For more information go to Rio Tinto

Remaining JORC resource: 180 Mt @ 49.4% Al₂O₃

The Gove bauxite mine near Nhulunbuy has been in production since 1971. An alumina refinery operated in Gove from 1972 until 2014 but all bauxite is now exported. Bauxite at Gove averages 3.7m in thickness and occurs in deeply lateritised, dissected plateau remnants overlying the Cretaceous Yirrkala Formation.

The gibbsitic bauxite is low in silica (3% reactive SiO₂) and is mainly pisolitic and tubular in nature. At the end of 2017 the Gove operation had Proven and Probable Ore Reserves of 147 Mt at 49.4% Al₂O₃, with additional Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources of 33 Mt at 49.3% Al₂O₃.

For more information go to Gulkula mining company

Resource not published.

A second bauxite mine is in operation on the Dhupuma Plateau, immediately south of the Gove mineral lease, and is operated by the Aboriginal-owned Gulkula Mining Company Pty Ltd. The operation opened in August 2017 and is expected to ramp up to full annual production of 500,000 tpa bauxite within the first four years, and continue this rate of production for a projected 15 year mine life.

The mine is associated with a Mining Training Centre for local Aboriginal people, established with the support of Rio Tinto. The ore is sold to Rio Tinto’s Gove operation.

Other companies with exploration licence applications for bauxite in the NT include:

• Alcoa of Australia Ltd: Carpentaria Basin
• Todd River Resources Ltd: Money Shoal Basin

• Ferenczi 2001. Iron Ore, Manganese and bauxite deposits of the NT NTGS Report 13.