Wolfram Camp tungsten mine first opened in the early 1890’s
An abandoned tungsten mine near Dimbulah, west of Mareeba in FNQ, looks destined to be reopened by EQ Resources which operates the Mt Carbine tungsten operation 75klms north of Mareeba.
One of Australia’s leading tungsten producers, EQ Resources, has been awarded the tender for resource exploration activities across a 480 square kilometre area, which includes the former Wolfram Camp and Bamford Hill mines.
Situated 90km west of Cairns, Wolfram Camp is named for wolframite – an important primary ore of tungsten which miners have been extracting from the site since the 19th century.
The critical mineral has numerous uses including in solar technology, wind turbine blades, drill bits and filaments for lighting.
Re-commercialisation of former mines is a key component of the Queensland Labor’s new Critical Minerals Strategy as well as the Queensland Resources industry Development Plan.
Resources Minister Scott Stewart said: “This project is a pilot that could potentially see more of our former mine sites around the state transformed from a liability to an asset – once more generating good jobs and royalties for the people of Queensland.
“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 Mt Carbine tungsten project, creating up to 135 good jobs.
“The re-commercialisation of Wolfram Camp is a key action of the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan. “Queensland has many of the critical minerals needed to make the renewable energy technologies the world needs for a net zero emissions future.
“That’s why we have now also released the Queensland Critical Mineral Strategy, which will oversee $245 million of investment into growing this sector in Queensland.
“Part of the Strategy will focus on supporting companies looking to extracting critical minerals from waste and tailings at existing and former mines.
EQ Resources CEO Kevin MacNeill said the company would engage closely with communities in the area to create shared prosperity and opportunities as done at Mt Carbine.
“This includes generating new employment avenues, contributing to the local economy, and promoting responsible environmental stewardship in alignment with EQR’s core values,” Mr MacNeill said.
“The company’s success at Mt Carbine is a testament to its ability to transform historical mining sites into thriving operations with a positive impact on the environment and surrounding communities and we envision a similar transformation for Wolfram Camp.”
and it will all be exported, and value added over seas, and sold back to us as an over inflated product, gee its true this country is only a mine and paddock totally sold out by the treasonous politicians who dont serve us.
The family had a wolfram mine at “Pom Pom” between Molloy and Carbine plus a ten stamp battery with two shaker tables on Rifle Creek closer to town during the Korean War. The price of Wolfram was one pound ($2.00) a pound for Wolfram so the money rolled in. The battery came from either Maytown or another goldfield further towards the Palmer River. The M T tacked on to Molloy and Carbine plus other places didn’t stand for “Mount” but for “Mining Town.”