Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In
Built byBoxcut Studio

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Contract Award

    Yilgarn Iron–Thiess Koolyanobbing restart: mining and logistics notes for engineers

    May 11, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Yilgarn Iron–Thiess Koolyanobbing restart: mining and logistics notes for engineers

    First reported on Australian Mining

    30 Second Briefing

    Yilgarn Iron has appointed Thiess to restart iron ore production at the Koolyanobbing operations in Western Australia’s Yilgarn region, reviving a site that previously supplied lump and fines to export markets via the Esperance port rail corridor. Thiess is expected to provide contract mining services including drill-and-blast, load-and-haul and ore handling, with a focus on quickly re-establishing pit access, waste stripping and ROM stockpile capacity. The partnership signals renewed demand for mid-grade hematite from smaller Yilgarn deposits, with implications for local rail logistics and port throughput planning.

    Technical Brief

    • For similar brownfield iron ore restarts, contract mining models like this reduce upfront owner capex exposure.

    Our Take

    Thiess’ recent win at Koolyanobbing sits alongside its new Sunday Creek underground contract in Victoria, signalling that the contractor is actively rebuilding a diversified Australian book across both iron ore and hard‑rock metals rather than leaning on a single commodity cycle.

    With Thiess concurrently trialling FLANDERS hybrid diesel‑electric haul trucks and participating in autonomous haulage tests at Mulgarrie, the Koolyanobbing iron ore restart gives it another Western Australian platform where low‑emission or automation initiatives could later be deployed at scale.

    Iron ore is one of the more frequently covered commodities in our mining database, and Yilgarn Iron’s move to restart Koolyanobbing via a contract miner suggests smaller owners are favouring outsourced operational models to stay flexible against price volatility and WA labour cost pressures.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Expander pivot pins: reducing long-term maintenance costs for mine fleets
    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Expander pivot pins: reducing long-term maintenance costs for mine fleets

    Hidden costs from traditional pivot pin maintenance on haul trucks, forestry harvesters and excavators are driving interest in Expander System’s oversized pivot pins with tapered sleeves, according to Nord-Lock Group head of sales Robin Persson. The retrofit design allows installation in worn pivot eyes without line boring or welding, using conical sleeves to create full-surface contact and reduce clearance growth. For mine maintenance teams, this can cut repeated pin replacement shutdowns and lower life-cycle costs on high-load joints such as dump body hinges, loader booms and articulation points.

    Canadian Chrome Company First Nations committee: M&A risk notes for project teams
    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Canadian Chrome Company First Nations committee: M&A risk notes for project teams

    Canadian Chrome Company has formed a three-person First Nations steering committee, including former Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Okimaw-Hall and former Marten Falls Chief Lawrence Baxter, to advise on its Ring of Fire chromite, nickel, copper and platinum assets in Ontario’s James Bay Lowlands. The committee will provide Indigenous perspectives to prospective buyers or partners ahead of any sale or merger involving CCC’s 90% interest in the Koper Lake project and 30% in the Big Daddy project. Both projects remain at pre‑PFS stage, with no new economic analysis disclosed.

    Boron One Serbia PEA update: economics and design notes for mine planners
    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Boron One Serbia PEA update: economics and design notes for mine planners

    Boron One’s updated PEA for the Piskanja underground boron project in southern Serbia lifts the after-tax IRR to 89% and NPV (10% discount) to US$558.8 million, with unchanged initial capex of US$79.9 million and a sub‑one‑year payback, but shortens mine life to 13 years and trims average annual EBITDA to US$87.7 million. The plan now targets average yearly output of 157,600 tonnes of colemanite, 83,800 tonnes of ulexite and 25,000 tonnes of boric acid, at all‑in sustaining costs of US$231.44 per tonne. The revised study incorporates new geotechnical testing, a 3D resource model by borate type and a binding offtake for at least 25,000 tonnes of boron products per year, subject to permitting and plant qualification.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Construction

    Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental