Browne Shaft Headframe at Junction Mine Broken Hill

Junction Mine Browne Shaft Headframe

I recently tweeted about www.ilovebrokenhill.com's 5th anniversary. The image I used, which is currently this blog's header image and the picture in this post, prompted the query, is that Browne's Mine? The question was posed by an ex Broken Hill resident.

I must say 'well spotted' to them.

And I admit, I was initially actually unsure of the headframe's name, so I rang the very helpful #BrokenHill visitor information centre, and together with their help and also reference to Elizabeth Vines' 2010 "Broken Hill A guide to the Silver City" we confirmed the details.

The picture is of Junction Mine's wooden headframe that was erected over Browne Shaft in the 1890's. It is the oldest remaining headframe on the #lineoflode.

You can see the mine and associated buildings on the Menindee Road, just on the edge of Broken Hill.

The image was taken by me around 7am in January 2013. Isn't the light lovely. It's one of the features that Broken Hill is know for i.e. great light and natural vivid colours. It is another reason why Broken Hill is so popular with artists.

Enjoy.

Cheers, Jane Deany

Happy 5th Birthday ilovebrokenhill.com

Mystery* mine headframe near visitor centre Broken Hill

It is www.ilovebrokenhill.com's 5th birthday today 8 December 2016.

Thanks to the over 172,000 people who have visited my blog over the past 5 years.

Broken Hill has often been in my thoughts over this year.

May the city thrive and prosper in the coming years.

I will continue to post on a semi random basis.

Please stay 'tuned'.

Cheers, Jane Deany

*Okay, so the mystery mine headframe is from the Kintore Shaft at the Central Mine. The headframe was moved to the 'Kintore Reserve' in Blende Street, from Central Mine in 1984 to make way for open cut mining activities.

Silver City Minerals and Impact Minerals joint venture drilling commencing Spring 2015

Mining Industry
A bit of mining news!
Drilling is to commence next week at the 'High Grade Copper-Nickel-Platinum Project' in Broken Hill - ASX Announcement 26 August 2015 (number 418/260815)

Here is the announcement, sourced from the Silver City Minerals website - main points -

A drill program of up to 1,500 m of diamond drilling is due to start by the end of next week at Impact Minerals Limited (ASX:IPT) high grade copper-nickel-platinum (PGM) joint venture project near Broken Hill in New South Wales.

The drill program will test seven targets (T1 to T7) at the Red Hill Prospect which covers about one square kilometre, where Impact has discovered a 25 to 30 metre thick near-surface layer of copper-nickel-PGM mineralisation. The mineralisation mostly occurs in two zones of high grade drill intercepts called the Upper and Lower Zones (Figures 1 and 2-see website) which returned:

Upper Zone: 9.5 m at 4.7 g/t 3PGM, 1.5% copper and 0.8% nickel including

5.1 m at 11 g/t 7PGM, 1.9% copper and 0.9% nickel (RHD001) and

5.2 m at 7.9 g/t 7PGM, 1.1% copper and 1.6% nickel (RHD006)

Lower Zone: 9.9 m at 6.7 g/t 3PGM, 1.4% copper and 0.3% nickel including

4.2 m at 11.8 g/t 7PGM, 2.6% copper and 0.5% nickel (RHD001) and

13.8 m at 6.6 g/t 7PGM, 1.1% copper and 0.3% nickel (RHD006).

Note 3PGM = Platinum-palladium-gold and 7PGM = 3PGM + osmium, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium where assayed (full details in Table 1-see website for table).

These results are some of the highest grades of PGM ever reported in Australia.

The two zones of mineralisation are interpreted to dip at a shallow angle to the south and may be increasing in width and grade with depth (Figure 1-see website). In addition the mineralisation is in part coincident with an Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeability anomaly identified in a ground geophysical survey (Figures 1 and 2-see website). This is Target T1 and follow up drilling is planned to test the mineralisation at depth and along trend (Figure 2)-see website.

The other five drill targets consist of one ground (T2) and one down hole (T3) electromagnetic anomaly, a rock chip geochemical anomaly (T4), two induced polarisation (IP) anomalies (T5 and T7) and an airborne magnetic anomaly (T6) (see announcement dated 1st April 2015).

Further drill targets may also be identified from the results of a recently completed ground gravity survey over the area. Interpretation of this data is in progress.

The drill rig is scheduled to mobilise to site early next week.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stay tuned for further developments.

Cheers,

Jane Deany

Impact Minerals have new drilling project at Curnamona Province near Broken Hill

Mining

I was reading Broken Hill's Barrier Daily Truth (BDT / www.bdtruth.com.au) newspaper on Wednesday 16 April and noticed a short piece on page 4 with the headline "Miner spruiks new BH project". The company in question was the Perth based minerals company 'Impact Minerals' (ASX: IPT / www.impactminerals.com.au), which listed on the Australia Stock Exchange (ASX) in November 2006.

The area they where they plan to drill is known as 'Curnamona Province' and is located 20km east of Broken Hill.

The joint venture (JV) project with Golden Cross Resources Ltd (GCR), is headed by Impact Minerals and will target high-grade nickel (Ni), copper (Cu) and PGE. There is one exploration licence (EL7390) covering 200 square kilometres

Disclaimer
Before I go on, this post is in no way a recommendation in any shape or form. If you wish to invest in this company you would need to seek independent investment advice. I am just posting the story because it's about mining and Broken Hill.

Interview
Here is a short interview of Impact Minerals CEO Dr Michael (Mike) Jones by Symposium's Kerry Stevenson, recorded in April 2014 as an Investor Update | ASX:IPT | Symposium Investor Roadshow.



It was an amazing coincidence that later, on the same day that I read the BDT article, that I would meet the very Dr Mike Jones.

I was invited to attend a Symposium Investor Roadshow event in Melbourne, by Symposium MD Kerry Stevenson. Not only was Mike Jones one of the four presenters at the roadshow, but I had the opportunity to meet him, and needless to say, I told him that Impact Minerals was in the Broken Hill news that very same day.

Let's hope they find what they're looking for.

Cheers, Jane Deany

NB information for this article was sourced from www.impactminerals.com.au , BDT and Symposium - www.symposium.net.au 

Broken Hill Mining news-Resources Investment Symposium 2014 kicks off this week

Mining Industry
The 4th annual Resources Investment Symposium (RIS) for 2014 is on again in Broken Hill from May 25-28.  The inaugural event was held in Broken Hill in 2011 and seems set to be be a permanent fixture as an annual Broken Hill event.

The Twitter hashtag for the event is #RIS2014.

RIS2014 will showcase ASX-listed resource companies presenting their investment stories alongside renowned industry leaders and experts, from Australia and across the world, giving their insights into world markets, companies that should be on your radar and more.

A number of high profile speakers will be providing keynote speeches.  Big names include, Tony Locantro - Founder & Managing Director, Locantro Capital and author - Locantro's Life Speculative Investment Newsletter. Tony also featured last year.

Here's an interview of Tony Locantro by Kerry Stevenson, MD of Symposium.

Other high profile speakers include -

Leigh Clifford

Chairman, QANTAS

Prof. Henry Ergas

Economist and columnist for The Australian

The Hon. Ian Macfarlane

Minister for Industry, Australian Federal Government

Tim Goldsmith

Partner, Global Mining Leader, PWC

Trevor Sykes

Finance Journalist & Author, Australian Financial Review - Smart Investor

Dr Paul Heithersay

Deputy Chief Executive, Resources & Energy

Gary Cochrane

Managing Director, Resource Management International

Stephen Galilee

Chief Executive Officer, NSW Minerals Council

Paul Dowd

Non-Executive Director, Oz Minerals

Michael Grant

Tax Consulting Partner, BDO East Coast Partnership

John Roskam

Executive Director, Institute of Public Affairs

Dr Neil Williams

Former Chief Executive Officer, Geoscience Australia

Hedley Widdup

Manager, Lion Selection Group

For more details about the event including a detailed program of events, go to the RIS website www.symposium.net.au .

The three and a half day event kicks off at 10.30am on Sunday 25 May with the Outback Golf Challenge followed by evening social activities at the Broken Hill Golf & Country Club, and the serious stuff (although I hear golf can be pretty serious) starts Monday from 8am. The event ends Wednesday 28th around lunchtime.

I'm glad to see there will be at least two female presenters, who will appear on the final morning -

10am  Industry Presentation: Kate Hine, Geophysics Consultant,
Mitre Geophysics; who'll speak about -

Advances in geophysical technology for modern exploration companies

11am Industry Presentation: Sue Border, Principal Geologist
Geos Mining Minerals Consultants; who'll speak about -

JORC 2012 and shareholder communications

I am sure it will be a highly informative and fascinating event, with a bit of fun thrown into the mix as well.  I've heard great things about the previous three year's events, and the 2014 event is shaping up to be another success.

For my posts on the 2012 and 2013 events, see links to my posts here - 18 May 2013 and 18 May 2012.

Have a great time, cheers, Jane D

Resources and Energy Investment Symposium 2013, May 19-22

Poppet Head
Broken Hill

Mining Industry
The 3rd annualResources and Energy Investment Symposium (REIS) 2013 is on again in Broken Hill from May 19-22.  The inaugural event was held in Broken Hill in 2011, and was held again in the city last year.  So for the time being it appears to be a permanent fixture as an annual Broken Hill event.

This year's symposium will focus on the current economic climate with all the associated challenges and opportunities, both in the Australian resources industry as well as for Australia within the international market.

REIS organisers Catriona Silverston
& Michael Allendorf, courtesy
BDT Darrin Manuel

A number of high profile speakers will be providing keynote speeches.  Big names include, Dick Smith (Business Entrepreneur), The Hon Nick Minchin (former Liberal Senator, now business consultant), Mark Bennett (Sirius Resources MD & CEO), Dan Denning (The Daily Reckoning Australia, Editor), Dr John Hewson (former Liberal Party Leader and Opposition Leader and economic and financial expert), Dr Thomas Barlow (Thomas Barlow Advisory Services), Tony Locantro (Locantro's Life Speculative Investment Newsletter, Author), Hugh Wallace-Smith (Stockbroker), John Molyneux (WH Ireland Ltd, Regional Director), Stuart A. Sanderson (Colorado Mining Association, President), Dave Kanagy (Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Executive Director), David Evans (GoldNerds Pty Limited, Founder and MD), Prof Ian Plimer (Emeritus Professor of Earth Sciences).

For more details about the event including a detailed program of events, go to the REIS website www.symposium.net.au .

I am sure it will be a highly informative and fascinating event.  I heard great things about both last year and the inaugural 2011 event.

For a snapshot of what I wrote about the 2012 event, see link here to my 18 May 2012 article.

Cheers, Jane D

Broken Hill and FIFO (fly in fly out) workers

Poppet Head on the Line of Lode

Mining Industry
Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) mine workers are a big issue Australia wide at the moment so what is happening in Broken Hill on that front? For starters the FIFO lifestyle is widely recognised as having a significant impact on the miner or other type of FIFO worker and their family's lives. It is difficult to cope with long periods apart from loved ones even though there is good money to be earned.

A great deal has been written about this subject, much of it negative. Broken Hill however is seen in a relatively good light for FIFO workers as it is an excellent, friendly, well serviced city in which to reside whilst working in the local mines or other fields which use FIFO workers. Broken Hill is quite unlike some of the more remote mining areas and towns which lack the significant cultural side that Broken Hill enjoys.

As I am no expert on the subject however, other than to understand the difficulties I mentioned above, I have instead listed some links to sites below that cover the topic more thoroughly.

• For starters, the topic is considered so serious that there is a Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into the subject which is being chaired by Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor. At the time of writing this article there were 231 submissions on the subject and the final report is still to be tabled in Parliament.
• ABC News article 18 April 2012, which refers to the Federal Parliamentary Inquiry into FIFO, and refers to comments by the inquiry's chair Federal Independent MP Tony Windsor's regarding the positives of Broken Hill, as well as comments from a Broken Hill FIFO worker Jac McLaurin, who seems quite happy with life in Broken Hill.
• www.miningoilandgasjobs.com article on FIFO also looks an interesting read. 

I am sure there many more articles that Google etc... can 'dig up' (excuse the pun) about this often controversial subject.

For your reference there are a number of large mining companies operating in and around Broken Hill, plus a number of other mid size and smaller players at the moment. The big 'names' in Broken Hill right now are Perilya Limited, CBH Resources Limited and Cristal Mining Australia Limited (Cristal) which was known as Bemax Resources Limited prior to 1 October 2012. Carpentaria Exploration Limited is also active in the region.

As mentioned above, mining is not the only industry to have FIFO workers. For example, Jac McLaurin referred to above in the ABC article works in a field which services both the mining and other industries.

Deb Hunt (left) with Kylee
Mitchell "Short and Sweet"
regional director, courtesy BDT

FIFO and Film/Live Theatre
On another directly related note, local Broken Hill writer Deb Hunt was one of four successful NSW entrants in the recent regional play festival "Short and Sweet". She was flown to Sydney last week to see the performance of her play "Clean Sweep", which came second in the audience vote and just missed out on a place in the final. It is the first play Deb has written.

Prior to her Sydney trip, Deb's play was well received in Broken Hill where it won "Best Script", "People's Choice" and "Best Production".

Here is a link to an article about Deb and her play from the 'Barrier Daily Truth' (BDT).

I hope I will have the opportunity to see the show sometime. It's theme is related to FIFO.

Cheers, Jane D

Broken Hill's Stan Goodman's "The Fatal Lodes" extra copies available

Mining Industry
After the first print run of 200 copies of the "The Fatal Lodes" by Broken Hill author Stan Goodman sold out within on hour or so of publication in October, a re-print of 400 is available tomorrow from the Broken Hill City Council Administration Building between 10am and 2pm.  Of the 400 books, 270 copies are pre-ordered and are on hold at the Council offices.  Mr Goodman, a former miner, will again be present to sign the books.

My article on the first release can be read here.  The book costs $35.00 and is the result of over 10 years of research by Mr Goodman on the stories behind deaths in the local mining industry.

Broken Hill City Council Administration Building 240 Blende Street, Broken Hill NSW 2880.

For enquires please contact Council's Customer Relations Department on 08 8080 3300.

It sounds a most interesting and valuable reference book.

May the miners rest in peace.

Jane D

'The Fatal Lodes' by Broken Hill author Stan Goodman available at last

Mining Industry
Stan Goodman began researching the stories behind the deaths of miners back in 2001.  Eleven years and nearly 400 pages later, his book 'The Fatal Lodes' was launched earlier this week at a Civic Reception at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery.

Mr Goodman began a long career in mining in 1956 where he began working as a trainee engineer at Zinc Corporation.  Later in his career he spent 13 years as an inspector before he finally retired in 1999.

Miners Memorial Broken Hill

His research commenced after he realised there were a number of errors and inaccuracies in the records about how some of the miner's died.  He also found inaccuracies at the Miners Memorial on the Line of Lode.

Mr Goodman noted that even after his lengthy research period there were still missing facts.

Mr Stan Goodman from ABC Rural website 26.01.11

The book will be an excellent reference resource for anyone interested in this subject especially families and friends trying to trace the story behind the death of their loved one(s).

The book is available at the Broken Hill City Council offices 240 Blende Street and the Visitor Information Centre corner Blende and Bromide Streets Broken Hill for $35.00.  There are plans to sell it at other retailers in the future and it will also eventually become available at the local library.

After strong interest in the book at the official launch on Wednesday, Mr Goodman attended the City Council offices earlier today between  11am and 12 noon and signed and sold about 150 more copies of the book.  It was sold out in the end.  Another print run has been ordered.  Mr Goodman was overwhelmed with the interest in his book, and Council was also surprised at the demand.

Mr Goodman also noted that if a reader saw an error he was keen to hear about it so the book could be amended with a future print run.

I have come across an informative news item/story about Mr Goodman and his book and an interview (podcast) with him from ABC Rural's website which was recorded on Australia Day last year (26 January 2011).  It's worth reading and listening to.   Also well worth listening to is ABC Outback's Chris Jeremy's interview with Mr Goodman recorded yesterday ... see link here to the podcast.  The whole story is really fascinating.

If you managed to buy a copy I would love to hear what you thought of the book.

Congratulations and well done Mr Goodman and ...

Rest In peace to the deceased miners ....

Jane D

Broken Hill and mining – a very brief snapshot

Mining Industry
History

Cover of Broken Hill
A Guide To The Silver City

It is well know that Broken Hill’s major claim to fame was with the discovery of what turned out to be one of the (if not the) world’s richest seam of silver, lead and zinc by a boundary rider named Charles Rasp in 1883.  Much has been written on the subject.

Broken Hill’s population has been heavily influenced by the booms in mining and its population reached 35,000¹ in 1915.  Today the population is below 20,000.

The most notable mining company is of course Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (BHP) which was formed in August 1885² to raise the capital required to mine the boomerang shaped ore body known as the line of lode.  The jutting shape of the ore filled outcrop inspired the name “broken hill”.  With much of the ore body now mined, the hill was replaced with a “seven kilometre length of tailings”³ (or left over material from the mining process) which is a similar height to the original line of lode pre-mining days.

Kintore poppet head, Broken Hill

There were numerous different mining companies that mined over the years.  An excellent book that goes into detail about the mining history and architecture of Broken Hill, and where I have sourced some of my information in this post is from the 2010 book “Broken Hill A Guide To The Silver City” by Elizabeth Vines, with photography by Bruce Tindale (unless otherwise noted).  The book was produced by the Broken Hill City Council and is available at the Visitor Information Centre and the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery for $19.95.  It’s a great book I recommend it.

Today

Fast forward to today and there are three mining companies operating in and around Broken Hill.  I have links to their websites below which provides more information about the projects they are involved in.

Perilya Limited – an Australian base-metal mining and exploration company.

CBH Resources Limited – Rasp Mine.

Bemax Resources Limited.

There is so much I could write about on this topic however, I have only just touched the surface of the subject to give you a taste of the story.

Cheers, Jane D

1.       “Broken Hill A Guide To The Silver City” Elizabeth Vines p. 30

2.       “Broken Hill A Guide To The Silver City” Elizabeth Vines, p. 6

3.       “Broken Hill A Guide To The Silver City” Elizabeth Vines, p. 7  

Uranium mining to come to Broken Hill region after ban lifted

Mining Industry

The NSW Government has recently lifted a 28 year ban on uranium exploration and a South Australian explorer – Marmota Energy – is to become one of the first companies to take advantage of this change which came about in March this year.

Map of Australian uranium mines courtesy
World Nuclear Association (WNA)

On 20 April 2012, Marmota Energy announced that they had applied for three new uranium prospective tenements north-west of Broken Hill.  The “Barrier Daily Truth” (BDT) reported on 21 April 2012 that Marmota Energy indicated that they considered the three areas to be as prospective as their Junction Dam uranium project in South Australia.  The company also indicated that the project areas were strategically located close to good infrastructure and within about 70km of Broken Hill.

Significantly, the area lies “within Lake Frome Embayment, the same geological province that hosts other world class sandstone-hosted uranium deposits.”

The full article from the BDT can be read here.

You may also find it interesting to peruse the World Nuclear Association website here which I came across whilst researching this post.

Standby for further updates on this fascinating and often controversial subject.

Cheers, Jane D

Let’s talk about mining … the 2012 Resources and Energy Symposium – Broken Hill

from the BHGCC website

Mining Industry
Considering Broken Hill’s history with the famous mining company BHP (Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited) starting its famous life in the city in 1885, it seems very fitting to hold the 2012 Resources and Energy Investment Symposium (RES2012) at the ‘Hill’.

After the inaugural event in the city in 2011 where there were 500 delegates, the 2012 Symposium kicks off on Monday 21st May and runs until the 23rd May. The venue is the Broken Hill Civic Centre, 60 Chloride Street, Broken Hill.

RES2012 “is a not for profit event which directs all event profits towards bursaries for students who are keen to join the industry but who may need support to enable them to continue their studies.”* There will be an inaugural Symposium Scholarship awarded at the 2012 Symposium.

In the lead up there will be the Great Australian Outback Golf Challenge on Sunday the 20th May, which will be held at The Broken Hill Golf and Country Club (BHGCC), Racecourse Road, Broken Hill. For non golfers and golfers, there will be a late afternoon BBQ at the 19th hole area.

In the words of the Symposium's website "blurb" the Symposium ...

What is it:

A 2.5 day symposium with key industry players, private investors and world class international speakers. Learn more about the resources and energy sector and how it impacts Australia’s future and the global economy.

Who should attend:

• Private investors who need to understand the opportunities and outlook for the resources and energy sector

• Organisations and individuals who generate income or wealth from the resources and energy sector

• Professional and Institutional Investors who need to understand the opportunities around resources and energy stocks

Why you should attend:

• Plenty of networking opportunities in the unique and more intimate environment of Broken Hill

• Stay ahead of the curve on what’s happening in the sector and how you can take advantage of any opportunities

• Hear from keynote speakers including the Minister for Resources and Energy, Sir Eric Neal and former Deputy PM of Australia, John Anderson and more

• Brokers and planners can earn CPD points

• Learn and play at the RES Gold Cup Camel Race, Australian Outback Golf Challenge, 19th Hole Drinks and BBQ, Welcoming Cocktails and Gala Dinner

On Tuesday 22nd May there will be the Gold Cup Camel race followed by the Runge (the Symposium’s major sponsor) Wild West Dinner, held at the Broken Hill Racecourse, 1a Racecourse Road, Broken Hill.

The whole event sounds a lot of fun and of course highly informative as well. I’d love to be there but I can’t make it. Maybe next year.

Cheers, Jane D

* Resources and Energy Investment Symposium – Broken Hill, Australia
21-23 May 2012 Sponsorship and Exhibition Prospectus 2012