Mt Carbine mine: First blast for EQ Resources ahead of open cut tungsten operation starting near Cairns

Critical minerals company EQ Resources aims to produce 900 tonnes of tungsten annually at its Mt Carbine mine, with blasting just starting.

The first blast to restart open pit mining operations at Mt Carbine has taken place after EQ Resources was given the green light by the state government in early June to operate the mine.

EQR is focusing on tungsten, a critical mineral used in smartphones, solar panels, wind turbines and EV batteries.

EQR chief executive Kevin MacNeill said the outlook was positive.

EQ Resources chief executive Kevin MacNeill says the Mt Carine mine is the only producing tungsten mine in Australia. Picture: supplied.

“It’s exciting, after all this time, to start mining fresh ore at Mt Carbine,” Mr MacNeill said.

“We’re expecting a great result over the next 12 months and anticipate all our mining systems to complete ramp up by the end of Q3 to meet planned production targets.”

He said this financial year, EQ Resources sought to drive good profits, validating shareholder investment over the past few years, and grow the business.

“The company is working hard to become a major player in the tungsten market this year and demonstrate its positioning as a long term supplier of tungsten, supporting critical mineral supply chains for the western world,” he said.

The first blast at the nascent Mt Carbine tungsten mine owned by ASX-listed EQ Resources took place on June 26. Picture: Supplied

Mr MacNeill said community awareness programs were stepped up in line with the new phase of development and notices and public engagements were positively received by long term residents of Mt Carbine.

He said the project had far reaching benefits with staff living in the region including Mareeba, Mt Molloy, Mt Carbine, Julatten, Port Douglas, Mossman and surrounds.

“EQR also uses several local contractors in the company’s drive to support local and regional Far North Queensland businesses,” Mr MacNeill said.

The first blast at the nascent Mt Carbine tungsten mine owned by ASX-listed EQ Resources took place on June 26. Picture: Supplied

Haulage of ore on to the run of mine pad has started, using nine articulated dump trucks with initial loading being undertaken by 50t and 74t excavators, with a larger Hitachi EX1900 excavator in transit for future works.

Mr MacNeill said over the next quarter, mining would ramp up to the long-term 80,000 tonnes per month of ore.

Barren rock will be transported to engineered stockpiles for quarry material production.

He said EQR had booked a regular weekly blast with Orica Ltd, which would supply the explosives to the site.

The company will sample and test the vertical drill and blast holes to provide information to mark-up the ore zones accurately.

Production of the critical mineral would jump from about 350 tonnes of concentrate a year to 900 tonnes, the company expects.

EQR aims to be the pre-eminent tungsten producer in Australia.

Originally published as Mt Carbine mine: First blast for EQ Resources ahead of open cut tungsten operation starting near Cairns