Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

North Queensland Copper Operation

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Categories

Summary

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusCare and Maintenance
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Avoca
  • Longhole open stoping
  • Bench stoping
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotNorth Queensland Copper Operations include the Mt Colin copper mine, the Barbara copper/gold project, and a prospective tenement package in the Mount Isa/Cloncurry region.

The Mt Colin mine life was extended into mid-FY25 due to the ability to draw cave material longer than expected and additional pillar recovery. Mining was completed in November 2024.

Final stockpiled material processing was completed during the March quarter 2025 and Mt Colin operations moved into care and maintenance.

The Barbara Project is a potential follow-on operation to Mt Colin, planned as an underground copper mine beneath the former Barbara open pit, which ceased operations in 2020. A Feasibility study is underway and expected to be completed by early FY25. Aeris has also submitted an Environmental Amendment for the underground project and is engaging with regulators on the permitting process.

Options for divestment of North Queensland assets are being considered.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Aeris Resources Ltd. 100 % Indirect
North Queensland Copper Operations were acquired in July 2022 through the acquisition of Round Oak Minerals Limited.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • ISCG

Summary:

North Queensland Operations includes three deposits, Mt Colin, Barbara and Lillymay. The deposit is considered an ISCG (iron sulphide copper gold) classification. Mt Colin The deposit strikes approximately 295o (MGA), and dips approximately 75o NNE. It is hosted by metasomatised calc-silicates of the Corella Formation (1750-1738Ma), at surface, and by the Wonga-suite Burstall Granite (1745-1726Ma) at depth. Mineralisation principally controlled and essentially contained within the WNW-ESE striking planar Mt Colin fault. The broad-scale geology appears relatively simple and straightforward. The mineralised zone is dominated by pyrrhotite gangue to the east, and carbonate dominated gangue to the west. Known extent of +1.5% Cu mineralisation is approximately 400m in strike length, 500m down-dip, and up to ~10m in true width. The Mineral Resource extends to these limits. Barbara The deposit can be broken into main areas North, Central and South. Southern Lode of Barbara mineralization (+0.5% Cu) extends for approximately 230m in strike length (local N-S), averaging approximately 15m in true width (between 1m to >25m). As modelled it extends at least 580m down-plunge (550m below surface). The Mid and Northern Lodes average 3-5m in width over a combined strike length of 400m and to 180m below surface. Lillymay The Inferred Resource outcrops at surface and has been defined over a strike length of 400m, and down-dip for 140m. The larger E Lode is approximately 250m in strike length, separated from the 100m W lode by a 50m sub-grade zone. Resource widths vary from <1m to ~5m in true width.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Commodity Production

12 months to 30 June 2022 (previous Owner had a reporting period to 31 July).
CommodityProductUnits20252024202320222021
Copper Metal in concentrate t  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Gold Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Copper Concentrate kt  ....  Subscribe
Silver Metal in concentrate oz  ....  Subscribe
^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational metrics

Metrics202420232021
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Production Costs

CommodityUnits20242023
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Copper AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
All-in costs Copper AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
** Net of By-Product.

Mine Financials

Units202520242023
Capital expenditures (planned) M AUD  ....  Subscribe
Sustaining costs M AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
Capital expenditures M AUD  ....  Subscribe
Revenue M AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
EBITDA M AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 8, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Aug 8, 2025

Workforce

ContractorsYear
...... Subscription required 2022

Aerial view:

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