Veyex has trialled heavy-duty nylon conveyor rollers at Rio Tinto’s Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in Western Australia, where previous high-density polyethylene (HDPE) rollers were failing prematurely under high-tension loads. The case study covered two specific conveyor applications, with the nylon rollers subjected to extreme belt tensions and impact loading typical of large-scale iron ore handling. Results showed markedly improved roller durability and reduced maintenance interventions, signalling potential lifecycle and reliability gains for high-load overland and plant conveyors in similar hard rock operations.

Suncor has commissioned its first Autonomous Operating Zone at Syncrude’s Mildred Lake oil sands mine, extending its autonomous haulage system deployment beyond the existing fleet of about 140 autonomous trucks already running at other Suncor sites. The new zone uses Cat AHS fleets under Suncor control (since late 2021) and is complemented by Komatsu AHS trucks at Base Plant operating with a dedicated “Mud Mode” to maintain traction and control in soft ground. For mine planners, this signals wider-scale AHS integration across multiple pits and variable ground conditions.

Central Nevada Gold has completed a US$20 million acquisition of Newmont’s past‑producing Mule Canyon mine in Nevada, targeting a prefeasibility study and key permits in H2 2027 ahead of a potential 2028 construction decision. Mule Canyon previously produced about 500,000 oz gold at an average head grade of 3.8 g/t with ~94% metallurgical recovery, and comes with a database of 2,149 drill holes totalling over 335,000 metres across six mineralised zones over 2.5 km. The company plans an IPO as early as 2027 after a 20‑hole metallurgical and infill drilling programme to upgrade inferred resources and de‑risk the project.