The approval of a new exploration tunnel to be built at Southern Cross Gold’s Sunday Creek antimony and gold project has been heralded as a major step towards securing Victoria’s status as the sole source of antimony in Australia.
Approval of a works plan for the tunnel, the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) said, sends a “clear message that Victoria is open for business in advanced minerals exploration approvals for deeper mineral deposits”.
It comes following approvals in October of the Catalyst/Hancock Prospecting joint venture Boyd’s Dam gold project – reinforcing the state’s positive future for both exploration and mineral processing.
An additional benefit of approvals across Victoria means an increase of skilled regional jobs, higher royalties and greater local investment.
“Mining also creates a more diverse regional economy by delivering long-term benefits to our regions through training and local small businesses which supply mines,” MCA Victoria executive director James Sorahan said.
“To support Victoria’s emerging critical minerals and existing gold sectors, exploration spending needs to increase after a recent decline from record high levels,” Sorahan said.
Greater capacity for the potential production of antimony across Victoria has been earmarked as an immense positive – thanks to international agreements with countries such as the United States, which has included antimony on its critical minerals list.
“The Sunday Creek approval adds to recent momentum in Victoria created by all major approvals being secured for the Donald Mineral Sands and progress on approvals with the VHM and WIM Resource mineral sands projects,” he said.
Antimony is used in defence, solar panels, batteries, semi-conductors and fire retardants.
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