The Finnis Lithium mine is a lithium mine situated near Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is being developed by Core Lithium.
| Location | |
|---|---|
  Finniss Lithium mine Location in Australia | |
| Territory | Northern Territory |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 12°43′S 130°47′E / 12.71°S 130.79°E[1] |
| Production | |
| Products | Spodumene |
| Production | 95,020 dmt Spodumene concentrate[2] |
| Financial year | 2024 |
| History | |
| Opened | 2022 |
| Owner | |
| Company | Core Lithium |
| Website | Finniss Lithium Operation |
The ore body was discovered in 2016, and feasibility work was done in 2018–2020 with a firm investment decision made in September 2021. Commercial production began in February 2023 with an 8-year lifespan.[3]
Geological setup
editThe mine comprises 500 km2 (190 sq mi) of leases, covering the Bynoe pegmatite field (BPF) and several pegmatites near Darwin.[3] Specifically, it encompasses the five ore deposits "Grants, Carlton, Sandras, Hang Gong SW, and BP33."[3] The:[4]
ore bodies of the Finniss lithium project are characterised as lithium-cesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatite deposits that are hosted within the Burrell Creek metasedimentary rock formation. The pegmatites at the deposits comprise lithium-bearing spodumene, quartz, albite, microcline as well as mica
with a consistent lithium content across the ore body.[4]
Description
editCore Lithium is developing the mine,[5] having completed a pre-feasibility study (PFS) in June 2018 and a definitive feasibility study (DFS) in April 2019. Revisions to the feasibility study were completed in 2020 to incorporate underground mining methods in the mining plan. A revised DFS was completed in July 2021 outlining a project that will occur in multiple stages. The first stage will involve open-pit mining near Grants and Hang Gong, as well as underground mining at the Grants, BP33, and Carlton prospects.[3] The Australian JORC 2012 compliance process estimated 3.45 million tonnes (Mt) of mineral resource at 1.4 percent lithium oxide.[5] Major Project Status (MPS) was granted by the Australian government in March 2021, recognizing the strategic significance of the project.[6]
Battery-grade lithium hydroxide was produced as part of the test works on spodumene mineral concentrate sample from the mine in April 2021.[3] Construction began in 2021 and full operational mining commenced in October 2022,[7] with the first shipment of spodumene concentrate being exported from the Port of Darwin in May 2023.[3]
Development of the mine is an $89 million project. Over the 12-year lifespan of the project 16 million tonnes (35 billion pounds) of ore are expected to be mined. Most lithium concentrate is expected to be exported overseas.[7]
Production and sales
editIn 2022, Tesla contracted for 110 thousand tonnes (240 million pounds) of spodumene concentrate over four years from the Core Lithium and its Finniss lithium mine.[8][7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Environment Protection Act (EP Act) Referral Supporting Information Document" (PDF). Northern Territory Government. Core Lithium. April 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ^ Core Lithium, Annual Report 2024 (PDF)
- ^ a b c d e f "Finniss Lithium Project, Northern Territory, Australia". Mining Technology. 13 January 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ a b "Finniss Lithium Project". business.com. NS Energy. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ a b CORE Lithium : Finnis Lithium, retrieved 13 October 2022
- ^ Matthis, Simon (17 March 2021). "Australia grants MPS for Core Lithium's Finniss lithium project". MiningMetalNews. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Core Lithium opens the Northern Territory's first lithium mine amid surging demand for electric vehicles". ABC News. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
- ^ "NT opens first lithium mine, supplying Tesla". PV Magazine. 13 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
External links
edit- Finnish Lithium Project Deposit Summary Report
- Bynoe Pegmatite Field - Finniss Lithium (Grants, Carlton, Sandras, Hang Gong SW, BP33), Mount Finniss Tin-Tantalum