Algae and mining: A new frontier in sustainable site rehabilitation

Algae might seem an unlikely candidate to help transform Australia’s post-mining landscapes, but a new CSIRO -led project suggests these tiny aquatic organisms could provide sustainable futures for mine sites, surrounding ecosystems, and local communities. Looking down the microscope at the microalgae Nannochloropsis Australia’s mining sector is approaching a crossroads—where economic legacy and environmental responsibility must find common ground. A new CSIRO -led study, supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME), suggests that one of the most promising bridges between these imperatives may come from an unexpected source: algae. Though small in stature, algae are emerging as giants in their potential to transform post-mining landscapes. The study, developed in partnership with the University of Queensland and Murdoch University , proposes that algae-based technologies could reduce mining’s environmental footprint while seeding new...

Rio Tinto’s Hu sentenced to 10 years jail

Stern Hu, the Australian executive who led Rio Tinto Group’s China iron ore unit, was sentenced by a court in Shanghai, China, to 10 years jail after being found guilty of taking bribes from steel mills and infringing commercial secrets.

His colleagues Liu Caikui, Wang Yong and Ge Minqiang were also found guilty and sentenced to between 7 and 14 years, Chief Judge Liu Xin said in the Shanghai No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court after a three-day trial last week. The four will be fired, the London-based, dual-listed company said in statement quoted by Bloomberg.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Hu’s sentence, while “harsh,” won’t have any substantial effect on relations between his country and its biggest trading partner. The case has frayed ties between the two nations, coming after Rio last year rejected a $19.5 billion investment from China and iron ore price talks with Chinese mills stalled.

The four executives pleaded guilty to receiving 92.18 million yuan ($13.5 million) between them in bribes. Some of the defendants contested the amounts cited by the prosecution.