Far North Queensland tungsten producer EQ Resources is keen to unlock critical minerals wealth south of its Mount Carbine operation after winning a tender for the former Wolfram Camp mine and surrounds.

The State Government granted the exploration permit for the site with the aim of breathing new life into the abandoned tungsten mine as a ‘key action’ under its Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan.

EQ Resources plans a comprehensive regional review over the next 12 months, with soil and geophysical programs to unlock the mine and surrounding area’s potential.

Located 60km south of its Mount Carbine operation, the company said Wolfram Camp represented a unique opportunity to revitalise a historic mining region that was once a major source of critical minerals, including tungsten and bismuth.

It has sights set on establishing a new critical metal hub in North Queensland, strengthening the company’s position in the global supply chain for critical minerals.

Queensland Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the Wolfram Camp project was a pilot that could potentially see more of the state’s former mine sites transformed from a liability to an asset.

“EQ Resources has a proven track record in revitalising former mines, having established significant mine waste reprocessing operations and recently announcing starting open cut mining at its nearby Mount Carbine tungsten project, creating up to 135 good jobs,” he said.

This tender would not only create more good jobs for the region but help meet the challenge of leading the world towards a decarbonised future, he said.

Mr Stewart said the newly released the Queensland Critical Mineral Strategy included a focus on supporting companies looking to extracting critical minerals from waste and tailings at existing and former mines.

Winning the tender has given EQ Resources access to assess a 477sq km RA442 licence area hosting key targets including the Wolfram Camp mine itself and the Bamford Hill advanced exploration target.

To inform the viability of re-commercialisation, the company’s exploration program entails drilling more than 10,000m in the next three years at the Wolfram Camp and Bamford Hill deposits.

It also plans to collect 4000 soil samples in closely spaced grids and conduct a full 32-element XRF analysis to determine alteration zones and mineral species.

It will also conduct a trial with an XRT Sorter to assess the sortability and potential synergies with existing Mount Carbine processes.

EQ Resources chief executive officer Kevin MacNeill said the group was looking foward to collaborating with the communities in the Wolfram Camp region.

“At EQR, we understand the importance of responsible and sustainable mining practices. As we did with the Mount Carbine Mine, we are committed to engaging closely with all local communities, their leaders, and elders around Wolfram Camp to create shared prosperity and opportunities,” he said.

“This includes generating new employment avenues, contributing to the local economy, and promoting responsible environmental stewardship in alignment with EQR’s core values.

“Our team of experienced professionals will apply modern exploration techniques and state-of-the-art technologies to maximise the site’s potential while minimising its environmental footprint.”

The Wolfram Camp mine was abandoned in late 2018 and has since been a part of the Queensland Government’s Abandoned Mine Lands Program.