Wolfram Camp remediation project
Tungsten was discovered around Wolfram Camp in 1891, with various mining operations at the site taking place over an extended time. The most recent open-cut mining operation was commissioned in 2008 and abandoned in 2018.
When it was abandoned, the site consisted of:
- an open cut pit and early development for a second pit
- a waste rock dump
- a tailings storage facility
- mineral processing infrastructure
- a mine water dam
- historical underground workings.
We currently manage the care and maintenance of the site, including water management and preventing unauthorised entry.
In addition, EQ Resources hold an exploration permit covering the site and surrounding area.
- View a glossary of mining terms used on this page.
Project snapshot
Region: North Queensland
Location: 16km north-west of Dimbulah, and approximately 60km west of Mareeba, Latitude -17.084497, Longitude 144.970779
Commodity: Tungsten, molybdenum
Mining type: Open cut and historical underground
Date of abandonment: December 2018
Status: Ongoing care and maintenance, re-commercialisation potential
Native title interest: Djungan People, represented by the Nguddaboolgan Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (NNTAC)
Public land registers: Listed on the Environmental Management Register
Photo gallery
Key risks
Environmental risks associated with:
- preventing release of acidic mine-affected water from the various water storages across site
- long-term integrity of tailings storage facility embankments and drainage structures, including withstanding extreme weather events.
Health and safety risks associated with:
- abandoned processing plant and equipment
- hazardous onsite landforms associated with the open pit and historic underground workings.
Completed works
- Removal of hazardous chemicals and hydrocarbons.
- Recommissioning mains electrical power to the site to reduce costs to the state and increase power security for site maintenance.
- Improvement to pumping infrastructure to manage mine-affected water onsite.
- Environmental sampling and assessments.
- Landscaping earthworks and capping to maximise clean water diversions.
- Undertaking trial revegetation activities within selected areas.
- Undertaking onsite water treatment activities to neutralise acidity and remove dissolved metals from mine-affected water.
- Completion of the re-commercialisation pilot program, leading to the granting of an exploration permit across the RA 442 area, which covers Wolfram Camp and the surrounding areas.
Planned works
- Continuation of site care and maintenance activities, including preventing unauthorised entry and undertaking water management activities.
- Ongoing engagement with the exploration permit holder.