‘We are confident that … we will be able to significantly upscale the lithium resources and mine life’: Lithium miner launches major NT drilling campaign

THE proponent of a lithium mine near Darwin has kicked off the most extensive exploration and resource expansion drilling campaign at its Finniss site in the company’s history. The mine was granted major project status by the federal government in March. Core Lithium says a diamond drill rig is now on site at Finniss and has started drilling. Significantly, Core Lithium said its gold exploration activities were also underway in the Northern Territory. The company said new lithium exploration discoveries were expected to add more tonnes to the recent exploration target and current mineral resource at Finniss. ‘This project will be a good project’: Minister says spat won’t stop mine Popular Darwin leisure expo to feature craft beer, Lee Kernaghan 19 NT mining projects working towards Final Investment Decision Core has secured six more mineral leases adjacent to its Finniss project, allowing the company to potentially prolong the life of the mine to between 10 and 20 years depending on what’s under the ground. A key focus of Core’s resource expansion drilling will be on converting a high proportion of the newly acquired prospective ground at Finniss to resource. The gold exploration activity is at the Bynoe Gold Project with early stage geological mapping and geochemical surveys underway ahead of gold discovery drilling programs. Core managing director Stephen Biggins said the company was excited to have restarted field work at the Finniss Lithium Project. LNP Senator Susan McDonald says what the left doesn't understand is the type of mineral production in Australia's north - cobalt, zinc and copper - is "essential for the development of the new economy". "You want electric cars, solar panels, mobile phones - these all need essential minerals. We mine them in the north, but these kinds of policies, threaten the investments into Northern Australia," she said. "We're seeing less than five per cent of super funds being ventured into infrastructure and the sort of projects that will develop Northern Australia." “We are confident that, through this program, we will be able to significantly upscale the lithium resources and mine life at Finniss, making Australia’s next lithium mine an even more attractive investment opportunity,” he said. Core Lithium’s Finniss project, the first lithium mine in Australia outside WA, is expected to generate more than 360 jobs during construction and more than 250 ongoing jobs once operations commence. The major project status recognises the strategic significance of the project to Australia and the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the critical minerals industry.