Regions
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The mining and resource sectors have been historically defined by low volume products of gold and diamonds along with small volumes of iron ore. However, it on the cusp of significant developments as new and proposed projects are diversifying the extractive mining sector to include mineral sands, nickel, copper, rare earths and crude oil.
The region is well placed to capitalise on increased global demand for clean energy and rare earths. There is significant opportunity for development of potash, mineral sands and tight shale oil in the region. The Kimberley is famous for world class diamonds and makes up the entire Western Australian diamond output. Recent exploratory drilling has identified new prospects and is considered a significant discovery. The region has a history of gold mining dating back to the short-lived Halls Creek gold rush in 1885. Today, there are several small working mines and proposed tenements under exploration and development. Australia’s first heavy rare earth mine ‘Brown’s Range’ dysprosium mine is located south east of Halls Creek. This mine is expected to scale up from pilot to full operations. A globally significant deposit, the Northern Minerals Browns Range project aims to be the next significant dysprosium producer outside of China. Major resource companies have invested heavily in Western Australia to increase production of liquefied natural gas from the Browse Basin. However, due to environmental and community concerns all gas processing is conducted in the Northern Territory or on floating LNG vessels. However, servicing of offshore rigs infrastructure and labour force transfer requirements contribute significantly to the local economy. Iron ore bodies offer Australia’s highest-grade hematite Ore reserves. The Sheffield Resources Thunderbird Project is a proposed large-scale, long-life mineral sands mining and processing project located in West Kimberley. Agrimin’s proposed potash mine has reportedly the largest deposits of sulphate of potash in the world. |