Bagdad to be first U.S. copper mine to move to AHS

Freeport-McMoRan’s Bagdad operation in Arizona will become the first copper mine in the United States to implement a fully autonomous haulage system (AHS). The miner will convert its fleet of 33 Cat 793 haul trucks using Cat MineStar Command for hauling.  “The three-year conversion project is expected to improve safety, optimize our fleet, reduce GHG emissions through reduced idle time…

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Rio Tinto teams with Prysmian on sustainable materials supply

Rio Tinto said that it and cable solution provider Prysmian are partnering to build a more sustainable North American supply chain for materials needed to expand power grids for the energy transition. To help satisfy an increased demand, Rio Tinto and Prysmian signed a five-year supply agreement for low-carbon aluminium made with renewable hydropower from Rio Tinto’s Canadian operations. The…

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ACC updates Coal Leadership Council

The American Coal Council’s (ACC) Coal Leadership Council (CLC) program, formerly known as Tomorrow’s Leadership Council, has been updated and the new initiative will kick off at the Miami Coal Conference in February 2024. The group noted that it will be hosting quarterly business information sessions for CLC participants on topics such as financial issues, marketing, workforce, advocacy and the…

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MSHA reports 31st fatality of 2023

MSHA reported that on Sept. 8, a miner at Clyde Holding’s Sewickley Mine, Indiana, Pa., died after entering a hopper to clear an obstruction. A front-end loader dumped two loads of crushed limestone into the hopper with the miner inside. This is the 31st fatality reported in 2023, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.” MSHA recommends the following best…

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Blackwater on track for first pour in 2024

Artemis Gold said its Blackwater project in central British Columbia, Canada, remains fully funded and on schedule for first gold pour in the second half of next year despite construction activity being reduced at the beginning of the quarter due to an uncontrolled wildfire. Overall construction was 45% complete as of September 30 with C$280 million of the guided initial…

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Critical Minerals Expertise Makes Missouri S&T a Top Tech Hub

Missouri University of Science and Technology’s expertise in critical minerals and materials research has led to its selection as one of 31 Regional Innovation and Technology Hubs (Tech Hubs) funded through the CHIPS and Science Act. The 31 hubs were announced Oct. 23. The Tech Hub Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), focuses on…

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Essential Minerals Association, MSHA commit to safety

The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) and the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) renewed a 20-year alliance focused on fostering a culture of safety and prevention throughout the minerals industry. The agreement was signed at EMA’s Fall Conference & Fly-In, held in Washington, D.C. “EMA and MSHA have enjoyed a close relationship for 20 years through the…

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Just one week until Southeast Mine Conference

More than 450 attendees are expected to convene October 31-November 3 for this year’s Southeast Mine Safety and Health Conference in Birmingham, Ala., with “Taking Ownership of Safety and Health” as its theme. A full schedule has been prepared for the event being held again at the Renaissance Ross Bridge in Hoover, beginning with an optional short course on Oct.…

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Judge orders producer to complete safety training or stay off site

On Oct. 13, Judge John L. Kane entered an agreed consent order and judgment requiring Duckels Construction Inc., Steamboat Springs, Colo., to prevent owner Fred Duckels from entering the mining site permanently until he completes and provides proof of mandatory safety training. After an investigation by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the mine owner was ordered to stay…

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