OM Manganese says it will plead guilty to damaging a sacred Aboriginal site in the Northern Territory but denies desecration charges.
AAP reports the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority claims OM Manganese damaged and desecrated a site at Bootu Creek 170km north of Tennant Creek.
The AAPA claims cracks were detected on site midway through 2011, but despite the find OM set off a blast two weeks later which split the rocky outcrop in half.
Lawyers representing OM said while the company would plead guilty to damaging the site it would fight the desecration charges.
Damaging a sacred Aboriginal site carries a maximum penalty of $130,000 depending on the extent of the damage.
Late last year the matter was heard in the NT court and AAPA was ordered to provide more information to OM about the charges.
The court has scheduled the dispute for a hearing starting March 4.