal intervals up to 46.15% Fe₂O₃ and 9.2% TiO₂. Saga reports Trapper’s iron and titanium grades are 124% and 105% higher than Hawkeye’s best assays, supporting a 15,000 m programme targeting an indicated resource later in 2026.