Mount Garnet abandoned mine project
The Mount Garnet copper, silver, and zinc lode was discovered in 1882. Over time, John Moffat and his associates acquired control of the property, and established the Mount Garnet Freehold Copper and Silver Mining Company in 1899. Despite initial success, smelting operations came to a halt in 1903. The site recommenced operations in 2000 including both underground and open-cut zinc mining operations.
The site was put into care and maintenance in 2021. Aurora Metals Limited was liquidated in March 2024 leading to the mining leases being disclaimed and the site being abandoned.
We are actively managing the Mount Garnet site under the Abandoned Mine Lands Program.
Mount Garnet is a polymetallic mine with surface features including a large open cut put, mineral processing infrastructure, a large tailings storage facility and several water dams.
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Project snapshot
Region: North Queensland
Location: 160km south-west of Cairns, latitude 17.685746, Longitude 145.109792 E. Program site is approximately 500Ha.
Commodity: Copper, Silver, Zinc, Lead
Mining type: Open cut and underground
Date of abandonment: March 2024
Status: Care and maintenace activities in addition to undertaking remediation of the tailings storage facility
Native title interest: Bar-Barrum People represented by Mbabaram Aboriginal Corporation
Public land registers: Listed on the Environmental Management Register
Photo gallery
Key risks
Health and safety risks associated with injury arising from unauthorised entry onto the site, through exposure to hazards such as aging mineral processing infrastructure, dangerous landforms (including pit high walls and underground workings), high-voltage electricity and pumping systems.
Environmental risks associated with:
- potential release of acidic mine-affected water from the open cut pit or other water storages across site
- long-term integrity of tailings storage facility embankments and drainage systems, including withstanding extreme weather events.
Completed works
- Improvements to water management infrastructure, including pumping systems in addition to a significant network of industrial evaporator fans and smaller-scale irrigation sprinklers.
- Pit water treatment to neutralise acidity and remove heavy metals.
- Isolation of obsolete infrastructure including mineral processing facility.
- Removal and safe disposal of hazardous chemicals and hydrocarbons.
- Relocation of potentially acid-forming (PAF) material into the tailings storage facility ahead of future capping works.
Planned works
- Ongoing water management activities including operation of pump-back systems, evaporators and irrigation systems.
- Ongoing water treatment and proactive release of treated water from site when appropriate.
- Progress the 2 year project to remediate the 30-hectare tailings storage facility, which includes:
- consolidation of all PAF waste rock within the storage facility
- installation of capping layers across the full surface of the facility
- installation of a closure spillway to safely convey clean surface runoff from site.