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Iron ore

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Iron ore

The Northern Territory contains small to large iron ore deposits that produced about 9 Mt of iron ore between 1967 and 1974. Current resources for the NT are estimated at 300 Mt of iron ore. Most of this occurs as low-grade oolitic sedimentary deposits (Hodgson Downs, Deposits B and C) in the Roper River district of the McArthur Basin. These haematite-rich oolitic beds are 0.5 to 4 m thick and Mesoproterozoic in age.

Small, higher grade hydrothermal-type deposits (eg Frances Creek) and skarn deposits (eg Mt Bundey) within the Pine Creek Orogen have been mined in the past. Mining of Au (±1Cu-Bi)-bearing ironstone at Tennant Creek over the past 60 years has produced tailings containing up to 70% magnetite at Warrego (11 Mt), Peko (4 Mt) and Nobles Nob (2.4 Mt). These tailings represent potential sources of low-cost iron ore, as they are located near the Alice Springs-Darwin railway line and existing infrastructure.

France Creek mine has been recently re-opened and the first shipment of high-grade (over 63% F3) iron ore to China took place in Spetember 2007.

Further details on the geological setting, ore characteristics, resources and genesis of iron ore deposits in the NT are documented in NTGS Report 13 (see Iron ore deposits of the Northern Territory).

Last Updated: 1 October 2007