Aeris Resources’ Tritton Mine near Hermidale is one of four projects in the Cobar region to benefit from the NSW Government’s $1.8 million investment in major global suppliers and processors of critical minerals and high-tech metals.
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Resources Paul Toole visited the mine on Saturday to make the announcement.
Mr Toole said the NSW Government wanted to make the state the number one investment destination for critical minerals mining and advanced manufacturing – and had put $130 million into a new activation fund to make that a reality.
“Today we’re announcing more than $8.6 million for the first projects across the state to benefit from this fund including four in the Cobar area,” Mr Toole said.
(The other three successful recipients from stream 1 include the South Cobar Project Pre-Feasibility Study by Peel Mining Limited; Studying the Silver Deportment of the Wonawinta site by Manuka Resources; and Activating High-Tech Metals at Mineral Hill by Kingston Resources Limited.)
“Critical minerals and high-tech metals are going to be crucial to future technologies like advanced manufacturing, aerospace, ag-tech and renewables,” Mr Toole said.
“We’ve already made it easier for exploration companies to search for critical minerals and produce high-tech metals projects by removing the Mineral Allocation Areas as a key part of the NSW Government’s Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy.
“Now, we’re turbocharging the industry by driving investment to deliver feasibility studies, field trials, and environmental studies to get more projects off the ground.”
The Tritton Mine will receive $500,000 towards a $6.7 million feasibility study for development of a future copper satellite mine.
Tritton Copper Mine’s Electrical Superintendent Janine Lea-Barrett, said the mine will undergo a trial project/study for ore pre-concentration with a magnetic resonance ore sorter planned to be used at their new Constellation Mine greenfield site.
“An Ore Sorter will categorise the ore into suitable ore to truck to the Processing Plant and waste ore will be ejected from the trucking cycle, at Constellation Mine which is 52kms from the Tritton Processing Plant.
“The sorting of the ore reduces the impact on the environment by less trucking/haulage required, less power utilised for the processing and less dust created,” she explained.
Ms Lea-Barrett said the grant was made as part of the NSW Government Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy No 2 which aims to accelerate the development of projects as an enabler for future investment.
“The study, and success factors therein, such as successful pre-concentration, will enable the unlocking of many margin-challenged deposits in the region,” Ms Lea-Barrett said.
Mr Toole said the Cobar area is rich in critical minerals and high-tech metals.
“Our funding, combined with co-contributions from industry, will see more than $11.5 million invested into understanding its potential and getting these projects off the ground,” he said.
For further information on the Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Activation Fund, visit regional.nsw.gov.au/activation-fund
