EQ Resources (EQR) has been selected as the preferred tenderer by Australia’s Queensland Government for resource exploration activities across the historic Wolfram Camp mine.
The company said it has acquired exploration permit-minerals (EPM) for resource exploration activities at the Wolfram Camp mine, which is located 60km south of EQ Resources’ producing Mt Carbine Tungsten mine.
The EPM allows EQ Resources to assess a 477km² RA442 licence area comprising the Wolfram Camp mine and the Bamford Hill advanced exploration target.
EQR said the Wolfram Camp mine represents a unique opportunity to revitalise a historic mining region that was once a major critical minerals source.
In the next three years, the company plans to undertake a proactive exploration programme, including drilling more than 10,000m at the Wolfram Camp and Bamford Hill deposits to inform the viability of re-commercialisation.
The re-commercialisation of the former mine forms part of the state government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy, as well as the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan.
Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart said: “EQ Resources has a proven track record in revitalising former mines, having established significant mine waste reprocessing operations and recently announcing starting open-cut mining at its nearby Mt Carbine tungsten project, creating up to 135 good jobs.
“Queensland has many of the critical minerals needed to make the renewable energy technologies the world needs for a net zero emissions future.
“That’s why we have now also released the Queensland Critical Mineral Strategy, which will oversee A$245m of investment into growing this sector in Queensland.”
Over the next 12 months, the company is planning to conduct a comprehensive regional review to unlock the Wolfram Camp mine’s full potential.
The work will include detailed soil and geophysical programmes in current and previously unexplored areas.
EQ Resources CEO Kevin MacNeill said: “Our team of experienced professionals will apply modern exploration techniques and state-of-the-art technologies to maximise the site’s potential while minimising its environmental footprint in order to unlock Wolfram Camp’s potential as a critical mineral producer.”
