Global projects and exploration
To prevent soiling of the sensitive environment , the buckets have been fitted with lids . Any loss of material along the track can thus be prevented . In the unloading station , the lids are opened automatically via a special mechanism and the buckets are turned upside down so that the material will fall onto a chute . Then the buckets are tilted back to their normal position .
Operation of the ropeway is fully automatic . Operating costs can thus be optimised . There are also hardly any moving parts along the track . All material buckets and cabins travel through the stations regularly and can be easily inspected and maintained there .
To cover the entire distance and the enormous difference in elevation of 1 500m , the ropeway requires only 11 towers . The footprint on the ground can thus be minimised , and because the system is elevated off the ground , it does not represent an insurmountable obstacle for man or wildlife .
The ropeway took up operation in December2017 and has since been transporting 60 tons of copper ore per hour into the valley .
Indonesia Further intersections at BKZ
Asiamet Resources has identified further high-grade massive sulphide or vein-style polymetallic mineralisation and coppersilver mineralisation at the BKZ project in Indonesia , with both systems remaining open in several directions . According to the company , new assays confirm further highgrade copper-silver mineralisation within the interpreted feeder structure at BKZ , with up to 2.7 % copper over 1m sample intervals . Assay results from three holes drilled at the northern area of BKZ confirm further
high-grade polymetallic mineralisation , with up to 25.5 % zinc , 10 % lead , 188 grams per tonne ( g / t ) silver , and 2.8 g / t gold over 1m sample intervals . The company has completed the first round of infill drilling at BKZ , for a total 3 416m in 36 holes . Drilling has successfully tested the upper zone of polymetallic massive sulphide and vein-style mineralisation and the lower zone of vein and massive sulphide-hosted copper-silver mineralisation .
Australia Record output continues
Anglo American ’ s Metallurgical Coal business has continued its operational turnaround , guided by record production at three underground mines in Queensland .
The Moranbah , Grosvenor , and Grasstree mines all achieved record output in 2017 for Anglo . The strong performance lifted its Metallurgical Coal business to a doubling of underlying profit to USD1.977-billion .
Anglo said the result reflected the productivity and cost improvements that the Metallurgical Coal business had embedded at each of the mines over the past four to five years .
The company also realised a 65 % increase in the metallurgical coal price in 2017 , as the business produced a greater proportion of high-margin hard coking coal .
Anglo Metallurgical Coal chief executive David Diamond says the strong contribution of the business to the company ’ s overall result followed a challenging period .
“ We made some challenging decisions in 2016 , resulting in the divestment of Foxleigh , Callide , and Dartbrook mines in Australia and commencing a process to divest the Drayton Mine ,” says Diamond .
Mongolia Rio Tinto commits to power solution Diversified mining company Rio Tinto continues working with its partners to develop a domestic power supply to its Oyu Tolgoi gold and copper project in Mongolia . This follows the Government of Mongolia ’ s cancellation of the Southern Region Power Sector Cooperation Agreement ( PSCA ).
The decision to terminate the PSCA indicates that the Mongolian government no longer views the Tavan Tolgoi Power Project ( TTPP ) as a viable option for Oyu Tolgoi . As a result , Oyu Tolgoi is now obliged to deliver a domestic power source for the operation within four years .
Although Rio Tinto continues to review its capital expenditure ( capex ) forecasts for the project , it has already earmarked USD250-million a year for the development of a power station in Mongolia in its 2019 and 2020 capex forecasts .
The PSCA laid out a framework for cooperation between the Government of Mongolia and Oyu Tolgoi to deliver a comprehensive energy plan for the South Gobi region . The Government of Mongolia ' s primary intention is to develop a new independent power plant at the Tavan Tolgoi coalfields with Oyu Tolgoi as off-taker rather than owner .
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