Developing Projects

The Northern Territory has a strong pipeline of developing mining projects.

The Northern Territory has a strong pipeline of developing mining projects, at various stages of the approvals or financing process. This includes projects for a diverse range of commodities including copper, rare earths, lithium, gold, vanadium, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, zinc, manganese, iron, phosphate, and salt.

At 1 October 2024, the Northern Territory has 19 developing mining projects worth a combined estimated CAPEX of $6B, and an estimated 3500 jobs in construction and 3500 jobs in production. A summary of key developments during the period between October 2024 and February 2025 include:

  • Northern Iron Ltd’s Warrego Rehabilitation Project exported the first shipment of 47 000 t of magnetite concentrate in January 2025.
  • KGL Resources Ltd released an Updated Feasibility Study outlining new project metrics based on an updated Ore Reserve of 14.38 Mt @ 1.77% Cu, 0.26 g/t Au & 26.27 g/t Ag (ASX: 10 Feb 2025).
  • Arafura Rare Earths Ltd executes binding term sheet for A$200 million of Convertible Notes with the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC). Arafura expects this milestone to be catalyst for additional equity funding for the Nolans Project, attracting additional strategic investment (ASX: 15 Jan 2025).
  • Avenira Ltd has submitted an amendment to its existing MMP for a 1.3 Mt DSO operation (ASX: 9 Jan 2025).
  • Tennant Creek Mining Group Consolidated (TCMG) Pty Ltd was wholly acquired by Pan African Resources (PAR) PLC in November 2024. The construction of the Nobles Nob CIL plant continues with gold production from existing stockpiles tracking to commence in Q3 2025. As part of the acquisition, PAR announced feasibility results and total mineral resources of 1.3 million ounces of gold across the TCMG/Emmerson JV, and current ore reserves of 400 000 ounces of gold. (Company announcement: 7 Nov 2024).
  • Mining approval has been granted for Patronus Resources Ltd’s Fountain Head project, moving the NT government’s project status from in approvals process, to approvals in place (ASX: 4 Nov 2024).
  • Vista Gold’s Mount Todd is currently evaluating a smaller scale project with production of 150–200 koz per annum with an initial CAPEX of US$400M (reduced from US$1.03B) and an updated feasibility to be released in 2025 (Vista Gold presentation, October 2024).
  • On 14 November 2024, the draft Territory Coordinator Bill (draft Bill) and Guide to the Territory Coordinator Bill (the guide) were released for consultation. Public engagement on the draft Bill closed on 17 January 2025. Substantial feedback has been gathered and will be summarised in a publicly available consultation report, which will inform amendments to the draft Bill. The revised Bill will be introduced to the Legislative Assembly in the February sittings, before being referred to the Scrutiny Committee for additional consultation
  • On 27 November 2024, the NT Government announced the Approvals Fast Track Taskforce that will provide recommendations to Government on how to reform regulatory processes, and reduce approvals timeframes.
  • On 2 January 2025, the NT Government announced reforms to payroll tax-free threshold for small business. The reforms include increasing the tax-free threshold from $1.5 million to $2.5 million, with businesses with wage bills between $2.5 million to $7.5 million set for tax bill decreases from 1 July 2025.
    The Mining Developments Report now includes summaries of major operating mines with publicly available information.

Download the February 2025 release of the Mining developments report PDF (4.0 MB).

Download the February 2025 release of the Major mines and projects map PDF (879.1 KB).

View NTGS defined terms   for mines, projects and exploration.

Developing projects in the Northern Territory

Company

Project

Commodity

Proposed Construct

Proposed Production

Estimated CAPEX

Project Status

Estimated Jobs (construct)

Estimated Jobs (operate)

Mine Life

Tennant Mining TCMG Pty Ltd

Nobles Nob

Au

Underway

Q3 2025

$94M

In construction

80

160

8 yrs

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd

Nolans*

Rare earths, P2O5

2025

2028

$1,680M

Approvals in place

682

366

38 yrs

KGL Resources Ltd

Jervois*

Cu, Ag, Au

Q3 2025

2027

$362M

Approvals in place

450

500

10 yrs

PC Gold Pty Ltd

Spring Hill

Au

TBA

Q1 2025

$23M

Approvals in place

Up to 95

140-165

1.5 yrs initial

Vista Gold Australia Pty Ltd

Mount Todd*

Au

2025

2027

Initial US$400M

Approvals in place

450 peak

400

23 yrs

Core Lithium Ltd

Finniss (BP33)

Li

TBA

TBA

$45-50M

Approvals in place

40

125-150

9 yrs +

Patronus Resources Ltd

Fountain Head

Au

2025

2026

$46M

Approvals in place

50

134

5 yrs

Bacchus Resources Pty Ltd

Brocks Creek

Au

2026

2027

$65M

In approvals process

60

75

30 yrs +

Castile Resources Ltd

Rover 1*

Cu, Au, Co, Fe

2025/26

TBA

$279.5M

In approvals process

200

140

8 yrs initial

Avenira Ltd

Wonarah

P2O5

Q3 2025

H2 2025

Initial $11.5M

In approvals process

50

25-50

30 yrs +

Primary Gold Pty Ltd

Mount Bundy

Au

2025

2026

$394M

In approvals process

150

200-300

11-13 yrs

Verdant Minerals Pty Ltd

Ammaroo*

P2O5

2025/26

2026/27

$700M

In approvals process

400

250

25 yrs +

Linecrest Pty Ltd

Frances Creek

Fe (hematite)

2024/25

2025

US$5M

In approvals process

50

150

Initial 7 yrs

Patronus Resources Ltd

Hayes Creek

Au, Ag, Zn

2025/26

2026/27

$65M

In approvals process

150

130

6.6 yrs

Lucapa Diamond Company LtdMerlinDiamonds

2025

Q4 2025

$46M

In approvals process

TBA

128

14 yrs

Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd

Winchelsea

Mn

2025

2026

$212M

In approvals process

100

55

11 yrs

Investigator Resources Ltd

Molyhil*

W, Mo

TBA

TBA

$69M

In approvals process

60

70

7 yrs +

Tellus Holdings Ltd

Chandler*

NaCl

TBA

TBA

$1,000M

In approvals process

300

150

25 yrs +

Northern Territory Iron Ore Pty Ltd

Roper Valley

Fe

TBA

Q2 2026

$312M (from 2022)

In approvals process

100

120

25 yrs

TOTAL ESTIMATED

$6.016B

 

3487

3518

 

* NT Government major project status.

In construction

Company

Tennant Consolidated Mining Group Pty Ltd

Authorised entity

Tennant Consolidated Mining Group Pty Ltd (TCMG)

Listing

Private

Contact

Michael Tennant – Territory Manager

Phone: 1800 879 028 Email: mtennant@tennantmining.com.au

Location

Approx 13 kms SE of Tennant Creek.

Mine classification

New brownfields mine/Processing of mine waste

Description

Establishment of an 840 000 tpa CIL gold plant at the Nobles Nob site, for mining of remnant ore at the Nobles Nob open it and processing of higher-grade sections of waste rock dumps. After initial onsite mining and processing, the mine will become a central processing plant for regional gold deposits. Applications for mining approvals have been submitted for future development of Black Snake, Weabers and Rising Sun deposits.

Proposed production

Gold dore (average 65,000 ounces p/a)

Mineral Resource

14.1 Mt @ 2.83 g/t Au for contained 1.29 Moz Au (includes Tennant Mining – Emmerson Resources JV resources)

Ore Reserve400,000 ounces Au

Mine life

8 years +

Feasibility

Overview of TCMG / Pan African feasibility study released November 2024

Approvals

Environmental: Not required for initial development

Mining: Mining Authorisation issued August 2022

Proposed schedule

Construction: Underway              Production: Q3  2025

Jobs

Construction: 80                       Production: 160

CAPEX

A$94M

Agreements and
arrangements

Strategic Alliance with Emmerson Resources (ASX : ERM) including Exploration Earn-In/JV (managed by ERM) with TCMG providing $10.5M of funding over 5 years to earn a 75% interest in the project; Small Mines Joint Ventures with ERM to receive 6% gold production royalty from all small mines; a Major Mines JV from discovery of >250 000 oz gold with ERM to receive a 40% contributing share. Concessional loan with NT Government through the LJF for $10 million. Pan African Resources PLC acquired 8% of TCMG shares for $3.4 M in March 2024 and aquired the remaining 92% of share for $50.8 M in November 2024. TCMG is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pan African Resources and will remain the operator of the project.

Approvals in place

Company

Arafura Rare Earths Ltd

Authorised entity

Arafura Nolans Project Pty Ltd

Listing

ASX : ARU Market capitalisation: $308M

Contact

Stewart Forrest – Northern Territory Manager

Phone: (08) 6370 2800            Email: sforrest@arultd.com

Location

135 km northwest of Alice Springs

Mine classification

New greenfields mine

Description

Open cut mining, beneficiation to a mineral concentrate and on-site rare earth separation to produce
rare earth oxides, with merchant grade phosphoric acid as a by-product.

Proposed production

4440 tpa NdPr oxide; 470 tpa mixed middle-heavy rare earth (SEG/HRE) oxide; 144 000 tpa fertiliser
grade (54%) phosphoric acid

Mineral Resource

56 Mt containing 2.6% REO, 11% P2O5

Ore Reserve

29.5 Mt containing 2.9% REO, 13% P2O5

Mine life

38 years +

Feasibility

DFS February 2019; Updated FS 11 May 2021; Project Update 11 Nov 2022

Approvals

Environmental: NT EPA approval Dec 2017; variation assessment completed Sept 2019. EPBC approval
May 2018

Mining: Mining Authorisation issued Nov 2022

Community: Native Title Agreement executed with Native Title Holders in June 2020.

Groundwater extraction licence granted in March 2023.

Proposed schedule

Early construction works completed in 2023


Full Construction: 2025, subject to finance             Production: 2028

Jobs

Construction: 682                                                          Production: 366 (full time)

CAPEX

$1680M (ASX: 31 Oct 2023)

Agreements and
arrangements

Binding offtake signed with Hyundai and Kia (ASX: 7 Nov 2022) and Seimens Gamesa (ASX: 11 April 2023). Conditional credit approvals for targeted US$775 million senior debt funding secured from export credit agencies and commercial lenders (including EFA, NAIF, EDC, KEXIM), plus  project completion support provided by an US$80 million cost overrun facility and a standby liquidity facility of US$200 million (ASX: 23 July 2024). Arafura executed a binding term sheet for A$200 million of Convertible Notes with the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (ASX: 15 January 2025). Gas supply agreements extended (ASX: 31/01/2025).

Company

KGL Resources Ltd

Authorised entity

Jinka Minerals Pty Ltd

Listing

ASX : KGL Market capitalisation: $52M

Contact

Jeff Gerard – Executive Chairman

Phone: (07) 3071 9003        Email: pcondon@kglresources.com.au

Location

Approx 380 kms by road north-east of Alice Springs

Mine classification

New brownfields mine

Description

Initial mining from two open cut mines, moving to underground mining from four deposits. Ore to be
processed via a 1.6 Mtpa conventional flotation processing facility to produce a copper concentrate.
Concentrate to be trucked 488 km to Glencore Mount Isa copper smelter.

Proposed production

Copper concentrate with silver and gold credits; with annual production of ~30 kt Cu, ~1,106 koz Ag and ~8.9 koz Au

Mineral Resource

27.45 Mt @ 1.87% Cu, 25.3 g/t Ag, 0.24 g/t Au (ASX: 25 Nov 2024)

Ore Reserve

14.38 Mt @ 1.77% Cu, 0.26 g/t Au & 26.27 g/t Ag (ASX: 10 Feb 2025)

Mine life

10 yrs

Feasibility

DFS released (ASX: 15 Nov 2022). Feasibility Study Update (FSU) 2025 released (ASX: 10 Feb 2025)

Approvals

Environmental: NT EPA approved 30 September 2019

Mining: Mining Authorisation issued Jan 2021

Groundwater extraction licence granted April 2021 & surface water licence in July 2021.

Proposed Schedule

Construction: Q3 2025, subject to FID                                               Production: 2027

Jobs

Construction: 450                                                                                   Production: 500

CAPEX

$362M (ASX: 10 Feb 2025)

OPEX$208M (ASX: 10 Feb 2025)

Agreements and
arrangements

An updated contract for the offtake of up to 1Mt of copper concentrate is currently being re-negotiated. The payment terms of the concentrate will be Free on Transport (FOT). Provision for advance payments is included in the contract (ASX: 10 Feb 2025).

Company

PC Gold Pty Ltd

Authorised entity

TM Gold Pty Ltd

Listing

Private

Contact

Ashley Pattison – Executive Chair

Phone: 08 6313 3996        Email:admin@pcgold.com.au

Location

Approx 27 km NNW of Pine Creek

Mine classification

New brownfields mine

Description

Mining of oxide ore from three open pits at the Spring Hill gold deposit, targeting the Hong Kong lode
and Main lode. Ore to be processed at a third-party processing site.

Proposed production

Total production of 102 000 ounces of gold in initial stage of mining (source: MMP)

Mineral Resource

25.6 Mt @ 1.00 g/t Au (0.5 g/t Au cutoff)

Mine life

Initial 18 months

Feasibility

PFS undertaken but not publicly released

Approvals

Environmental: NT EPA assessment not required (decision in July 2018); Federal approval under EPBC
Act March 2021
Mining: Mining Authorisation issued April 2022

Proposed schedule

Construction:  TBA Awaiting availability of third-party gold processing facility     Production: Q1 2025

Jobs

Construction: up to 95                                                                                                         Production: 140-165

CAPEX

$23M

Company

Vista Gold Corporation

Authorised entity

Vista Gold Australia Pty Ltd

Listing

NYSE : VGZ TSX : VGZ              Market capitalisation: US$78.9M

Contact

Brent Murdoch – Director & General Manager Australia Phone: (08) 8941 9105

Email: bmurdoch@mttodd.com.au

Location

41 km north of Katherine

Mine classification

Reopen mine

Description

Conventional open pit mining extracting up to 17.75 Mtpa of ore for onsite processing through newly
constructed CIL Plant.

Proposed production

Average 497 000 oz Au per annum gold dore in years 1-7 (FS March 2024).

Currently evaluating a smaller scale project with production of 150 – 200 koz per annum with an initial CAPEX of $400M and an updated feasibility yet to be released (Visa Gold presentation, October 2024)

Mine Resource

364.4 Mt @ 0.81 g/t Au

Ore Reserve 280.4 Mt @ 0.77 g/t Au for 6.98 Moz Au

Mine life

23 years (including 2 years construction plus 5 years closure/reclamation)

Feasibility Feasibility Study released Feb 2022; updated March 2024 (TSX and NYSE: 13 Mar 2024)

Approvals

Environmental: June 2014 (NT), Federal EPBC approvals issued Jan 2018.

Mining: DML approval in June 2021.

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2025                       Production: 2027

Jobs

Construction: up to 450              Production: 400

CAPEX

Initial US$400M from smaller scale study to be released in 2025 (Company presentation: October 2024)

Company

Core Lithium Ltd

Authorised entity

Lithium Developments Pty Ltd

Listing

ASX : CXO                 Market capitalisation: $186.5M

Contact

Paul Brown – Chief Executive Officer

Phone: 08 8317 1700    Email: pbrown@corelithium.com.au

Location

Approx 38 kms SSW of Darwin and 5.8 kms SSE of Grants mine

Mine classification

Mine expansion

Description

BP33 (stage 2 of the Finniss Project) is a proposed underground mine involving a box-cut portal to a
depth of 60–70 m and construction of approx. 2150 metres of decline to access mine production levels
over a four year mine life. Ore will be transported approx. 7.5 km along a purpose built haul road to the
Finniss processing plant at the Grants mine site.

Proposed production

Spodumene concentrate (5-6% Li2O)

Mineral Resource

10.5 Mt @ 1.53% Li2O (ASX: 16 Oct 2023)

Ore Reserve

8.7 Mt @ 1.38% Li2O (ASX: 25 September 2024)

Mine life

9+ years

Feasibility

BFS in progress.

Approvals

Environmental: Supplementary Environmental Report approved May 2022

Mining: Mining approvals granted in April 2023 (ASX: 11 May 2023)

Proposed schedule

Initial enabling construction including boxcut development undertaken in 2023.
FID delayed due to low lithium price. BP33 mine study will continue and early works will remain paused until market conditions improve (ASX: 5 January 2024). A restart study is due to be completed
in the second half of FY25 assessing all of Core Lithium’s assets (ASX: AR 2024)
Construction: TBA                     Production: TBA

Jobs

Construction: 60                        Production: 125-150 (for Finniss Project)

CAPEX

Board approved early works funding of $45–50M (ASX: 19 May 2023). Project Capex pending released
of BFS.

Company

Patronus Resources Ltd

Listing

ASX : PTN                               Market capitalisation: $87.1M

Contact

John Ingram – Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (08) 8364 3188                         Email: j.ingram@patronusresources.com.au

Location

Approx 160 kms SSE of Darwin or 54 km NW of Pine Creek.

Mine classification

New brownfields mine

Description

Open cut mining at the existing Fountain Head pit, based on conventional drill and blast mining
techniques using excavators and haul trucks. Ore will be crushed, screened and processed through
a CIL plant. Ore mined at the Glencore and Mount Porter deposits is also planned to be processed at
Fountain Head.

Proposed production

Gold dore (147 000 oz Au and total over five years)

Mineral Resource

Fountain Head: 2.94 Mt @ 1.7 g/t Au
Glencoe: 2.1 Mt @ 1.2 g/t Au
Mount Porter: 681 kt @ 2.2 g/t Au

Mine life

5 years

Feasibility

PFS for sequential development of Fountain Head and Hayes Creek released (ASX: 17 June 2021)

Approvals

Environmental: NT EPA Assessment Report issued Feb 2023
Mining: EML authorised November 2024.

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2025                            Production: 2026

Jobs

Construction: 50                                 Production: 134

CAPEX

$46M (ASX 20 Dec 2021)

Agreements and
arrangements

PNX acquisition of Mount Porter gold project completed (ASX: 12 April 2024). Mining NL and PNX merger complete, entity now known as Patronus Resources Ltd (ASX: 1 October 2024).

In approvals process

Company

Avenira Ltd

Authorised entity

Minemakers Australia Pty Ltd

Listing

ASX : AEV                         Market capitalisation: $20.3M

Contact

Brett Clark – Deputy Executive Chairman

Phone: (08) 9264 7000     Email: bclark@avenira.com

Location

250 kms east of Tennant Creek

Mine classification

New greenfields mine

Description

Stage 2 – DSO Open pit phosphate mining of 1.3 Mt at Wonarah, leveraging the existing Mining Authorisation 1170-01 and the updated MMP.
Stage 3 – Feasibility studies to unlock the economic potential of Avenira’s 550 million tonnes resources base by upgrading them to commercial-grade products, significantly enhancing scalability and viability.

Proposed production

Stage 2: DSO operation:  1.3 Mt operation.
Stage 3: Floatation project and Larger scale DSO.
Future prospects: Yellow phosphorous at mine & battery grade thermal phosphoric acid plant in Darwin.

Mineral Resource

66 Mt @ 30% P2O5 (27% cut-off); 812 Mt @ 18.1% P2O5 (15% cut-off)

Mine life

30 + years

Feasibility

DFS released on DSO phosphate operation (ASX: 19 Oct 2023)
Scoping Study underway on co-location of Yellow Phosphorus plant at Wonarah

Approvals

Environmental: Approved June 2013
Mining:  DML for trial mining approved. DSO mining EML under assessment

Proposed schedule

Construction:  Q3 2025                                             Production: H2 2025

Jobs

Construction: 50                                                         Production:  25–50

CAPEX

Initial $11.5M

Company

Castile Resources Ltd

Listing

ASX : CST                                  Market capitalisation: $19.2M

Contact

Mark Hepburn – Managing Director

Phone: 08 9488 4480    Email: : mark.hepburn@castile.com.au

Location

68 km WSW of Tennant Creek

Mine classification

New greenfields mine

Description

Development of an underground mine with beneficiation facility and associated infrastructure. Processing will include magnetic separation of magnetite to produce 96.4% magnetite concentrate, gravity separation of gold to produce gold dore, and then flotation of a sulphide concentrate to be shipped to MASDP to be processed through a pressure oxidation plant that will produce 99% cobalt and 99% copper, with additional gold.

Proposed production

Annual production of 28 700 oz Au, 6900 t Cu, 300 t Co, 73 300 t magnetite

Mineral Resource

5.58 Mt @ 1.76 g/t Au, 1.49% Cu, 0.07% Co and 23.2% Magnetite. (JORC 2012)

Ore Reserve

3.11 Mt @ 2.02 g/t Au, 1.52% Cu, 0.07% Co and 22.92% Magnetite (JORC 2012)

Mine life

Initial 8 years

Feasibility

PFS released (ASX: 5 Dec 2022)
BFS in progress (ASX: 21 Oct 2024).

Approvals

Environmental: Referral to NT EPA submitted October 2023. Terms of Reference for EIS published
9 January 2024
Mining: To be submitted following environmental approvals

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2025/26                    Production: TBA

Jobs

Construction: 200                              Production: 140

CAPEX

Pre-Production Capex $279.5 Million (ASX: 5 Dec 2022)

Agreements and arrangementsCastile Resources is engaging with the NT Land Corporation regarding a parcel of land at the Middle Arm Sustainable Development precinct as an alternative location for the downstream processing plant (ASX: 16 July 2024). Rover 1 received Major Project Status with the NT Government (ASX: 18 April 2024).  Significant mine optimisation will be incorporated into BFS update (ASX: 21 Oct 2024).

Company

Primary Gold Pty Ltd

Authorised entity

Primary Minerals Pty Ltd

Listing

Private (parent company China Hanking Holdings Ltd listed on the HKSE)

Contact

Dr Mark Qiu – Managing Director & CEO

Phone: 0424288016      Email: qiuym@hanking.com.au

Location

Approx 100 kms SE of Darwin

New brownfields mine

New brownfields mine

Description

The operation will include open pit bulk mining at existing pits at Rustlers Roost and Quest 29,
underground mining at Tom’s Gully, and the construction of a new 5 Mtpa carbon-in-leach central
processing plant and tailings storage facility at Rustlers Roost. A new open pit called Annie Oakley
800 m to the west of Rustlers Roost will also be mined.

Proposed production

Average annual production of 131 790 oz Au for 11-13 years (Nov 2023 DFS)

Mineral Resource

109 Mt @ 0.9 g/t Au for 3.0 Moz Au (Dec 2021)
1.1 Mt @ 8.9 g/t Au for 315 000 oz Au (Toms Gully)

Ore Reserve

Open Pit: 53.6 Mt @ 0.8 g/t Au for 1.39 Moz Au (2023 DFS)
Underground:  1.44 Mt @ 5.4 g/t Au for 248 koz Au (2023 DFS)

Mine life

11-13 years

Feasibility

DFS released 13 November 2023

Approvals

Environmental: Tom’s Gully environmental approval issued Feb 2020. Rustlers Roost and Quest 29
approvals issued June 2023
Mining: DML incorporating Rustler's Roost and Quest 29 mine sites is currently under assessment

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2025                    Production: 2026

Jobs

Construction: 150                       Production: 200-300

CAPEX

$394M (Nov 2023 DFS)

Agreements and arrangementsOn 4 July 2024, China Hanking Holdings Ltd announced to the HKSE an agreement to sell 100% of its shares in Primary Gold Pty Ltd to Huineng Gold Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Inner Mongolia Huineng Coal and Electricity Group Co., Ltd for A$300 million plus the environmental bond amount, subject to a number of outstanding conditions precedent.

Company

Bacchus Resources Pty Ltd

Listing

Private

Contact

Vaughan Cullen – Managing Director


Phone: 03 5448 8880              Email: vpcullen@bacchusresources.com

Location

Approx 150 km SSE of Darwin and approx 50 kms NW of Tennant Creek

Mine classification

Reopen mine

Description

Reopen the historic Brocks Creek and Woolwonga mines. The proposal will involve reprocessing (XRT
ore sorting) of 4.2 Mt of mineralised waste contained within the Woolwonga open pit followed by
conventional open pit mining methods of the hard rock resource. Reopening of historic open pits at
Brocks Creek starting on Faded Lily and then moving onto the Alligator Deposits. Ore from both sites
will be processed at a newly constructed conventional CIL process plant at Brocks Creek.

Proposed production

Gold dore; initial 210 kt pa

Mineral Resource

Woolwonga Mineralised Waste - 4.2 Mt @ 0.75 g/t Au (101 kOz)
Woolwonga Hard Rock - 10.9 Mt @ 0.9 g/t Au (320 kOz)
Brocks Creek Hard Rock - 20.1 Mt @ 0.9 g/t Au (556 kOz) excludes Rising Tide and Zappopan Deposits

Mine life

20 years +

Feasibility

Feasibility study not publicly available

Approvals

Mining: Woolwonga Bulk Sample 120kt Approved. EML submitted Dec 2023; under assessment

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2026                                 Production: 2027

Jobs

Construction: 60                                     Production: 75

CAPEX

$65M

Company

Verdant Minerals Ltd

Authorised entity

Territory Phosphate Pty Ltd

Listing

Private

Contact

Chris Tziolis – Managing Director

Phone: (08) 8942 0385    Email: ctziolis@verdantminerals.com.au

Location

220 kms SE of Tennant Creek

Mine classification

New greenfields mine

Description

Open cut strip mining operations with crushing, screening and beneficiation to produce phosphate rock concentrate for export.  The product will be suitable for conversion to phosphoric acid for the manufacture of ammonium phosphate fertilizers.

Proposed production

400 kt to 500kt per annum.

Mineral Resource

1145 Mt @ 14% P2O5 (10% cut-off) or 338 Mt @ 18% P2O5 (15% cut-off)
138 Mt @ 15.7% P2O5 (10% cut-off JORC Measured resource)

Mine life

25 years +

Feasibility

Feasibility on phosphate rock concentrate project released (ASX: 17 May 2018)

Approvals

Environmental: Oct 2018 (NT) & June 2018 (Federal) for rock phosphate project.

Revised Terms of Reference for an EIS for fertiliser production were issued by the NT EPA on 14 June
2023.

Mining: pending outcome of environmental review, grant of Mineral Leases & approval of EML.

Proposed Schedule

Construction: 2025/26                          Production: 2026/27

Jobs

Construction: 400            Production: 250

CAPEX

Estimate $700M for full capacity

Agreements / arrangements

66.6% ownership by UK-based CD Capital, 33.4% Owned by Washington H. Soul Pattinson (SOL). 25 year 3.6 gl/y water licence granted. ILUA agreed to and signed awaiting registration with the Commonwealth.

Company

Linecrest Pty Ltd

Authorised entity

Ridgepeak Holding Pty Ltd

Listing

Private

Contact

Rodney Illingworth – Managing Director

Phone: 0439 844 830                           Email: rodney@rai.net.au

Location

Approx 180 kms SE of Darwin and 25 kms NE of Pine Creek.

Mine classification

Reopen mine

Description

Reopen the Frances Creek Iron Ore Mine to extract remnant ore from existing open pits. Conventional
open pit mining with onsite crushing and screening of DSO and DSM material. No chemical processing
or treatment will occur. Ore will be trucked to the nearby Frances Creek rail siding and railed to Darwin Port for export.

Proposed production

1.5 Mtpa of iron ore lump and fines at ~ 60% Fe

Mineral Resource

23 Mt @ 53% Fe

Mine life

Initial 7 years

Feasibility

No feasibility study publicly reported

Approvals

Environmental: Approved 2006.                   Mining: EML application under assessment

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2024/25               Production: 2025

Jobs

Construction: 50                              Production: 150

CAPEX

US$5M

Company

Patronus Resources Ltd

Listing

ASX : PTN                                 Market capitalisation: $87.1M

Contact

John Ingram – Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (08) 8364 3188                         Email: j.ingram@patronusresources.com.au

Location

Approx 170 kms SSE of Darwin or 45 km NW of Pine Creek

Mine classification

Reopen mine. New brownfields mine

Description

Open cut and underground mining operations at the historic Iron Blow and Mt Bonnie mines with
processing of near-surface oxide and free-milling gold & silver ore through a CIL plant at the Fountain
Head mine site, followed by processing of sulphide ore through a regional 450 000 tpa sulphide flotation
plant.

Proposed production

18 300 tpa Zn, 14 700 tpa Au, and 1.4 Mozpa Ag in a zinc concentrate and a precious metals concentrate

Mineral Resource

4.1 Mt @ 4.35% Zn, 1.81 g/t Au, 124 g/t Ag, 0.91% Pb and 0.25% Cu for contained metals of 177 kt Zn,
237 koz Au, 16.2 Moz Ag, 37 000 t Pb and 10 050 t Cu. (ASX: 3 May 2017)

Mine life

6.6 years

Feasibility

Scoping Study completed Mar 2016 & PFS completed in July 2017. Updated PFS for sequential
development of Fountain Head and Hayes Creek Projects released (ASX: 17 June 2021)

Approvals

Environment: Terms of Reference for EIS issued by EPA on 2 August 2019. Environmental approvals
paused as Hayes Creek Project to be developed sequentially after Fountain Head Project
Mining: Mining approvals dependent on environmental approvals

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2025/26                    Production: 2026/27

Jobs

Construction: 150                              Production: 130

CAPEX

Approximately $65M (PFS June 2021)

Agreements /
arrangements

PNX acquisition of Mount Porter gold project completed (ASX: 12 April 2024). Mining NL and PNX merger complete, entity now known as Patronus Resources Ltd (ASX: 1 October 2024).

Company

Lucapa Diamond Company Ltd

Authorised entity

Australian Natural Diamonds Pty Ltd

Listing

ASX : LOM                                           Market capitalisation: $7.6M

Contact

Neil Kaner – Project Director
Phone: +61 8 9381 5995 Email: nkaner@lucapa.com.au

Location

80 km south of Borroloola

Mine classification

Reopen mine

Description

Proposed open pit and veritcal pit mining of existing and remaining kimberlite diamond pipes. The mine operated from 1999-2003, during which time it produced about 500,000 carats (100 kg) of high quality diamonds.

Proposed production

~0.35 Mtpa

Mineral Resource

27.8 Mt @ 0.16 ct/t diamonds

Mine life

14 years

Feasibility

Scoping Study released in 2022 (ASX: 3 March 2022). Results of smaller scale project study released (ASX: 25 November 2024).

Approvals

Mining: EML application for smaller scale project under assessment.

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2025                              Production: Q4 2025

Jobs

Construction: TBA                                Production: 128

CAPEX

Initial $9M & post mining $37M

OPEX$117M

Company

Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd

Listing

Private

Contact

Mark Hewitt – CEO Winchelsea Mining

Phone: TBA                        Email: mhewitt@wmining.com.au

Location

Winchelsea Island, off NW coast of Groote Eylandt Verdant but after Molyhil.

Mine classification

New greenfields mine

Description

The Winchelsea project involves extraction of manganese ore from nine separate areas on Winchelsea
Island covering 284.40 ha and with a ROM ore production rate of up to 1.2 Mtpa. Ore will be mined
using excavators and dump trucks and will be crushed, screened and washed onsite, hauled to stockpiles and conveyed to a barge loading facility for transhipment to ocean going vessels.

Proposed production

Between 0.64-1.01 Mtpa of lump and fine manganese ore

Mineral Resource

18.9 Mt @ 23.6 % Mn (From Draft EIS)

Ore Reserve

11.8 Mt @ 26.4% Mn (From Draft EIS)

Mine life

Estimated 11 years

Feasibility

Feasibility Study completed, not publicly released

Approvals

Environmental: EIS submitted December 2023; currently under assessment. NT EPA request for additional information in the supplement (16 July 2024).
Mining: Mining approvals to follow environmental approvals.

Proposed schedule

Construction: 2025                 Production: 2026

Jobs

Construction: 100                   Production: 55 plus 100 personal support services staff

CAPEX

$212M

Agreements /
arrangements

Winchelsea Mining Pty Ltd is a joint venture between the Anindilyakwa Advancement Aboriginal
Corporation and AUS China International Mining Pty Ltd.

Company

Investigator Resources Ltd

Authorised entity

Molyhil Mining Pty Ltd

Listing

ASX : IVR                                            Market capitalisation: $40.2M

Contact

Andrew McIlwain – Managing Director
Phone: 0419 044 610 Email: amcilwain@investres.com.au

Location

240 kms northeast of Alice Springs

Mine classification

New brownfields mine

Description

Proposed open pit mining operation with on-site processing by flotation to produce tungsten and
molybdenum concentrates.

Proposed production

Total production 8583 t WO3 and 3133 t Mo in scheelite and molybdenite concentrates, over 7 year
mine life (2018 DFS)

Mineral Resource

4.65 Mt @ 0.26% WO3, 0.09% Mo (ASX: 28 May 2024)

Ore Reserve

Open cut Ore Reserve of 3.5 Mt at 0.29% WO3 and 0.12% Mo (probable) (2018 DFS)

Mine life

Initially 7 year as open pit, with substantial upside potential from subsequent underground potential and from nearby outcropping Bonya tungsten resources, and copper resource at Bonya.

Feasibility

DFS released (THR ASX: 23 Aug 2018).

Approvals

Environmental: Approved Nov 2011
Mining: pending approval of MMP with Investigator as nominated Operator.
NT Major Project Status granted in July 2020.

Proposed schedule

Construction: TBA                               Production: TBA

Jobs

Construction: 60                                  Production: 70

Capex

$69M

Agreements /
arrangements

Investigator Resources are earning in to the project through an $8M farm-in agreement over 7.5 years
with Thor Energy PLC (ASX: 24 Nov 2022).

Company

Tellus Holdings Ltd

Listing

Private

Contact

Mr Nate Smith – Managing Director and CEO

Phone: (02) 8257 3395      Email: info@tellusholdings.com.au

Location

Approx 120 kms south of Alice Springs

Mine classification

New greenfields mine

Description

Underground mine development and integrated waste facility. Development of an underground halite (rock salt) mine, reusing the mined voids for the permanent isolation of hazardous wastes (as listed under the NT Schedule 2 of the Waste Management Pollution Control Regulations).

Proposed production

Mining of up to 750,000 tpa of salt. Receive up to 400,000 tpa of hazardous waste at the facility gate

Mineral Resource

309 Mt Halite (NaCl) (JORC Measured Resource)

Mine life

25 years (minimum)

Feasibility

PFS completed but not public

Approvals

Environmental: NT EPA assessment report issued 30 Nov 2017. Project section 14A Amendment approved by NT EPA in June 2020. Federal EPBC Act approvals issued 5 September 2018.

Mining: Pending submission

Proposed schedule

Construction: TBA 3-4 years                Production: TBA

Jobs

Construction: 300                                  Production: 150

CAPEX

Approx $1,000M

Company

Northern Territory Iron Ore Pty Ltd
Authorised entityNRR Mining Pty Ltd

Listing

Private

Contact

Simon Peat  –  Project Director
Phone: 0418 124 024Email: simon.peat@nathan-river.com

Location

135 km ENE of Mataranka

Mine classification

Reopen mine

Description

Conventional open pit mining from Deposit C. On-site processing will involve conventional crushing and screening, to produce 1-2 Mtpa of saleable DSO.

Proposed production

Iron Ore (1-5 Mtpa)

Mineral Resource

529.3 Mt @ 42.9% Fe incl. 41.1 Mt @ 57.8% Fe

Mine life

25 years +

Approvals

Environmental: NT EPA in May 2014 & EPBC in April 2015.
Mining: mining approvals under assessment.

Proposed schedule

Construction – TBA                                            Production – Q2 2026

Jobs

Construction – 100                                            Production – 120

Capex

$312M (from 2022)