Leslie Massey
Copper is mined in many of Australia's states, with South Australia being the nation's premier copper jurisdiction, accounting for 68%-69% of Australia's economic demonstrated resources of copper. The state is home to the largest single copper mine in the country, the Olympic Dam polymetallic mine, which is one of the most significant copper deposits in the world. Other significant copper-rich regions in South Australia include Carapateena, Prominent Hill, and Elizabeth Creek. Queensland is the state with the most copper mines, with 12 operating producers as of 2022, including Australia's second-largest copper producer, Glencore's Mount Isa Mines complex. Western Australia is also home to several copper mines, with 11 mines in the state as of 2022, although its contribution to the world's copper production is relatively minor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Copper deposits associated with | Ancient geological formations |
| Copper deposits found in | South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria, Northern Territory |
| Copper mines in Western Australia | 11 |
| Copper as a percentage of Western Australia's economy | 8% |
| Copper mines in Queensland | 12 |
| Copper as a percentage of Queensland's economy | 11% |
| Copper mines in Tasmania | 2 |
| Copper mines in South Australia | 3 |
| Copper as a percentage of South Australia's economy | 68% or 69% |
| Copper-rich regions in Australia | Olympic Dam, Carapateena, Prominent Hill, Hillside, Elizabeth Creek, Mount Gunson, Kapunda, Fremantle Doctor, Mutooroo, North Portia, Kalkaroo, Oak Dam |
| Copper deposits in South Australia | Olympic Copper Province, Gawler Craton, Curnamona Province, Adelaide Superbasin, Delamerian Orogen |
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What You'll Learn
Copper deposits in South Australia
Copper deposits are found in most geological provinces throughout South Australia. The most significant regions of copper mineralisation are the Olympic Copper Province (eastern Gawler Craton), Curnamona Province, and Adelaide Superbasin/Delamerian Orogen.
The Olympic Copper Province, located near Roxby Downs, is one of the world's most significant copper, gold, and uranium deposits. It is a 600 km long metallogenic corridor in the eastern Gawler Craton containing significant copper mineralisation. Major copper deposits in this province include Olympic Dam, Carrapateena, Prominent Hill, and Hillside.
The Curnamona Province, which straddles the border of South Australia and New South Wales, experienced similar magmatism to the eastern Gawler Craton during the early Mesoproterozoic, making it prospective for similar copper deposits.
The Adelaide Superbasin is a large sedimentary basin formed during the Neoproterozoic to early Cambrian period. It has been compared to the Katanga Basin in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which hosts the Central African Copper Belt. This correlation supports the prospectivity of the Adelaide Superbasin for sediment-hosted copper mineralisation. Examples include deposits in the Mount Gunson region on the Stuart Shelf and the Kapunda deposit, north of Adelaide.
South Australia is a hub for copper exploration and production, with significant deposits contributing to the country's copper wealth. The state contains 69% of Australia's economic demonstrated resources of copper and produced 29% of the country's mined copper in 2020. Major developing copper projects in South Australia include Oak Dam, Hillside, Kalkaroo, Elizabeth Creek, Kapunda, Fremantle Doctor, Mutooroo, and North Portia.
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Queensland's copper mines
Queensland is home to a number of copper mines, with the Mt Isa region being particularly well-known for its copper deposits. The region also contains deposits of zinc, lead and silver, and is synonymous with world-class mines. Copper was first discovered in the area in 1923 by John Campbell Miles, and production began in 1931.
One notable copper mine in Queensland is the Mount Oxide Copper and Cobalt Project. In 2020, Perilya Limited announced an increase in the mineral resource estimate for the mine, with 17.9 million tonnes of material at an average grade of 1.3% copper, yielding 224,000 tonnes of copper. This represented a 10% increase in contained copper compared to a previous estimate from 2008.
The North Queensland Copper Operations, run by Aeris Resources, include the underground Mt Colin copper mine and the Barbara project, a former open-cut copper and gold mine. The Mt Colin and Barbara mines are located on the traditional lands of the Kalkadoon People (Kalkatungu), and Aeris has committed to upholding cultural heritage values and environmental standards in the region. The company also has a longstanding contract with a local indigenously-owned and managed contractor for the maintenance of access and haul roads.
The Queensland government is also investing in the discovery of new copper deposits and the development of the state's critical minerals sector. The Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) has provided $4.6 million in funding to fast-track 18 projects in North Queensland, many of which are involved in the potential discovery of new copper deposits. The Collaborative Development Program also offers $5 million in funding to companies to recover remaining mineralisation found in mine waste and accelerate the development of the critical minerals sector.
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Western Australia's copper history
Copper has played a significant role in the history of Western Australia, with the origins of commercial copper mining in the region dating back to 1842 when a copper deposit was discovered at Wanerenooka, near present-day Northampton. While Western Australia's copper production is relatively minor on a global scale, accounting for less than 1% of the world's production in 2021-22, it has contributed to the state's economy and played a part in the broader Australian copper story.
In the late 1890s and early 1900s, small copper finds were made in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions, including the Whim Creek copper mine. However, historical copper mining operations in Western Australia were often small-scale and short-lived. Northampton, for example, had copper mining as early as the 1860s, but it lasted only a few decades. Post-World War II, copper mining resumed in the state with operations at the Elverdton Mine near Ravensthorpe (1956-1972) and the Thaduna Mine near Wiluna (1955-1971). In the early 1980s, the Teutonic Bore Mine was the only copper mine in Western Australia, producing less than 3,500 tonnes of copper before its closure.
In recent years, copper mining in Western Australia has experienced fluctuations but has also seen considerable growth. The state's copper production increased tenfold between 1990-91 and 2010, reaching a peak of 211,186 tonnes in 2014. As of 2022, copper is the sixth most valuable commodity in the state, with sales reaching almost A$2 billion in 2021-22.
Some of the notable copper mines in Western Australia include the Golden Grove mine, the DeGrussa mine, the Jaguar mine, the Whim Creek copper mine, and the Nifty copper mine, which operated from 1993 to 2019. Copper is also produced as a by-product in nickel mines like the Nova and Savannah Mine, and the Boddington gold mine.
Copper holds significance beyond its economic value in Western Australia. For Indigenous Australians, copper had deep spiritual significance as ochre for body paint, connecting them to their country and culture. Additionally, copper recycling has grown in importance, with initiatives promoting sustainability and a greener future.
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Copper projects in New South Wales
Copper mining has a long history in New South Wales, with records showing the first mines opening in the mid-19th century. The Copper Hill Copper Mine, located just north of Molong, was the first mine to open in New South Wales in 1845. Early copper finds in NSW were typically small ore bodies of poor quality ore, but this changed with the discovery of rich copper lodes at Cobar and Cangai.
Today, there are several copper projects in New South Wales, including the flagship Woodlawn Zinc-Copper project by Heron Resources. The Woodlawn project is located within the mining lease SML 20, approximately 11km from Tarago, 48km south of Goulburn, and 239km southwest of Sydney. The project proposes an integrated development of the Woodlawn Underground Project (WUP) and the Woodlawn Tailings Retreatment Project (WRP), with a single sulphide flotation plant to produce copper, lead, and zinc concentrates. The processing plant will incorporate conventional and fine grinding circuits and separate flotation circuits for the extraction of concentrates. The project is estimated to require an investment of A$240 million.
Another significant copper project in New South Wales is the Tritton Copper Mine, located near the town of Nyngan in central New South Wales. The mine is owned by Straits Resources and was first developed in 1992 as part of the Girilambone copper mine. The Tritton project consists of three adjacent underground operations: Tritton Underground, Murrawombie, and Tritton North. The mine uses standard underground mining methods, diesel-mechanised trackless haulage, decline access, and conventional longhole open stoping methods.
The CSA Copper Mine, located in western New South Wales, is another major copper project in the region. The mine is owned by Metals Acquisition Limited (MAC) and is considered one of the highest-grade copper mines in Australia, with an annual production of 40,000 tonnes of copper. The CSA mine was initially discovered in 1871, and early mine development commenced in the 1900s. Underground mining operations began in 1965, and the mine has a current estimated mine life of 15 years, until 2036.
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Copper in Tasmania
Copper is an essential metal that plays a crucial role in supporting industries like renewable energy, electric vehicles, and construction. Australia is a global leader in copper resources and is one of the largest producers and exporters of copper in the world. The country's copper wealth is scattered across its landscapes, with significant deposits found in various states, including South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia.
Tasmania, an island state located off Australia's southeastern coast, is also known for its copper deposits and has a long history of copper mining. The Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, which operated in Queenstown, Tasmania, for nearly a hundred years, was a prominent player in the state's copper industry. The company's successor, Copper Mines of Tasmania, is now owned by Vedanta Resources and supplies copper to a smelter in India.
Tasmania's renewable energy sources and environmental consciousness make it an attractive location for responsible and sustainable copper exploration initiatives. CopperCorp, for example, has initiated a project in Tasmania to explore for copper, gold, and rare earth elements. The state's geological characteristics, such as its rich mineral belts and favourable geology, contribute to its potential for copper exploration.
Tasmania's copper resources are an important part of the state's economy and have played a significant role in its development. The state has a long history of mining and has contributed to meeting the global demand for copper. While specific details about the current copper projects in Tasmania are scarce, it is clear that the state continues to be a significant player in Australia's copper industry.
Overall, Tasmania's copper deposits, sustainable practices, and favourable geological conditions position it as a key region in Australia's copper landscape. The state's responsible exploration and extraction of this critical resource contribute to its economic growth and global efforts towards a sustainable future.
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Frequently asked questions
Copper deposits are found across Australia, with significant deposits in states like South Australia, Queensland, and Western Australia.
South Australia is the nation's premier copper jurisdiction with three operating copper mines and 68%-69% of Australia's economic demonstrated resources of copper. The state is home to the country's largest single copper mine, the Olympic Dam polymetallic mine. Other major copper mines in South Australia include Prominent Hill, Carrapateena, and Elizabeth Creek.
Queensland is the state with the most copper mines in Australia, with 12 operating producers as of 2022. The Mount Isa Mines complex is Australia's second-largest copper producer. Other copper mines in Queensland include the Mount Gunson mine and the Telfer mine.
There are 11 copper mines in Western Australia, accounting for 8% of the nation's total copper economic demonstrated resources. Some major copper mines in the state include the Golden Grove mine, the DeGrussa mine, the Jaguar mine, and the Whim Creek copper mine.
There are two copper mines in Tasmania, and Victoria and the Northern Territory are home to developing copper projects. The Cadia mine in New South Wales is a significant copper producer, and the state also has the Kapunda deposit, north of Adelaide.
