New Frontier Secures Mining Lease for Big One Copper, Targets 2027 Production
New Frontier Minerals has lodged a mining lease application for the Big One Copper Deposit in Queensland’s Mt Isa belt, aiming for first production in early 2027. The move solidifies tenure over a key copper asset and advances plans for open-cut mining with processing through Austral Resources’ Mt Kelly facility.
- Mining lease application covers 240 hectares including historical workings
- JORC-compliant resources total 2.1 million tonnes at 1.1% copper
- Initial Development Plan targets open-cut mining with production from Q1 2027
- Ore to be processed at Austral Resources’ Mt Kelly Copper Processing Facility
- MLA lodgement marks a key milestone in advancing NWQ Copper Project
Securing the Big One
New Frontier Minerals Limited (ASX – NFM) has taken a significant step forward in its copper ambitions by lodging a Mining Lease Application (MLA) for the Big One Copper Deposit, located within its NWQ Copper Project in the Mt Isa copper belt of north-west Queensland. The application secures tenure over 240 hectares, encompassing historical mine workings and surrounding mineralised structures, providing a foundation for future development.
Chairman Gerrard Hall highlighted the strategic importance of this milestone, noting the robust macro demand for copper and the company’s pathway to production through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Austral Resources Ltd. The deposit’s relatively shallow mineralisation lends itself to an open-cut mining approach, with ore planned to be transported to Austral’s Mt Kelly Copper Processing Facility for treatment and sale.
Resource and Development Outlook
The Big One Deposit boasts JORC-compliant Indicated and Inferred Resources totaling approximately 2.1 million tonnes at 1.1% copper, supplemented by around 7,000 tonnes of surface stockpiles grading 1.3% copper. These figures underpin the Initial Development Plan accompanying the MLA, which outlines a near-surface open-cut mining operation designed to test and extract the copper mineralisation efficiently.
Preparatory earthworks are slated to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with first production targeted for the first quarter of 2027. This timeline reflects a pragmatic approach to advancing the project while leveraging existing infrastructure and minimizing environmental impact by utilizing previously disturbed pits and access routes.
Strategic Partnership and Regional Potential
The MLA lodgement builds on the earlier MOU with Austral Resources, which sets a framework for toll treatment and ore supply at the Mt Kelly processing facility. This collaboration is pivotal, offering New Frontier a clear processing pathway without the need for immediate capital-intensive infrastructure development.
Beyond the Big One Deposit, the broader NWQ Copper Project holds substantial exploration upside, with 20 highly prospective targets yet to be fully evaluated. This positions New Frontier not only to develop a near-term producing asset but also to potentially expand its footprint in one of Australia’s most prolific copper districts.
Looking Ahead
As New Frontier advances regulatory approvals and operational preparations, the company’s focus will remain on delivering value through disciplined development and exploration. The combination of a solid resource base, strategic processing partnerships, and a clear development plan sets the stage for the Big One Deposit to become a meaningful contributor to the company’s growth trajectory.
Bottom Line?
New Frontier’s mining lease application marks a crucial step toward copper production, but execution and exploration success will determine its ultimate impact.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the key regulatory hurdles remaining before mining can commence?
- How will the partnership with Austral Resources evolve as production scales up?
- What potential exists to expand resources beyond the current JORC estimates?
