Small Mine Development to build portal and decline at California VMS deposit
The contract award follows a formal request for proposal process, with SMD's proposal aligning with Blue Moon's objectives regarding health and safety, local employment, cost, schedule and performance.
The construction work is a critical step towards facilitating infill and exploration drilling and will support further studies necessary for the mine's commercialisation decision.
Blue Moon CEO Christian Kargl-Simard said: 'The award of this contract represents a major step forward in the development of the critical metals-related Blue Moon Mine.
'The ability to access the orebody from underground will greatly accelerate the company's plans towards a mine commercialisation decision, and the minimal footprint at surface allows us to do so in a very responsible manner – both physically and environmentally. We are proud to have SMD as a partner on this significant milestone.'
Planning and engineering efforts to support the construction are set to begin immediately, with portal development expected to start in the second half of 2025 (H2 2025).
The exploration decline is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2026 and will include an underground exploration drilling campaign and additional study work.
The project is expected to create at least 20 local jobs directly with the mine and through SMD and their subcontractors.
In related news, the European Commission has designated Blue Moon Metals' Nussir Project in Norway as a Strategic Critical Raw Material Project under the 2023 EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
This act aims to diversify critical mineral supplies and reduce reliance on China, with the Nussir Project being the first in Norway to receive such status.
"Small Mine Development to build portal and decline at California VMS deposit" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.
The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Business travel surges as companies prioritize face-to-face meetings
Companies are bringing their employees back into the office — and sending them back on the road. The Navan Business Travel Index (BTI) shows business travel jumped 15% year-over-year. Additionally, the BTI showed a 54% increase in travel intensity since Q1 2023, the index's baseline year. Navan CFO Amy Butte conceived the idea for the BTI shortly after joining the company. When comparing data from Airbnb and major airlines to Navan's numbers, Butte saw that they weren't lining up. She realized that most companies do not differentiate between business and leisure travel, and there was no dedicated business travel data index — thus, Navan's BTI was born. "The launch of the Navan Business Travel Index provides a clear, detailed view of business travel activity on our platform, separated from the noise of consumer travel," Butte wrote in a letter included in the BTI. Fall Is Now A Peak Travel Season, Expert Says The Navan BTI is built on five core principles, which focus on robust data sources, a dynamic weighting system, a verified methodology, an accurate post-pandemic baseline, and Nasdaq validation. The data points, drawn from millions of business transactions across more than 10,000 companies, track international and domestic airline bookings, hotel reservations and business expenses. Navan uses these data points and, through its dynamic weighting system, automatically adjusts for market volatility. Additionally, the methodology behind the index is "closely aligned with the Conference Board's composite index approach," according to the report. Read On The Fox Business App Nasdaq Chief Economist Phil Mackintosh says the Navan BTI offers "a unique, data-driven look at how companies are investing in growth, relationships, and in-person collaboration." "This isn't just travel data; it's a window into corporate strategy and where the business travel industry is heading next," Mackintosh said in the report. Navan's data revealed an inverse relationship between business and leisure travel. As holiday and seasonal travel goes up, business travel dips. Additionally, TSA data showed a 1% dip in overall travel, underscoring the emphasis companies are putting on face-to-face interactions. The BTI notes that a comparison between Navan and TSA data reveals insights not only into how much people are traveling, but also why they are traveling at certain times. As the report states, business travel spikes correlated with corporate planning cycles and industry conferences. "What I think is most fascinating about that rate isn't the number alone, it's the growth rate relative to all other travel," Butte told FOX Business. The business travel and expense management platform observed that companies are taking more opportunities to have their employees connect face-to-face with clients, colleagues and peers. Navan found that despite economic uncertainty, there was an uptick in individual trip indicators, such as car rentals and personal meals over team events. Spirit Airlines Warns It May Not Survive Another Year While there is overall growth in business travel, there are still differences among several industries. Butte told FOX Business that Navan saw growth in travel for the financial services (+31%) and media and entertainment (+25%) industries. In contrast, the report showed nonprofit organizations (-5.1%), the hospitality and travel sector (-8.4%), and healthcare and life sciences companies (-15.2%) all reduced their travel spending. Government travel saw a modest 4.4% increase. Navan states in its BTI that it aimed to prevent COVID from skewing the data presented in the report — a point Butte also emphasized to FOX Business. This awareness of how COVID travel restrictions could impact the data influenced where Navan chose to set its baseline for comparison. "When we think about post-COVID, we look at 2023. As a CFO, as well as a public company board member, I actually think a post-Covid world almost demands more travel," Butte said. "In some ways, our data is kind of reflecting the importance of, even if you work remotely, you still need to connect, and that can be with clients or colleagues." As Navan noted an overall growth in business travel, Butte pointed out that international travel grew more than domestic. In the BTI, Navan found that domestic hotel spending grew by 12%, while international grew by 17%, and Butte has a theory on why that is the case — and it has to do with U.S. policies. "Our hypothesis is that companies may not be traveling as much to China, but maybe they're traveling more as a way to find sourcing for manufacturing in other geographies. So, we're not seeing the end to international travel. In contrast, we're seeing companies kind of lean in to finding newer relationships," Butte told FOX Business. Butte doesn't see the trend slowing down any time soon. Though she admits she is "bullish by nature," Butte predicts that travel growth will continue, not just among large companies, but also among small and medium-sized article source: Business travel surges as companies prioritize face-to-face meetings Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Yahoo
Applebee's sales turn positive for the first time since early 2023
You can find original article here Nrn. Subscribe to our free daily Nrn newsletter. Applebee's same-store sales turned positive in the second quarter, and you'd have to go back to Q1 2023 to witness the last time that happened. The casual dining chain has limped through the past two years amid an intensifying value environment and relentlessly high cost inputs, not to mention the meteoric, marketing-led success of its closest competitor, Chili's. Applebee's has worked to rightsize and modernize its portfolio, adjust its value strategy, more strongly position itself top of mind, and enhance menu offerings, and this work now seems to be paying off. On Wednesday, parent company Dine Brands reported that Applebee's second quarter same-store sales increased 4.9%, primarily driven by traffic, according to chief executive officer John Peyton. The pendulum began to swing positively in March and has continued through July, he added, with guests responding favorably to Applebee's 2 for $25 menu. That menu was part of the chain's strategy adjustment last year. Following extensive consumer research, Applebee's learned the platform was a strong differentiator and resonated with guests seeking value. The company refreshed the menu by adding a new entrée each quarter, including Sizzlin' Skillets in March and Chicken Parmesan Fettucine in July. The introductions, Peyton said, not only appeal to core consumers, but also capture 'the next generation of loyal guests.' 'Pairing new menu innovation with the 2 for $25 value platform is a key contributor to our traffic and sales growth,' he said during the company's earnings call Wednesday morning. Applebee's has also worked to bolster its off-premises business with national campaigns, yielding positive sales and traffic growth in the channels every month, including a 7.6% year-over-year increase in sales. Off-premises sales at the chain accounted for 22% of sales mix in the second quarter, representing per restaurant average weekly sales of approximately $12,800. Another tailwind has come from the chain's sharpened focus on social media to make it a central element of its overall marketing. As part of this strategy, the company brought most of its social media team in house. Peyton said engagement across all channels, including TikTok and Meta, has increased by triple digits. 'These figures show the benefits of our more agile in-house-led approach to social storytelling and the impact of meeting culture in real time,' he said. Finally, Applebee's continues to progress on its Lookin' Good reimaging program, which is a multi-year effort to modernize the brand. Peyton said nine of the chain's top 10 franchisees, or about 75% of the system, have elected to accelerate remodels, with more than 100 expected to be completed by the end of this year. This is up from about 60% of the system who committed to remodels last quarter. Because of these tailwinds, Dine Brands lifted Applebee's same-store sales outlook for the year to 1% to 3%, from its previous range of -2% to 1%. 'We're pleased with our Q2 performance and positive comp sales, positive traffic, and growing momentum across operations and marketing,' Peyton said. 'All of this reinforces our confidence that we have the right strategy in place. But we're not satisfied because we know we have more potential, and the team and franchisees are energized and ready to press ahead to become even more relevant and competitive.' Contact Alicia Kelso at Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Upturn
30-07-2025
- Business Upturn
JK Cement becomes first in India to launch LC-3 Cement, rargeting 40% lower CO₂ emissions
JK Cement Ltd. has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first company in India and the entire Indian subcontinent to commercially produce and dispatch LC-3 cement (Portland Calcined Clay Limestone Cement). The launch took place at its Mangrol unit in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. LC-3 is a next-generation sustainable cement variant manufactured under IS 18189:2023 and certified by BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards). The product reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 40% compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), reinforcing JK Cement's long-term commitment to climate-conscious construction and green infrastructure. Advertisement The newly launched LC-3 cement is composed of: Clinker: 50% Calcined Clay: 30% Limestone: 15% This innovative formulation not only makes it environmentally friendly but also well-suited for large infrastructure projects. JK Cement aims to cater to marquee infrastructure developments across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and other key markets in India. The company emphasized that this initiative aligns with its broader sustainability strategy, built on four pillars: Decarbonization Circular Economy Resource Efficiency Sustainable Innovation 'This is a key step in our ongoing journey to revolutionize sustainable construction in India. The commercial rollout of LC-3 will significantly contribute to emission reduction while also offering long-term financial and operational benefits,' the company said in its regulatory filing. The information has also been made available on JK Cement's website:
