Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

North Queensland Copper Operation

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Summary

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusCare and Maintenance
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Avoca
  • Longhole open stoping
  • Bench stoping
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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.

Underground mining at Mt Colin was successfully completed in November 2024, with final ore stockpiles processed at Ernest Henry. Copper recoveries during the FY2025 were impacted by oxidised material from the cave zone of the mine, resulting in lower copper production than planned.

The Mt Colin site has transitioned to care and maintenance.

Barbara Project
The feasibility study on the Barbara Project was completed in FY25. While Barbara would contribute additional copper production, the project does not meet Aeris’ strategic requirements and group capital will be preserved for larger-scale developments, particularly at Tritton.

The North Queensland assets including the Barbara Project and exploration tenements have been deemed non-core and options for divestment are being pursued.
Related Asset

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.

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.

The dimensions of the deposit overall are ~700m strike length, ~400m vertical extent in the deepest southern part, up to 30m horizontal width and 60° dip to the southwest.

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

Operational metrics

Metrics2025202420232021
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Production Costs

CommodityUnits202520242023
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Copper AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
All-in costs Copper AUD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe
** Net of By-Product.

Mine Financials

Units202520242023
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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 28, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Oct 28, 2025

Workforce

ContractorsYear
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Aerial view:

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