Manganese 

The Northern Territory contains small to very large manganese ore deposits that have produced over 58 Mt of manganese ore in the last 20 years. Current resources for the NT are estimated at 170 Mt of manganese ore. There are currently two mines in operation: Gemco Groote Eylandt and Bootu Creek operated by OM Holdings Ltd. This world-class deposit accounts for 99% of past manganese ore production and 90% of identified manganese ore resources in the NT.

Groote Eylandt and South Rosie Creek are Cretaceous (95 Ma) age, massive, sheet-like sedimentary manganese ore deposits along the margin of the Carpentaria Basin. Bootu Creek is an extensively modified Palaeoproterozoic (1730 Ma) sedimentary deposit in the northern Tennant Region. Sedimentary manganese deposits are also present in the Amadeus Basin (eg Wangatinya).

Surficial manganese deposits are present in the eastern McArthur Basin (eg Masterton No2) and northern Dunmarra Basin (eg McLeans). These deposits are small in tonnage, but may contain patchy high-grade ore material.

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

Last Updated: 1 October 2007