Australian Tungsten Producer EQ Resources Gets A$600,000 Grant

Australian tungsten producer EQ Resources has been awarded a $600,000 grant from the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre to support high-tech sorting and recovery of the key mineral tungsten, an essential ingredient in cutting tools, welding electrodes, abrasives, and many other industrial applications.

According to a just-released statement, the grant will support an EQ-led project involving sorting technology from Tomra Sorting, a hyperspectral imaging sensor developed by Plotlogic, and support from the University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute and Cronimet Australia.

The project, with a total budget of $1.97 million, will develop an "advanced mineral processing process" for EQ's Mt Carbine expansion project. It aims to develop a solution that uses artificial intelligence and x-ray sorting to convert low-grade ore and historical mine waste into a resource.

Dr. Jens Goennemann, Managing Director of AMGC, said, "EQ Resources' project brings together industry and research leaders to commercialize a world-leading technology that will transform what was once mining waste into a new revenue stream."

"This project of the Australian tungsten producer demonstrates that Australia's manufacturing industry is stepping up to develop globally relevant solutions that will improve operations and add value in the process." Mount Carbine is currently ramping up production and has reported a record production of over 40 tonnes of 50% tungsten concentrate in December.

Tungsten is an important mineral in jurisdictions such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, with more than four-fifths of the world's supply currently coming from China. Australia is estimated to have the second-largest resource in the world. According to Geoscience Australia, deposits are found in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and the East Coast.

Group 6 Metals is currently redeveloping the Dolphin mine on King Island, Tasmania, where tungsten production ended in 1992 due to low prices. It plans to start mining in November, commission a plant in December, and ship a concentrate in March 2023.

EQ Resources Limited, an ASX listed company with its flagship tungsten asset located at Mount Carbine in northern Queensland, aims to be Australia's preeminent tungsten producer using advanced technology, previous inventory, and undeveloped resources.

Mt Carbine is located 120km by sealed road, north-west of Cairns in Far North Queensland. The project is on granted Mining Leases with power, water, tailings storage and environmental approvals in place for tungsten production and quarrying.

The Australian tungsten producer’s goal is to create value through the exploration and development of current investments while continuing to evaluate ventures and exploration opportunities in new economic and critical mineral sectors.

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