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Rio Tinto, in partnership with China Baowu Group, has officially inaugurated the Western Range iron ore mine in the Pilbara, Western Australia (WA).

The mine, with a production capacity of up to 25 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of iron ore, represents a $2bn joint venture between Rio Tinto (54%) and Baowu (46%).

The project, which was completed on time and within budget, is set to sustain the Paraburdoo mining hub for approximately 20 years.

The mine's infrastructure includes a primary crusher and an 18km conveyor system that connects to the existing Paraburdoo processing plant.

Rio Tinto said the strategic development not only secures jobs for more than 880 residential and FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) employees but also reinforces the economic stability of Paraburdoo town through continued royalties and taxes.

The Western Range mine is pioneering in its approach to cultural preservation, being Rio Tinto’s first project to implement a co-designed Social, Cultural and Heritage Management Plan with the Yinhawangka traditional owners.

EnviroCopper has been granted approval for a site environmental lixiviant trial (SELT) at the Kapunda project in South Australia.

This trial aims to validate the in-situ recovery (ISR) technique for extracting copper, marking a significant step towards establishing a new copper ISR mine. The funding for the test work is provided by BHP under a 2022 research agreement via its subsidiary OZ Minerals.

Greg Hall, CEO of Alligator Energy, which owns a 15.6% stake in EnviroCopper, said: “The well pattern, wellhouse and associated earthworks for the Kapunda trial are all complete, and further preparation works are under way.”

The SELT is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will extend into the first quarter of 2026. If successful, the ISR trial will pave the way for feasibility studies and a mining lease application.

EnviroCopper is also in discussion with international investors to secure funding to support further work at the Kapunda and Alford West projects.

Swiss mining giant Glencore has announced the consolidation of its coal business, integrating its newly acquired Canadian mines into a single unit managed from Australia.

The restructuring follows Glencore’s acquisition of Teck Resources’ steelmaking coal assets for $6.9bn in July 2024. Initially, the company considered spinning off its coal assets, but this plan was later shelved.

A Glencore spokesperson stated to Reuters: “Combined with the acquisition of EVR [Elk Valley Resources], we commenced a process to restructure the coal business and align it with the management structure, given the coal industrial assets are managed out of Australia.”

The decision to reorganise the coal division under a unified Australian unit came after Glencore secured support from most of its investors.

Despite a decrease in production from 106.1 million tonnes (mt) in 2023 to 99.6mt in 2024, Glencore remains one of the top producers and exporters of thermal coal, with significant operations in South Africa.

Rio Tinto is starting preliminary works and final engineering studies needed to nearly double production from its Amrun bauxite mine in far north Queensland, Australia, by 2029.

The project was named Kangwinan at the request of the traditional owners, the Wik Waya people. It will see the construction of a new mine and the expansion of the existing port. This development will increase annual bauxite production capacity from Rio Tinto’s Weipa Southern operations, where Amrun is situated, by up to 20 million tonnes (mt), in addition to the current 23mt.

Early works approved for the project include the construction of a 250-room camp for construction workers at Amrun Village and the development of an access road to the Kangwinan area. A final investment decision on the project is expected in 2026, subject to various approvals.

Auric Mining has commenced mining operations at the Munda gold mine starter pit near Widgiemooltha in WA. The company forecasts that 125,000t of ore will be extracted from the starter pit over the next five months, with an estimated grade of 1.8 grams per tonne gold and an all-in sustaining cost of A$2,635 ($1,685) per ounce.

A ground-breaking event took place on 10 May 2025. The company has completed site preparation including the construction of a new haul road, run-of-mine pads and a waste dump. Mining at the starter pit is currently underway. Operations are funded through the proceeds from mining at the Jeffreys Find gold mine near Norseman.

The Munda project has an estimated resource of 145,000oz of gold. Development of the Munda main pit is expected to start in 2026, once mining of the starter pit is complete.