Browns Range HRE Project
NORTHERN MINERALS’ BROWNS RANGE HRE PROJECT IS THE MOST ADVANCED HEAVY RARE EARTHS (HRE) PROJECT GLOBALLY, AND SUPPORTS OUR VISION TO BECOME ETHICAL PRODUCERS OF DYSPROSIUM (Dy) AND TERBIUM (Tb)
Project Overview
The Browns Range HRE Project is located 160 km southeast of Halls Creek, on the northern edge of the Tanami Desert in Western Australia’s East Kimberley region. It sits within a unique mineral setting rich in dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb), with a significant landholding spanning 5,600 square kilometres across WA and the NT.
The project’s flagship deposit, Wolverine, is considered Australia’s highest-grade Dy and Tb orebody. It underpins the initial life of mine, with strong potential for further resource expansion through ongoing exploration.
Ore will be extracted through a combination of open pit mining and underground sublevel caving. A beneficiation plant will process the ore into a mixed heavy rare earth oxide concentrate, this concentrate will serve as feedstock for Iluka’s Eneabba Refinery. The project has secured all primary key approvals, with strong support from government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.
Through the Browns Range HRE Project, Northern Minerals is contributing to a secure and domestic supply chain of dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb), reducing reliance on overseas producers for these critical minerals.
Rare Earths
Global demand for rare earths is increasing to support the transition to a sustainable, low-carbon future. The Browns Range HRE Project positions Northern Minerals as a key contributor to reducing fossil fuel reliance, and meeting global energy transition targets.
The Browns Range HRE Project positions Northern Minerals to produce a mixed heavy rare earth concentrate, rich in dysprosium and terbium, from xenotime-dominant ore. These critical minerals are essential for high-performance permanent magnets used in clean energy technologies, including electric vehicles, robotics and wind turbines. With global supply of these minerals under pressure, Browns Range is set to become a significant new source of high-value heavy rare earths.
Iluka Partnership
Northern Minerals has formed a strategic partnership with Iluka Resources to supply 30.5kt rare earth oxide concentrate over the life of mine. This concentrate will serve as feedstock for Iluka’s Eneabba Refinery – the first fully integrated rare earth refinery in Australia, currently under construction. This partnership strengthens Australia’s domestic rare earth supply chain and supports the development of a sustainable, long-term critical minerals industry.
Sustainability
Northern Minerals is committed to sustainable and responsible practices, including establishing respectful relationships with Traditional Owners, engaging with the community, and maintaining ongoing environmental monitoring and management.
This commitment is demonstrated through collaboration with the local Traditional Owners on cultural heritage management, including controlled burns, heritage monitoring and environmental surveys. Northern Minerals continues to work closely with the Traditional Owners to ensure best-practice heritage processes and support mutually beneficial outcomes.
Sustainability is embedded throughout Northern Minerals through its comprehensive sustainability framework. This framework includes adherence to evolving regulations, continuous baseline monitoring and proactive planning. Northern Minerals is also investigating renewable energy solutions, such as a hybrid power plant designed to meet up to 40% of the site’s future power needs, reducing its environmental footprint.
Supplier Opportunities
Over the duration of the project there will be significant contracting and supplier opportunities, in line with our Browns Range Australian Industry Participation (AIP) Plan, targeted at providing Australian industry with full, fair and reasonable opportunity to participate in the Browns Range HRE Project. These contracts will also have numerous subcontracting opportunities which again are targeted towards local and Australian businesses.
Some of these potential opportunities are:
- Project design work
- Site wide earthworks
- A processing plant
- Power supply
- Underground mining
- Open pit mining
- Camp expansion
- Non-process infrastructure (workshops, offices, etc.)
- Upgraded water supply
- Camp services
- Mobile equipment
- Flight services
- Communications
- Various reagent/consumable supply packages
- Road maintenance
- Mine maintenance services
To register your interest, follow the link below to ICNWA and complete the Expressions of Interest.
ICNWA Contact:
Hengameh Kiani
+61 8 9365 7543
hengameh.kiani@icnwa.org.au
Other Projects
Browns Range
Browns Range is a major geological feature located in the northern Tanami region, traversing the Western Australia (WA) and Northern Territory (NT) border.
Coomarie Dome
The Coomarie Dome is a significant geological structure located in the Tanami Region, straddling the border between the Northern Territory and Western Australia.
