World Mining Exploration News

Don’t count on President-elect Barack Obama’s plans for a massive investment in infrastructure to help out Caterpillar Inc , Terex Corp and other makers of bulldozers, dump trucks and excavators.
Those heavy equipment makers suddenly face a world of so many challenges, including a likely drop in spending by their well-heeled energy and mining customers, that even the biggest U.S. public works project in 50 years — exactly what Obama is proposing — won’t be much help.
Toss in the fact that there is a lot of perfectly good used equipment sitting around because of the downturn in residential construction, and the belief that spooked contractors are more likely to lease equipment until the economy starts showing signs of recovery, and the outlook for the sector doesn’t look good.
“Builders don’t have to buy cranes or bulldozers,” said Matt Collins, an analyst at Edward Jones. “And they’re probably definitely not going to do it if they’re worried about the economy.”
(more…)

JSE-listed manufacturer of prefabricated modular units Kwikspace Modular Buildings has successfully manufactured and delivered two modular buildings to diversified miner Xstrata for its Goedgevonden coal mine, near Ogies, in Mpumalanga.

The modular buildings are required to house in excess of 20 t of mining equipment valued at R15-million.

“These particular buildings are a noteworthy achievement for Kwikspace, since they are larger, broader and heavier than any units the company has manufactured before,” says Kwikspace CEO Keith Coulthard.

A cost-effective and time- sensitive solution was needed to house the switchgear mining equipment for protection against damage from weather conditions. (more…)

TRI-STAR HOLDINGS, Inc. announced the company has executed purchase agreements for metals recovery and processing equipment for its COS #1, 2 and Wickenburg mines in Arizona. The company negotiated the purchase to acquire several necessary pieces of equipment to be installed and operated on location by Azrock Mining. This equipment is valued at over $200,000.00 new, but Tri-Star management stated that the equipment was located in good used condition after extensive research resulting in substantial savings to the company in association with production costs. Also, under the terms of the agreement, the equipment was purchased with a combination of restricted stock and cash. Once geological and operational assessments are completed on the COS #1 and #2 mines, as well as on the recently acquired Wickenburg mine, management together with Azrock Mining will establish plant locations at each site for installation of the processing equipment to maximize production efficiency. Management anticipates releasing several updates throughout this process.
(more…)

Friends of Felton (FoF) organised two very successful film and information evenings in Pittsworth and Toowoomba on October 1 and 2. One hundred and ninety people attended, including several councillors.

The event was called “Coalmining in our backyard — How will it affect us? What can we do?” Rivers of Shame 2 was shown, which highlights the impact of mining on rivers, aquifers and local communities.

FoF chair Rob McCreath spoke of the impact of the coalmining industry on the Darling Downs and explained which areas are currently covered by exploration permits.

“Many people are blissfully unaware that virtually the entire Darling Downs is under threat from the mining industry. This land is amongst the very best in Australia, and we must act quickly to pressure the Queensland government to protect it from mining, before it is too late”, he said. (more…)

White Oak Resources LLC announced Thursday it has filed a permit with the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals for White Oak Mine No. 1, which will be located in Hamilton County, it was also announced that Joy Manufacturing would be making the equipment to go in the mine.

It was also stated that Joy Manufacturing would also be providing a service center — probably in Mt. Vernon — for the equipment.We have service centers all around the world, strategically located to accommodate our customers,” Joy Manufacturing Midwest America Sales Manager Billy Kirkpatrick said. Kirkpatrick said the details on equipment and servicing are being negotiated and it’s too early in the process to disclose any details.

We’ve been very supportive of the coal mining activity and the increase of coal mining in Illinois,” Kirkpatrick said. “We plan to be supportive of that market. (more…)

MTS Systems Corp., Sensors Division is providing its mobile hydraulic magnetostrictive sensors for the SHM high wall mining (HWM) system. The sensors replaced externally mounted pressure switches, infrared switches, and string potentiometers throughout the system because the magnetostrictive technology proved to be more durable and reliable in the harsh mining environment.

“Our engineers did some research on MTS Sensors’ Temposonics® technology in cylinders, and they seemed to be the best option,” said Stewart Myers, engineering manager, SHM, located in Beckley, W.V. “They allowed us to do away with expensive string pots, cable encoders and switches, and the MTS sensors are a better choice because they can be embedded inside the cylinders, making them more reliable and longer-lasting.”
(more…)

Anatolia Minerals today announced that the company has begun construction on its Copler Gold Mine in Turkey, with construction management begin provided by SNC Lavalin. This puts the target for first gold pour in late 2009, followed by a ramping up of activity to reach full production by 2011.

Colorado-based miner Anatolia’s president and CEO, Edward C. Dowling, commented, “This is a milestone achievement for Anatolia. I’m pleased we have delivered on the objectives that we outlined at our annual meeting. Since receiving our final permits last month, we completed a review of our construction execution plan and are ready to proceed. Copler represents an important partnership between Anatolia and the communities of the Province of Erzincan.”

The company noted that construction of a by-pass road, power line, company housing, construction management accommodations and water wells are either complete or on schedule, and key equipment is available for delivery to the project site. (more…)

A Nevada City man faces financial ruin as the U.S. Department of Justice prepares to sue him and others to recover $20 million the feds spent to cover arsenic left from an old gold and silver mine he never operated.

The action raises concerns about the future of property all over California’s Mother Lode by holding liable a modern-day landowner for pollution created by a Gold Rush-era enterprise.

“It has ruined my life,” said Steve Elder, 64, who had planned to retire on the land he fell in love with two decades ago.

As current owner of the old Lava Cap Mine on Banner Mountain, Elder is being held responsible for mining activity that stopped the year before he was born. A mine tailings dam on the land burst in 1997, spilling arsenic into a creek and an old tailings pond downstream. (more…)