The 2024 Prospect Awards brought together the mining sector’s finest at the WA Mining Conference and Exhibition. For the first time, the prestigious event showcased groundbreaking achievements in mining across multiple categories. Here’s a detailed look at the winners celebrated for their contributions to the industry.
Discovery of the Year: IGO’s Dogleg Prospect
The Discovery of the Year award recognised IGO’s high-grade nickel-copper-cobalt discovery at the Dogleg prospect in Western Australia.
Situated within the Quick Shears tenements, this discovery targeted Nova-style magmatic nickel-copper sulphide mineralisation. The team drilled the first diamond hole in November 2023, guided by detailed aeromagnetic data and ground electromagnetic surveys.
Assay results revealed high-grade sulphides within broader low-to-moderate grade mineralisation. IGO’s second drill hole, completed in February 2024, expanded on this, returning 2.63m at 4.17 per cent nickel, 0.83 per cent copper, and 0.14 per cent cobalt.
The company plans to resume drilling after the wet season, aiming for a maiden resource. CEO Ivan Vella noted, “To drive the transition, the world is going to need to discover and deliver a lot more battery materials.”
Australian Mine of the Year: Roy Hill Shines Again
Roy Hill claimed the Australian Mine of the Year award for the second year in a row. The Pilbara-based iron ore mine employs over 3000 people and produces around 60 million tonnes annually.
Roy Hill’s advanced technology and automation drive efficiency across operations. Fully automated drill rigs and remote operations optimise productivity while ensuring safety.
The company also prioritises worker wellbeing. “We take the wellbeing of our people very seriously, with a number of initiatives and programs in place to support this,” Roy Hill said.
Executive chairman Gina Rinehart’s leadership has been instrumental in the mine’s success. “Roy Hill is humbled to have been recognised as Australian Mine of the Year for a second straight year,” the company stated.
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Indigenous and Community Engagement Award: Buru Rehab and MinRes Collaboration
The Indigenous and Community Engagement award honoured Buru Rehab for its partnership with Mineral Resources (MinRes) at the Wodgina lithium mine.
Buru Rehab, an Indigenous-owned business, provides vital services such as road maintenance, dust mitigation, and land rehabilitation. The partnership created 12 new Indigenous jobs and enabled Buru Rehab to acquire new equipment, expanding its capabilities.
“Employing Indigenous people to work on mine sites and be proactively engaged in rehabilitation of Country enables quality outcomes,” said Buru Rehab owner George Todd.
MinRes general manager Heath Nelson praised Buru Rehab’s work. “This contract will have positive flow-on effects for years to come, offering ongoing employment opportunities for people living in the Pilbara.”
Excellence in IIoT Application: Orica Digital Solutions Leads the Way
Orica Digital Solutions won the Excellence in IIoT Application award for its innovative BlastIQ Underground software.
The tool integrates drilling data, blast design, and post-blast analysis to optimise underground blasting. Its real-time feedback allows engineers to improve operational efficiency while minimising environmental impacts.
Golden Grove mine tested the application, recording 30 production blasts and 800 hole measurements over three months. The software saved 1.5 hours per blast and eliminated paper-based processes.
“Good blast design is absolutely critical… having access to instant data means you are making informed decisions,” said 29Metals senior engineer Naryan Paudel.
Excellence in Environmental Management and Sustainability: BHP’s West Musgrave Project
BHP’s West Musgrave project received the Excellence in Environmental Management and Sustainability award for its land access and disturbance permit (LADP) system.
First implemented in October 2022, the LADP system ensures compliance with government and community commitments while preserving heritage and protecting the environment.
The system uses advanced technologies, including BlackSky and ESRI ArcGIS Online, to reduce human error and enhance efficiency. Since implementation, 47 LADPs have been issued with no significant environmental incidents reported.
“The LADP system has been instrumental in delivering the outstanding environmental and cultural heritage performance of the West Musgrave project,” said BHP manager Shoanne Labowitch.
Recognising Innovation and Leadership in Mining
The 2024 Prospect Awards highlighted industry leaders driving innovation, sustainability, and community engagement. From groundbreaking discoveries to sustainable operations, these achievements reinforce Australia’s mining sector as a global leader.
