The Warrego Rehabilitation Project
The Warrego Rehabilitation Project will use an innovative rehabilitation process to produce Noble Centre Magnetite, a high-grade magnetite concentrate produced from a low-grade iron ore stockpile found within historic mine by-product at the Warrego Mine site.
The project operates within a 140 hectare project area of already disturbed land within the Warrego Mine site located 50 km northwest of Tennant Creek in Northern Territory, Australia.
The Warrego Mine site began operating in the 1970s and was mined for bismuth, copper and gold until the late 2000s when the site was abandoned.
During the site’s operation, magnetite was never targeted as a commercially viable product due to a lack of processing technology and market demand. Magnetite from the site was only partially processed before being left in storage as a low-grade iron ore stockpile.
With advancements in technology, Northern Iron has developed a method of reclaiming and processing the low-grade iron ore stockpile into its commercially viable and sustainable high-grade magnetite, Noble Centre Magnetite.
To create Noble Centre Magnetite, the low-grade iron ore stockpile is first reclaimed using one of only two ‘slurry track’ mobile feed units operating in the world. This process is more water efficient than other industry best practices and will only utilise water already available at the Warrego Mine site.
The reclaimed stockpile is then processed through a specifically designed processing facility developed by Northern Iron, which creates Noble Centre Magnetite with up to 68% Fe grade.
Through this unique process, Northern Iron will rehabilitate 50% of the historic mine by-product within the project area at the Warrego Mine site, halving the storage liabilities currently held by the Northern Territory Government and reducing health and environmental risks at the site.
Once produced, Noble Centre Magnetite will be shipped throughout Asia to provide the steel industry with an alternative to traditional iron ore-based steel production methods that significantly reduces carbon emissions and is more environmentally friendly.
Northern Iron has received all approvals to conduct operations within the project area at the Warrego Mine site and has secured an offtake and funding agreement for the Warrego Rehabilitation Project.
Site construction commenced at the end of 2023, with the first shipment of Noble Centre Magnetite planned for mid-2024.
Northern Iron’s Territory Focus
Approximately 35 local jobs will be created.
A potential $100 million per annum will be generated for the local economy.
Northern Iron will become the Territory’s largest iron ore producer.
There will be no increase to the environmental footprint at the Warrego Mine site from the Warrego Rehabilitation Project.
Did you know?
Noble Centre Magnetite is named after legendary prospector, Jack Noble, who was a central figure during the Tennant Creek gold rush era.
Jack came to Tennant Creek in 1932 hoping, like many, to find his fortune in the outback.
After searching unsuccessfully, he took advice from locals and became the first to venture into the hills surrounding Tennant Creek where there was rumoured to be gold.
Jack’s trust in local knowledge paid off and he struck gold in the site that would later become known as Nobles Knob.
With his fortune in hand, Jack returned to Tennant Creek and gave back to the community by helping to build a hospital and a school for the town.
Northern Iron is continuing Jack Noble’s legacy of community and adventure at the Warrego Mine site through the Warrego Rehabilitation Project.