Miners are deploying larger rotary scrubbers, high-capacity screens and optimised tailings circuits to keep iron ore grades and plant throughput stable as feed becomes finer, stickier and more variable. McLanahan reports demand for heavy-duty scrubbing systems paired with multi-deck wet screens to break down clay-rich ore and split it into lump, fines and ultra-fines streams with tighter cut sizes. The shift places more emphasis on ore characterisation, water balance and wear-liner selection to avoid bottlenecks and unplanned downtime in dense media and wet screening sections.

Finalists for the GRX26 Industry Awards have been announced by AusIMM, spotlighting mining professionals and projects across categories such as digital transformation, ESG performance and emerging leadership. Shortlisted entries include initiatives using advanced orebody modelling, real-time fleet data analytics and low-emission processing circuits to improve mine productivity and environmental performance. Winners will be named at the GRX26 conference, giving operators and contractors a benchmark for current best practice in technology deployment, decarbonisation strategies and workforce development.

China Northern Rare Earth Group has lifted its Q2 2026 rare earth concentrate benchmark to 38,804 yuan/t (about $5,390) for 50% REO material, a 44.6% jump on Q1 and more than double the level a year ago, with a formula adjustment of 776.08 yuan/t for each 1% change in grade. The price was set under an existing concentrate-pricing formula with related-party supplier Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union Co., tying Q2 terms to Q1 oxide prices. The move coincides with China’s plan to block sulphuric acid exports from May, tightening leaching reagent supply for global rare earth processing.