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(last updated 20 Jul 2010)
The South Australia state government has a "no new uranium mines" policy.
wants to conduct soil tests near Yankallila on the Fleurieu Peninsula to explore for minerals.
(ABC Oct. 2, 2006)
> View deposit details
(6.5MB PDF - PIRSA) (PDF - PIRSA)
A clean-up plan has been approved by the South Australian Government for a mining company caught dumping waste in Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges. Marathon Resources was forced to stop drilling in the wilderness area early this year after it was found to have breached sections of its uranium exploration licence by burying waste last year. It was ordered by the SA Government to clean up about 35 tonnes of waste buried in plastic and calico bags. The Department of Primary Industries and Resources has now formally approved Marathon's clean-up plan. (ABC Aug. 12, 2008)
The Government of South Australia suspended Marathon Resources exploration drilling operations at Mt Gee indefinitely for Exploration Licence EL3258 in February 2008. (PIRSA)
A uranium explorer which wrongly disposed of drill samples at an outback wilderness site has had its operations suspended indefinitely. Marathon Resources had been under investigation by the South Australian Government and police over work at its Mount Gee deposit in the Arkaroola wilderness sanctuary of the Flinders Ranges. SA Premier Mike Rann says the incorrect disposal of waste at the site was a significant breach of the company's exploration licence. The SA Government has told the mining company it will have to clean up the site and satisfy other conditions before it will be allowed to resume work. Police were called in to investigate in December when bags of drilling samples were found buried just below the surface. Marathon Resources chairman Peter Williams says the waste was wrongly buried at its exploration site in 2006. (ABC Feb. 12, 2008)
Alleged environmental contamination at the Mount Gee uranium deposit in the far north of South Australia are being investigated by SA Government and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA). Police have reported alleged contamination at drilling holes on the site. Marathon Resources is alleged to have wrongly disposed of resource samples at the site. (ABC Jan. 16, 2008)
> View deposit details
On Nov. 30, 2001, Minotaur Resources reported that drilling at its Mount Woods polymetallic discovery in South Australia's Gawler Craton confirmed major uranium mineralisation. The presence of uranium more than 450 metres below ground, with a grade of up to 1.6 kilograms a tonne, means comparison of Mount Woods with WMC's neighbouring Olympic Dam copper/uranium/gold operation are more valid than ever.
Minotaur's discovery hole was announced on November 14. The first 450 metres of drilling included a 107-metre interval grading at 1.94 per cent copper and 0.65 grams of gold a tonne, but no uranium. A 57-metre interval from 450-507 metres returned copper/gold/silver/rare earths and uranium in significant amounts, including a 17-metre interval between 450 and 467 metres with 2.35 per cent copper, 1.07 grams of gold a tonne, 3.3 g/tonne silver, 0.66 per cent rare earths and 1.65 kilograms of uranium oxide.
Mount Woods is a joint venture of Minotaur (19 per cent owner and operator) with BHP Billiton, Normandy, Sons of Gwalia and Sabatica.
(The Age, 1 Dec 2001)
> View deposit details
> View more recent issues
WMC Ltd have announced the more than doubling of production at Olympic Dam (Roxby Downs) to increase annual capacity to
3135 tonnes of uranium by 2001. The company will apply for
environmental approvals for the proposed project plus a further
possible increase in production in the future. The mine draws
its water from the Great Artesian Basin and already has in place
approvals for drawing 42 megalitres per day, which will cover
anticipated needs. [UIC Weekly News Summary 19 July 1996]
WMC intends to increase Olympic Dam's output to approximately 8 million lbs
U3O8 (3077 tU) in 1999 and 10 million lbs (3846 tU) in 2000, on completion of the expansion project, expected in March. (UI News Briefing 1/99)
WMC released its Environmental Impact Statement of the expansion
on 12 May 1997: View WMC
announcement , background
info , EIS summary .
The EIS was open for public comments for a period of eight weeks.
In November 1997, Environment Australia published its Olympic
Dam EIS Assessment Report.
> View full text of assessment (146k)
For details of the environmental assessment process, see the
Australian Environmental Protection Agency Environment
Assessment Branch notifications on the Olympic Dam Expansion project .
On 8 December 1997, the Minister of Environment, Senator Hill,
gave environmental clearance for the project
(press release 146/97 ).
The approval of the Minister of Resources and Energy, Senator Parer, is still pending.
> View deposit info
> View PIRSA announcements
> See also: South Australia to assess environmental impact of acid in-situ leach uranium mining
Commissioning of Australia's fourth uranium mine begins next month. The start to the long process should result in first production before the end of the year from the A$138 million Honeymoon project in South Australia, a joint venture between Canada's Uranium One (51 per cent interest) and Japan's Mitsui & Co (49 per cent). (The Age March 12, 2010)
Construction has begun on South Australia's third uranium mine. Preparatory work at the Honeymoon project in the state's far north-east will continue until the middle of next year, with mining to start after that. (ABC April 24, 2009)
On Dec. 12, 2008, Ausenco Limited announced that it has signed a deal with Uranium One Australia to use its engineering procurement and construction management services on Uranium One's Honeymoon uranium project in South Australia. The remaining development of the Honeymoon project would involve capital investment in the order of A$70 million to A$80 million.
The contract award follows the completion of the initial feasibility study; technical reviews and engineering program completed earlier this year.
Ausenco said the Honeymoon project was expected to produce about 880,000 pounds of U3O8 [338 t U] per year and the transition to this phase followed the successful entry into a joint venture by Uranium One with Mitsui.
On Oct. 15, 2008, Mitsui & Co Ltd said it has agreed to buy a 49% stake in six uranium deposits in South Australia from Uranium One Inc. Mitsui projected to spend A$104 million ($73 million) in the purchase and development of the deposits.
One of the blocks, Honeymoon project, is expected to start commercial production in end-2009 or 2010, with annual production of 400 tonnes, for a production period of six years.
(Reuters Oct 15, 2008)
On May 15, 2008, Uranium One announced it has decided to suspend development activities at Honeymoon "to allow for evaluation of corporate development opportunities for the project". The Corporation's production guidance for 2009 had previously included 600,000 pounds of U3O8 [231 t U] expected to be produced from Honeymoon.
Uranium One has received full approval for its mining operations at the Honeymoon mine, north of Olary in far north South Australia.
The South Australian Government approved the company's mining and rehabilitation program 10 days ago, and now the state Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given its approval to the mine's radioactive waste management plan and radiation management plan.
Approval comes with several stipulations and marks the beginning of mine construction, although the company will again go under review before production begins.
(ABC Jan. 21, 2008)
> Download SA EPA documents
The South Australian Government has given final approval for construction of the Honeymoon uranium mine.
Some conditions remain to be met by the company Uranium One, but production is expected to begin before the end of the year.
The mine is expected to produce up to 400 tonnes of uranium oxide annually using an acid-solution method.
The company forecasts the mine will have a life of up to seven years.
The Department for PIRSA approved the Mining and Rehabilitation Program, under the Mining Act 1971, for construction of the wellfield process plant and related infrastructure.
(ABC/Adelaide Now Jan. 11, 2008)
> Download Honeymoon Mining and Rehabilitation Program (PIRSA)
According to Uranium One executive vice president Australia and Asia, Greg Cochran, there would be around a three-month delay in the start up of Honeymoon in South Australia, expected to start in the second quarter of 2008. Originally the start up date was pegged for the first quarter of 2008. Cochran explained a different method of uranium recovery, known as pulse column technology, was behind the delay. Honeymoon will produce 880,000 pounds of uranium [338 t U] a year over a six year mine life. (MiningNews Aug. 9, 2007)
On Jan. 4, 2007, sxr Uranium One Inc. announced that the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Resources of Australia has approved Uranium One's request for a new Permission to Export Natural Uranium from the Honeymoon Uranium Project. The Export Permit has been granted for a period of ten (10) years, taking effect from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2016, inclusive. Uranium One is looking forward to bring the project into production in 2008.
On Sep. 29, 2006, South Australia's Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued Honeymoon owners Uranium One, through its subsidiary Southern Cross Resources, a licence for commercial mining operations. The environmental approval was the final step in the process for Uranium One to proceed with mining at the Honeymoon site in SA's far north-east. EPA chief executive Paul Vogel said the licence permitted the owners to mine and mill uranium by the acid in-situ leach mining technique. (Sydney Morning Herald, 29 Sep. 2006)
On Aug. 29, 2006, sxr Uranium One Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has approved the development of the Honeymoon In-Situ Leach (ISL) Uranium Project in north-eastern South Australia. The decision is based on a feasibility study prepared by Mayfield Engineering Pty Ltd. and others. This study reduced the uranium resource estimate by 12% to 2460 t U.
The Mayfield feasibility study examined the development of a commercial uranium ISL project with an annual production capacity of 400 tonnes of U3O8 (339 t U) and a total project life of between 6 - 7 years. The basic wellfield design will be based on '7-spot' patterns consisting of six injection wells arranged in a 20 - 60 metre hexagon, with a centrally located production well. Project commissioning is expected within 17 months.
> Download Summary of Feasibility Study, July 2006 (4.3M PDF - SEDAR)
On May 25, 2006, SXR Uranium One Inc. submitted an application to the South Australian Environment Protection Authority for a commercial licence to mine and mill radioactive ore at its Honeymoon Project, South Australia. The company already holds a Federal Export License and State Mining Lease 6109 over the Honeymoon and East Kalkaroo project area.
The company is in the final stages of completing a NI 43-101 compliant
feasibility study on the Honeymoon Project due to be completed in June 2006,
which will then be presented to the sxr Uranium One Board of Directors for
approval and a commercial production commitment decision in the third quarter
of 2006.
(SXR Uranium One Inc., May 25, 2006)
Public comment can be submitted until June 30, 2006.
> View related SA EPA documents
The South Australian Democrats say they are concerned by reports China is negotiating the purchase of a share in the Honeymoon uranium project, located in the state's north-east.
It has been revealed Chinese officials have held ongoing discussions with the mine's owner, Southern Cross Resources, who want the project to be fully operational by late next year.
(ABC Jan. 12, 2006)
SXR Uranium One Inc., however, denied that the Honeymoon project is for sale. (SXR Uranium One Inc., Jan. 12, 2006)
Following completion of an analysis of development options for its Honeymoon project, Southern Cross Resources Inc. has announced the decision to delay development of the project. (SXR Nov. 1, 2004)
Honeymoon uranium mine's owners, Southern Cross Resources, is yet to find financial backing for the multimillion-dollar project. The mine is in care and maintenance mode after trial mining ended at Honeymoon, about 400km northeast of Adelaide, almost three years ago. The project has secured a mineral lease from the State Government, and federal export approval, but has yet to gain a commercial milling and mining licence from the radiation protection division of the state's Environment Protection Authority. (The Advertiser 21 Mar 2003)
An obstacle has emerged to plans for the Honeymoon Uranium Mine in South Australia to move from trial status to fully commercial production: While the mine does have full Federal approvals, it does not have the necessary approvals from South Australia's State Government and that's sparked a new call from conservationists for the State Government to follow Labor Party policy and shut down the mine. (ABC Oct. 2, 2002)
On Feb. 11, 2002, Southern Cross Resources Inc. announced that its 100% owned subsidiary Southern Cross Resources Australia Pty has concluded and registered a Native Title Mining Agreement with the Adnyamathanha people. With this finalization of claims, the South Australian State Government has granted Southern Cross Resources Australia Pty the mining lease for Honeymoon.
On Dec. 5, 2001, Planning SA released the Assessment Report for the Environmental Impact Statement - Honeymoon Uranium Report
> Download announcement (Dec. 5, 2001) (PDF)
> Download full Assessment Report (5.3M PDF)
On Dec. 5, 2001, only one week after receiving final government approval for the mine, Southern Cross Resources confirmed an acid excursion that occured in 1999. The leach acid solution, which is injected into a bottom aquifer at the mine site to dissolve uranium ore, escaped into an overlying middle aquifer. (The Australian 6 Dec 2001)
On Nov. 28, 2001, the South Australian Government has given the final go-ahead for the Honeymoon uranium mine. The last hurdle to be cleared by the mine is native title talks, which Minerals and Energy Minister Wayne Matthew said were close to being resolved.
> View Minister's press release
On Nov. 26, 2001, the Federal Government gave the final go-ahead for the mine project: Federal Industry and Resources Minister Nick Minchin announced he would issue an export permit for the project.
> View Minister's press release (Nov. 26, 2001)
On Nov. 21, 2001, the Federal Government has given the final environmental clearances to the Honeymoon Uranium mine.
> View Minister's press release (Nov. 21, 2001)
On Feb. 1, 2001, Federal Environment Minister Robert Hill has decided that before he can make a final decision on the Honeymoon uranium mine proposal further detailed information is required on the hydrology of the Honeymoon aquifers. It is not clear yet whether the re-injection of waste solutions will have adverse environmental impacts.
> View Minister's press release (Feb. 1, 2001)
On 22 November 2000, Southern Cross Resources Australia released a supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) into the mine - which is expected to be assessed by the federal and SA governments by early 2001. The company had received 1,346 responses to its original EIS, released in August 2000.
> Download announcement of Supplemental EIS (52k PDF)
The Environmental Impact Statement for the Honeymoon mine has been publicly released on June 7, 2000. Public submissions had to be made by 2 August 2000.
> see Australian EIA Network Notification
> View Summary of the Honeymoon EIS
Legal action is taken against owners of Honeymoon uranium mine: The Adnyamathanha Lands Council is pursuing legal action against the Honeymoon Uranium Mine, because it claims the proponents have not sought permission from the traditional owners to mine the land. (ABC News 14 Feb. 2000)
On Nov. 11, 1998, Southern Cross Resources Inc. announced that the existing plant capable of producing 250,000 pounds of U3O8 (96 t U) per year will be expanded to increase U3O8 production to the rate of 1.1 million pounds (423 t U) per year during the third quarter of 1999.
The Draft Guidelines for an Environmental Impact Statement of the Honeymoon project were open for public comment until 3 November 1997.
> View Final Guidelines for EIS
For details of the environmental assessment process, see the Australian Environmental Protection Agency Environment Assessment Branch notifications on the Honeymoon uranium project .
A Field Leach Trial (FLT), which commenced in April 1998, was completed in August 2000.
Sedimentary Holdings NL has announced that it has reached agreement with MIM Holdings Ltd to acquire the Honeymoon and two adjacent uranium deposits in South Australia next to its own Chatfield deposits with a view to developing them. This brings together uranium resources of about 6800 tonnes U3O8 averaging 0.15% and amenable to in-situ leaching. [UIC Weekly News Summary, 14 Feb 1997]
> View deposit details
> View more recent issues
The Beverley uranium mine in South Australia's far north was officially opened on 21 Feb. 2001 (ABC News 21 Feb. 2001)
The Beverley Uranium Mine has now officially started commercial production. The mine is expected to operate at its full capacity of 1000 tonnes U3O8 per year by early 2001. (ABC News 3 Nov 2000)
31 protesters were arrested at the Beverley Uranium mine site on 9 May 2000. Between 40 and 50 people entered the Heathgate mining lease without permission and refused to leave. (The Age 9 May 2000)
About 10 protestors were arrested at the mine site on 7 May 2000. About 80 protestors were blocking the main entrance to the site. (ABC News 8 May 2000)
Six anti-uranium protestors have been arrested at the Beverley Uranium mine site on 7 Nov. 1999. The protestors were arrested after they allegedly tried to stop
construction at the mine. (ABC News 7 Nov 1999)
Five of the people arrested on 7 Nov. have been bailed to reappear at Port Augusta Magistrates Court on November the 16th, 1999. They were charged with trespass and obstructing a public place. They were given bail on the conditions they not re-enter the Wooltana lease nor go near the Beverley Uranium Mine. (ABC News 8 Nov 1999)
Construction at the Beverley uranium mine site in South Australia's north has begun with work starting on roads to the site as well as an airstrip. It is expected that construction on the well fields related to initial production will start from after the Christmas break and be completed by mid
2000. (ABC News 22 Sep 1999)
On 30 April 1999, Australian Industry, Science and Resources Minister Nick Minchin gave final approval for Heathgate Resources to proceed with its Beverley uranium mine in South Australia. Heathgate expects commercial production to begin in the second quarter of the year 2000, with production capacity of 1000 tonnes of U3O8 a year, and initial annual production of 500 tonnes.
> View Minister Minchin's press release of 30 April 1999
On 18 March 1999, Federal Environment Minister Hill gave the environmental approval for the Beverley project. He said he was now, after further assessment by the Australian Geological Survey Organisation , satisfied "that no hydraulic connection exists between the Beverley aquifer and other surrounding groundwater".
The final decision on the project has to be issued by Federal Resources Minister Nick Minchin. The South Australian State Government is set to grant the necessary mining licences within six weeks.
> View Assessment Of The Beverley Uranium Mine Proposal - Beverley Uranium Mine Environmental Impact Statement By Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd by Bureau of Rural Sciences, Land and Water Sciences Division (previously) Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Geohazards, Land and Water Resources Division, Canberra 1999
On 24 Dec. 1998, Federal Environment Minister Hill signalled the go-ahead for the Beverley project. Before issuing final environmental approval for the project, however, he requested some further tests on the project's likely impact on local groundwater. These tests are to show that the planned injection of waste liquids from the in-situ leaching operation into the Beverley aquifer won't endanger the surrounding groundwater. The tests should be completed within a few months. Upon issuance of environmental approval, Federal Resources Minister, Nick Minchin, would decide if approval is granted for the Beverley mine. (The Age/The Australian 25 Dec. 1998)
> View Environment Australia's Environment Assessment Report (133k) of the Beverley EIS (December 1998)
> View further supporting documents (Env. Australia)
> Download PIRSA Beverley Uranium Mine - Assessment Report: 150k PDF · 220k MS Word (Dec. 1998)
On 12 Nov. 1998, the government of South Australia announced that it has delayed the issuance of its environmental assessment of the Beverley project for one month. It is now being expected for early December.
During a public meeting held on August 7, 1998, Heathgate's project manager was forced to concede a spill that had occured on March 12 at the Beverley trial site. The uranium-bearing solution had escaped as a fine spray following the rupture of a pipeline carrying sulphuric acid uranium solution from extraction wells to the processing plant. ``It is estimated that the total loss was less than 500 litres over an area of about 50 square metres,'' he said. The contaminated site had been cordoned off – not cleaned up. (Reuters, Aug. 7 / The Australian, Aug. 8, 1998)
The new Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Beverley uranium mine was released for public comment by Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd on June 29, 1998.
The Supplementary EIS has been released on Oct. 3, 1998.
The Final Guidelines for an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed development of the Beverley Uranium Project were released in March 1998.
For details of the environmental assessment process, see the Australian Environmental Protection Agency Environment Assessment Branch notifications on the Beverley uranium mining project .
"At the Uranium'98 Conference, Heathgate Resources announced that the project's resources were almost doubled to 21,000t U3O8 at 0.18%, accessible by in-situ leaching. The current field trial is surpassing expectations. It consists of a 25m x 25m quincunx pattern of 4 injection wells and one production well with pump, delivering 75kg U3O8 per day to the pilot plant. Subject to its EIS and other approvals, production at 900 t/yr could begin in mid 1999." [UIC Weekly News Summary, 13 Feb 1998]
"A $5 million, 4-12 month field leach trial has begun at
the Beverley uranium prospect in northern South Australia. The
trial, using weak acid solution with oxygen, was approved by
state authorities as part of the environmental impact
assessment. Four injection wells and a single extraction well
are involved. The pH of the aquifer will be lowered from 6.3 to
about 3.5.
If the EIS is approved, Heathgate
Resources will construct a $25 million wellfield and plant
to produce 900 tonnes of uranium oxide per year by in situ
leaching. Some 11,000 tonnes of uranium is contained in ore
over an area of 4 km x 500 m, within a highly saline,
radioactive aquifer at 110-140 metres depth.
From mid January, some 30-50 kg/day of
U3O8 is being recovered in a small plant
as a by-product of the trial. It remains the property of the SA
government." [UIC Weekly News Summary, 9 Jan 1998]
The Bevereley uranium prospect in South Australia, owned by General Atomics of USA, is being proposed for development within three years. It would be an in-situ leach operation, with 6 Mt grading 0.27% U3O8 (16,200 t) resources, making it the largest Australian deposit of its kind. [UIC Weekly News Summary, 14 Feb 1997]
> View deposit info
> See also: Beverley ISL mine (Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd)
> View PIRSA announcements
Alliance Resources is investigating building a $168 million uranium processing plant at Four Mile, as the stalemate between the project's joint venture parties shows no sign of resolution. The announcement comes as Alliance launches further legal action against Quasar and affiliate Heathgate, accusing it of misleading practices under the Trade Practices Act. The two parties had been developing a $110 million uranium mine near Beverley, which was expected to be in production this year as the state's next major mine. The new mine was to be a "satellite" operation connected to the Heathgate-owned Beverley uranium mine, but last year the development was shelved because of a legal dispute over native title registration. (Adelaide Now July 20, 2010)
Court to review Federal approval of Beverley Four Mile ISL uranium mine: On Dec. 11, 2009, Alliance Resources Ltd announced that proceedings have been commenced in the Federal Court of Australia (Sydney Registry) by Alan Oshlack of the Indigenous Justice Advocacy Network seeking a review of Federal Minister Peter Garrett's decision in July 2009 to grant environmental approval for the Four Mile Project.
(ABC Dec. 11, 2009)
On Sep. 21, 2009, Alliance Resources Limited announced that the schedule for commissioning of the Four Mile Uranium Project in South Australia has been delayed to April 2010 or beyond. The delay is due to the inability of joint venture partner and manager Quasar Resources Pty Ltd to begin on-site construction at Four Mile and placing project development activities on hold due to a delay in the grant of a mining lease. The offer of a mining lease by PIRSA is pending registration of the Native Title Mining Agreement (NTMA) covering the Four Mile uranium mine.
Uranium mining in the far north of South Australia at the Beverley location near Arkaroola Wilderness Resort is being openly challenged by Aboriginal Traditional Owner Mrs Enice Marsh. She is concerned that the new Beverly Four Mile uranium mine is destroying sacred sites, polluting the environment unnecessarily, and promoting a culture of bullying. "If mining continues to expand it will be a total disaster all round: what will happen to the land, the water, the bush tucker and the animals?" she said. "There's no independent monitoring up there," Mrs Marsh said and "the mine only has a life expectancy of eight to ten years but would leave a legacy of damage for generations to come." "Native Title has failed to protect our sites and the governing body that should be representing the interests of the whole community is failing in its duty of care." (Flinders News Aug. 21, 2009)
The chairman of the Adnyamathanha Traditional Land Association says the Four Mile Mine was inevitable and Aboriginal people have been disempowered. Vince Coulthard says the Adnyamathanha people have entered into an agreement with the developer Quasar, which gives some positive outcomes fo the community - unlike previous developments. He says many of his people are deeply hurt about the development but says it is out of their control. "Well I think people have come to the understanding that if they didn't support it- it's going to happen [in] any case so the best thing to do is to negotiate an agreement," he said. (ABC July 17, 2009)
Aboriginal elders want the federal government to defer its decision on a new Four Mile uranium mine in South Australia until an independent Aboriginal heritage investigation is completed. Adnyamathanha (Adnyamathanha) elders, who are the traditional owners of the land where the new mine is be to established, say the approval is in breach of regulations governing Aboriginal heritage protection. (SBS July 15, 2009)
Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has given the go ahead for the operation of the Four Mile uranium mine, near the existing Beverley mine. Mr Garrett says waste from the mine will be processed at the existing Beverley mine. (ABC July 14, 2009)
On Jan. 8, 2009, PIRSA released the Beverley Four Mile Project Mining Lease Proposal for public comment.
The Beverley Four Mile Project entails construction of a satellite facility on Heathgate's existing Beverley mining lease, close to the Four Mile deposits, and construction of in-site recovery (ISR) wellfields of the same design as currently used on the Beverley mining lease. This satellite facility would remove the uranium from the ISR liquor by physical means, producing uranium bearing resin, which would be trucked to the Beverley processing plant.
The resin would then be stripped of uranium, and trucked back to the satellite facility.
Minor modifications would be required at the Beverley processing plant to accept the uranium-bearing resin, however there would be no net increase in uranium processing capacity. The uranium stripped from the resin would be processed at Beverley, and the small quantity of liquid waste arising would be disposed of at Beverley.
Please respond by 20 February 2009 with any factors that should be considered in the assessment of this application.
> Download Beverley Four Mile Project Mining Lease Proposal (PIRSA)
On Sep. 25, 2008, Alliance Resources Ltd announced the decision to mine the Four Mile deposit by in-situ leaching. Uranium concentrate production is proposed to commence in January 2010, ramping up to 3 million lbs U3O8 [1,154 t U] per annum within three months. It is proposed to construct a satellite pre-processing plant close to the Four Mile deposits to recover uranium from ISL mining solutions for transport to the existing Beverley uranium processing facility for further processing, drying and packaging of uranium concentrate.
Traditional owners back more uranium mining: The chairman of the Adnyamathana Traditional Lands Association says he will support greater mining of uranium on his community's land. An affiliate of Heathgate Resources, Quasar, lodged an application last month for a mining lease just north of the Beverley uranium mine in outback South Australia. Vince Coulthard says while all the traditional Land is sacred, he must note the benefits from mining. (ABC June 25, 2008)
A native title applicant for the land surrounding the Four Mile uranium deposit in South Australia says she will not sign off on any agreement for mining to start. A member of the Adnyamathana community, Gillian Anderson, says she is seeking legal advice to help prevent what she describes as a devastation of sacred land. Ms Anderson has already been taken to court for not signing a lease for an extension of Heathgate's Beverley mine and says she will take the matter to court if necessary. But the Adnyamathanha Traditional Lands Association say it is happy with the benefits the mines bring for its community. (ABC May 27, 2008)
An application has been lodged by Quasar Resources Pty Ltd, an affiliate of Beverley operator Heathgate Resources, to develop the Four Mile uranium deposit in South Australia. The mine at Four Mile would be about 10 kilometres north-west of the Beverley mine and use the same processing facilities. It is planned to be working by 2010 and employ 200 people. (The Age May 19, 2008)
On Apr. 28, 2008, Alliance Resources Ltd announced that project manager Quasar Resources is now planning to apply for a Mining Lease rather than a Retention Lease over the Four Mile project. A feasibility study consisting of the establishment of a mineral resource estimate at Four Mile East, and positive outcomes of hydrological and metallurgical studies, are anticipated to make redundant the previously planned field leach trial. This decision means that First Stage Mining at Four Mile is now scheduled to commence after grant of the Mining Lease (anticipated to be late 2009).
On Jan. 16, 2008, Alliance Resources Ltd announced the results of a Concept Evaluation Study for the Four Mile in-situ leach project.
Uranium concentrate production is proposed to commence in 2010, at a projected start-up capacity of 1.5 Mlb [577 t U] per year, potentially increasing up to 4.5 Mlb [1731 t U] per year production capacity.
A Field Leach Trial is scheduled to commence in June Quarter 2008 to assess the use of ISL at the Four Mile Project.
> View deposit details: Crocker Well · Mt Victoria
> View PIRSA announcements
On Dec. 11, 2009, PepinNini announced that financial modeling indicates the Crocker Well project is not viable based on current market conditions. "Accordingly the joint venture alliance between Sinosteel Corporation and PepinNini Minerals Limited has decided to delay the finalisation of a BFS (Bankable Feasibility Study) until there is a substantial increase in the price of uranium and a substantial sustained improvement in the American dollar."
On Sep. 2, 2008, the Sinosteel/PepinNini Joint Venture announced that it has lodged an application for a Mining Lease with the South Australian Government for the development of a uranium mine at Crocker Well.
On Aug. 8, 2008, the Sinosteel/Pepinnini joint venture announced that it has lodged a Referral under the Commonwealth Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act for the development of a uranium mine at Crocker Well in South Australia.
> Download Referral: Sinosteel PepinNini Curnamona Management Pty Ltd /Mining/Plumbago Station, 62km S of Mannahill, 210km W of Broken Hill/SA/Crocker Well Uranium Project, Date Received: 13 Aug 2008, Reference Number: 2008/4386
Sinosteel Corporation and Pepinnini Minerals Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to enter a strategic alliance for the joint participation and co-operation in the development and operation of the Crocker Well and Mt Victoria uranium deposits and other commodities in the Curnamona Province of South Australia.
Subject to appropriate legally binding agreements and government approvals, Sinosteel will pay Pepinnini A$30.5 million for a 60% stake in the newly formed company that holds the project and tenements. Subject to the successful completion of a bankable feasibility study to develop the uranium prospects, Sinosteel shall enter into an offtake agreement for 100% of the projected output on normal commercial terms to underpin an appropriate level of project debt.
The MOU is signifcant in that it represents the first direct involvement of a Chinese company in the potential development of a uranium deposit in Australia.
(Pepinnini Sep. 13, 2006)
The Foreign Investment Review Board say they have no objections to China's Sinosteel Corporation acquiring a 60 per cent interest in uranium explorer, PepinNini Minerals Curnamona Pty Ltd. (The Sydney Morning Herald April 4, 2007)
The joint venture agreement between China's Sinosteel Corporation and Sydney-based Pepinnini Minerals Limited has been formalised at a ceremony in Beijing. (ABC Apr. 11, 2007)
> View deposit details
> View PIRSA announcements
On Sep. 17, 2009, Oban Energy Pty Ltd submitted a referral for the Oban Uranium Deposit In situ Recovery Mining Operation.
On Oct. 16, 2009, Environment Australia decided that the proposed action is a controlled action and the project will require assessment and approval under the EPBC Act before it can proceed.
> View EPBC Referral 2009/5090
On Dec. 8, 2008, Curnamona Energy Ltd announced that it has lodged the Mining and Rehabilitation Program (MARP) document for the field leach trial with PIRSA.
The Mining and Rehabilitation Plan was approved in March 2009.
> Download Oban MARP March 2009: Vol.1 (5.2M PDF) · Vol.2 (5.5M PDF) (PIRSA)
PIRSA invites comment on the Retention Lease proposal document for the Oban ISL uranium field leach trial.
Comments were due by April 11, 2008.
This Retention Lease RL123 was granted on 25 July 2008.
The Federal Government will not stand in the way of Curnamona Energy proceeding with its Oban uranium mining trial in South Australia's northeast.
Its Department of Environment and Water Resources has told the company the trial does not fall under the provisions of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Now only state approvals from the Department of Primary Industries and Resources SA and local government authorities are needed to progress with the trial.
Curnamona chairman Bob Johnson said if the trials were positive, then further environmental and other approvals would be sought from Canberra "to allow us to mine and export uranium . . . at the same time we will apply for a mining lease from the SA Government and proceed as quickly as possible to production".
(Adelaide Now April 14, 2007)
On Feb. 14, 2007, Curnamona Energy Ltd. announced to commence a field leach trial at its Oban property. The planned key parameters of the field leach trial are:
> View deposit details
announced it anticipated commencing by mid 2010 the expected 12-month regulatory process to approve a Field Leach Trial at the Company's Blackbush Prospect at the wholly owned Mullaquana project, 20-kilometres southwest of Whyalla on Eyre Peninsula.
Subject to normal progression through the regulatory process, that would allow the
trial to commence by mid-2011 and if successful, transition towards the end of 2011
into early 2012 into maiden commercial production from Blackbush.
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