With ore reserves rising by 42 per cent, the restart of production at Core Lithium’s Finniss project in the NT looks promising.
Updated ore reserve estimates at its Carlton mine – one of three key deposits in the Finniss project – show 4.5 million tonnes (Mt) at 1.19 per cent lithium oxide, increasing the total ore reserves at Finniss to 15.2Mt at 1.26 per cent lithium oxide.
These ore reserves at Carlton are said to leverage the work already conducted at the site, which includes the identification of more than 16 years of potential feed at a planned capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa).
Extensions of Carlton have also been earmarked through further exploration as the project develops.
The Finniss project, located 88km from Darwin Port, has a high-grade mineral resource estimate of 48.5Mt at 1.26 per cent lithium oxide. Operations were suspended in 2024.
“The declaration of ore reserves at Carlton represents another important de-risking step towards a future restart of operations at Finniss,” Core chief executive officer Paul Brown said.
“This updated ore reserve also supports a higher degree of confidence in the restart study mine schedule, which has ore from Carlton entering the schedule from year nine of the mine plan. This now offers greater potential to bring forward ore from Carlton earlier into the mine schedule, should a plant expansion be warranted by future market conditions.”
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Want to connect with the mining industry? Register to attend AIMEX and WA Mining Conference.
Want to connect with the mining industry? Register to attend AIMEX and WA Mining Conference.
