The Northern Territory government has approved the reopening of a gold mine in the Pine Creek region.
The Fountain Head Gold Project, operated by Patronus Resources, is an open pit gold mine that commenced operations in 2008 and is currently under care and maintenance, with the site managed to ensure it remains in a safe and stable condition.
Patronus Resources has complied with the regulatory requirements under the new Environmental Protection Act 2019 and is now eligible to continue operations after the territory government approved its mining licence.
The Fountain Head Gold Project has an estimated resource of 3 million tonnes of gold ore. In addition, the new Fountain Head gold processing plant creates opportunities for the development of the nearby Glencoe and Mount Porter gold mines.
In addition to resuming production at Fountain Head, the company also plans to build a gold processing plant, an evaporation pond for water management, and a complex waste storage area.
This mine is the first to be granted permission to reopen and exit care and maintenance following changes to environmental legislation.
Pine Creek is considered the historic centre of gold mining in the Northern Territory.
Hélène Tarin, Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished
