MinRes announces FID on Mt Marion lithium expansion in WA

Mineral Resources (MinRes) has confirmed a last concern determination (FID) to grow operations astatine its Mt Marion lithium task successful Western Australia, jointly owned with Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium.

The planned enlargement volition present some a flotation works and underground mining astatine the site.

The full superior concern for these projects volition beryllium A$490m ($351.2m) connected a 100% basis, with spending scheduled for the 2027 and 2028 fiscal years.

Of this amount, A$240m is allocated for the flotation plant, A$220m for preliminary underground development, and A$30m earmarked for non-processing infrastructure.

Based connected a existent spot terms for spodumene of astir $2,700 per tonne of spodumene ore (SC6), the companies estimation that the concern could beryllium recouped successful little than a year.

Mt Marion is situated astir 590km eastbound of Perth, connected the accepted lands of the Marlinyu Ghoorlie People, and is astir 70km southbound of Kalgoorlie.

The improvement volition impact the operation of the flotation circuit alongside the existing dense media separation installation to retrieve good spodumene worldly that is presently mislaid to tailings.

MinRes’ Mining Services part volition conception and run the flotation plant.

The operation is targeted to commencement successful the archetypal 4th of FY27 and commissioning planned for the 2nd fractional of FY28.

Following the expansion, the tract aims to amended works recoveries, targeting astir 70%.

Installed SC6 capableness is projected to summation from astir 500,000 tonnes a twelvemonth to 600,000 tonnes, with the lower-grade SC3.5 merchandise to beryllium replaced by a azygous SC5 product.

From FY28, operations astatine Mt Marion volition harvester unfastened pit and underground mining, with ore from underground workings expected to marque up arsenic overmuch arsenic 40% of the processing feed.

The process of selecting a contractor for underground mining has begun.

Core underground improvement activities are expected to commencement successful the archetypal 4th of FY27.

According to the company, minimal disruption is anticipated for existing operations during the operation and commissioning phases.

MinRes managing manager Chris Ellison said: “This high-return brownfield concern sets up Mt Marion for decades to come. Underground mining and flotation volition enactment unneurotic to entree deeper high-grade ore, assistance recoveries and nutrient a azygous 5% product.”

In November 2025, MinRes and POSCO Holdings signed a binding statement to signifier a lithium associated task partnership.

"MinRes announces FID connected Mt Marion lithium enlargement successful WA" was primitively created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.