Austral Resources Continues to Advance Rocklands Copper Mine Refurbishment

Austral Resources Australia (ASX: AR1) is moving closer to a restart of its Rocklands copper mine in north-west Queensland as a major refurbishment program advances on schedule and within budget.

Key milestones already achieved include the completion of the front-end circuit redesign, the acquisition of a 4.75 megawatt SAG mill and the start of detailed engineering activities.

Securing a suitable SAG mill early in the refurbishment process removes a significant schedule risk associated with concentrator restart projects and is expected to provide confidence in the company’s targeted commissioning timeline.

The company aims to maximise the use of existing assets while minimising restart capital expenditure and construction risk.

Detailed Engineering Assessment

Austral conducted a detailed engineering assessment of existing processing plant infrastructure including concentrate handling facilities, primary crushing and ball milling, along with flotation circuits, thickening, and filtration.

The study concluded that these facilities remain suitable for the planned throughput of 3 million tonnes per annum, and can be integrated into the revised processing flowsheet with minor modifications.

This outcome is expected to significantly reduce refurbishment capital requirements, reinforcing the value embedded within the existing Rocklands infrastructure.

Austral has also commenced reviews of mechanical equipment including screens, bins, pumps, and hoppers that it believes are capable of being repurposed within the revised process flowsheet.

Construction Manager Appointed

Austral has appointed GR Engineering Services for engineering design and construction management of front-end modifications required for the restart, which is scheduled for completion by end July.

An assessment of conveyors and structures identified for demolition is also underway, with demolition activities expected to accelerate this month in preparation for SAG mill and pebble crusher circuit installation.

Mobilisation for earthworks and civil construction activities is expected to commence during the third quarter, with completion targeted ahead of the 2026/27 wet season.

Confirmatory drilling at Rocklands has generated metallurgical core samples for testing at Core Technologies with a view to further optimising flotation circuit design, recovery performance, and concentrate quality ahead of final engineering completion.

The work forms part of Austral’s broader strategy of maximising value from the Rocklands sulphide resource base while ensuring the processing circuit is configured for long-term operational performance.

Lower Running Costs

Austral chief operating officer Shane O'Connell said the refurbishment program was targeting lower running costs at the Rocklands plant.

“Our focus has been on developing a simpler, lower-risk, and capital-efficient processing circuit that maximises copper concentrate production while leveraging the substantial infrastructure already in place at Rocklands,” he said.

“With engineering progressing, major equipment secured, and site works planned to commence in the third quarter, we remain confident in delivering this restart on time and on budget.”

The restart of Rocklands will establish Austral as a fully integrated copper producer with dual processing streams, combining oxide production through the Mt Kelly processing facility with sulphide concentrate production through Rocklands.

Both will be underpinned by ore sourced from the company’s wholly-owned Flying Horse and Mt Clarke mines, supplying oxide feed to Mt Kelly while exposing future sulphide feed for Rocklands that will be blended with the existing sulphide resource.

“This integrated approach provides a clear pathway from mining through to processing, and positions Austral as a producer of both oxide and sulphide copper from its Eastern and Western operations,” Mr O’Connell added.