The 3600-2800Ma North Pilbara basement terrane consists of a series of ovoid multiphase granitoidgneiss domes bordered by sinuous synformal to monoclinal greenstone belts.

The Wodgina Greenstone Belt is a north to northeast plunging synclinal structure 25km long and 5km wide, preserved as a roof pendant separating the Yule and Carlindi granitoid complexes. It is composed principally of interlayered mafic and ultramafic schists and amphibolite, with subordinate komatiite, clastic sediments, BIF and chert. The komatiitic and metasedimentary units within the Wodgina area are tentatively correlated to the Kunagunarrina and Leilira Formations respectively.

Archean volcanic activity and sedimentation was followed by the intrusion of Archean granitic batholiths with consequent deformation and metamorphism of the sequence. Late stage granitic intrusions resulted in the emplacement of simple and complex pegmatite sills and barren quartz veins. The Wodgina pegmatite district contains a number of prospective pegmatite groups, including the Wodgina Deposit.

Mining is assumed to be by conventional open pit.

The mining operation extracts tantalum bearing pegmatite ores from the Mount Cassiterite and Tinstone open pits.

The first mining drill and blast operation to deliver high grade lithium DSO occurred on 6 March 2017 with the world’s first shipment of lithium DSO departing Port Hedland on 17 April with 114,000 wet tonnes on board bound for China.

Two mobile crushing plants were installed and commissioned in March 2017 producing the first 100,000 wet tonnes of lithium DSO.

Atlas Iron’s mining and crushing operations ceased at the Wodgina site in April, making available core processing infrastructure to MRL Group for the processing of lithium DSO and allowing a ramp-up in production and exports.