Steps from mineral

exploration to
a mine
Developed in consultation with the WA Department of Mines and
Petroleum, peak industry bodies and Western Australia native title
representative bodies.

Resolution
National Nativeof native
Title Tribunaltitle issues over land and waters.
Steps from mineral exploration to a mine
Created March 2009. Further information: Public Affairs 08 9268 7495
Disclaimer and copyright: http://www.nntt.gov.au/Pages/Copyright.aspx
Developed in consultation with:
• Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation
• Goldfields Land & Sea Council
Steps
• from
South mineral Land
West Aboriginal exploration to a mine
& Sea Council
• Central Desert Native Title Services
Step
• 1
Kimberley Land Council
TheChamber
• explorerofmay walkand
Minerals or drive
Energyand use hand
of Western tools onIncthe
Australia land to collect small samples.
• Association of Mining Exploration Companies Inc
• Department of Mines and Petroleum.

EXPLORATION METHODS THAT ARE NOT GROUND

Step 1 DISTURBING
The explorer may walk or drive and use hand tools on the land to collect small samples.
x Literature search – looking at history, reports and maps.
x Geological mapping – planning starts with regional and local maps,
Exploration methods
followed thatmaps
by new are not ground
showing disturbing
vegetation and location of rock types.
Geochemical sampling – locating a particular mineral deposit by
x search
Literature
Looking at chemical analysis
history, reports of rocks, stream sediment soils, water, gas or
and maps.

Geologicalvegetation.
mapping
x Geophysical
Planning starts with regionalexploration – collecting
and local maps, information
followed by new about
maps showing the physical
vegetation and location
properties
of rock types. of a mineral deposit on the ground or from the air (remote
sensing).
Geochemical sampling
Locating a particular mineral deposit by chemical analysis of rocks, stream sediment soils, water, gas
or vegetation.

Geophysical exploration
Collecting information about the physical properties of a mineral deposit on the ground or from the
air (remote sensing).

Rock chip geochemical sampling using helicopter support. © Barrick Gold of Australia Ltd.

National Native Title Tribunal

Steps from mineral exploration to a mine
Created March 2009. Further information: Public Affairs 08 9268 7495
Disclaimer and copyright: http://www.nntt.gov.au/Pages/Copyright.aspx
Step 2
If there is a regional standard heritage agreement, the explorer tries his best to inform
Step 2
native title parties of what he plans to do (the requirement to consult with native title
parties
If there isor traditional
a regional owners
standard may
heritage also be the
agreement, addressed in an
explorer tries alternative
their heritage
best to inform native agreement).
title parties of
what they plan to do (the requirement to consult with native title parties or traditional owners may also be
Step 3 in an alternative heritage agreement).
addressed
If non-ground
Step 3 disturbing exploration indicates there may be minerals in the ground the
explorer informs the traditional owners or native title parties (depending on the nature of
their
If agreement)
non-ground of plans
disturbing to drill
exploration holes there
indicates in certain
may beareas.
minerals in the ground, the explorer informs the
traditional owners or native title parties (depending on the nature of their agreement) of plans to drill holes
in certain areas.
Step 4
If there4is a heritage agreement, the traditional owners or native title parties decide
Step
whether a heritage survey is required.
If there is a heritage agreement, the traditional owners or native title parties decide whether a heritage
survey is required.
Step 5
If a heritage
Step 5 survey is done the report will say where drilling cannot happen in order to
protect heritage sites.
If a heritage survey is done the report will say where drilling cannot happen in order to protect heritage sites.

EXPLORATION METHODS THAT ARE GROUND DISTURBING

Exploration methods that are ground disturbing
x Rotary Air Blast and Aircore drilling – drilling a small hole (less than
Rotary100mm) through
air blast and aircoresoil and loose rock using hammer or blade bit to drill the
drilling
hole. This tells the geologist
Drilling a small hole (less than 100mm) if minerals
through soil and are present.
loose rock using hammer or blade bit to drill
the hole. This tells the geologist if minerals are present.
x Reverse Circulation and Diamond drilling – drilling a deeper, larger hole
Reverse(usually 140mm
circulation or larger)
and diamond through undisturbed or deep rock using a hammer
drilling
ora blade
Drilling deeper,bit or an
larger holeindustrial diamond
(usually 140mm impregnated
or larger) bit. Thisortells
through undisturbed deep the
rockgeologist
using a
hammer how muchbitmineral
or blade is present.
or an industrial diamond impregnated bit. This tells the geologist how much
mineral is present.

Drillcorp Western Deephole diamond drill rig at Mt Gibson. © Barrick Gold of Australia Ltd.

National Native Title Tribunal

Steps from mineral exploration to a mine
Created March 2009. Further information: Public Affairs 08 9268 7495
Disclaimer and copyright: http://www.nntt.gov.au/Pages/Copyright.aspx
Step 6
Geologists and labs analyse samples taken from the drill exploration to see if minerals are present.

Step 7
If there are minerals present the explorer will usually drill closer spaced holes and this information is used to make:

• geological models, which help engineers estimate how much ore there is and its quality

• resource models, which help engineers estimate how much ore reserves there are

• feasibility studies, which help decide whether mining, processing and marketing the ore will be
profitable.

The models and studies help make estimates and decisions about whether there will be a mine.

Step 8
If the mining company decides to start a mine, it will need to apply for a mining lease and negotiate with
all registered native title claimants. Mining companies usually need to raise money before they can begin
mining. This can take one to two years.

In Western Australia, Aboriginal heritage is protected by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 regardless of
whether the exploration method is considered to be ground disturbing or non-ground disturbing.

Contacts
Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation Kimberley Land Council
Telephone: (08) 9268 7000 Telephone: (08) 9193 6199
Website: www.yamatji.org.au Website: www.klc.org.au

Goldfields Land & Sea Council Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western
Telephone: (08) 9263 8700 Australia Inc
Website: www.glc.com.au Telephone: (08) 9325 2955
Website: www.cmewa.com.au
South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council
Telephone: (08) 9358 7400 Association of Mining Exploration Companies Inc
Website: www.noongar.org.au Telephone: 1300 738 184
Website: www.amec.org.au
Central Desert Native Title Services
Telephone: (08) 9425 2000 Department of Mines and Petroleum
Website: www.centraldesert.org.au Telephone: (08) 9222 3333
Website: www.dmp.wa.gov.au

Commonwealth Law Courts

Level 4, 1 Victoria Avenue Perth WA 6000 GPO Box 9973 Perth WA 6848
Telephone (08) 9268 7272 Facsimile (08) 9268 7299
Freecall 1800 640 501 www.nntt.gov.au

Resolution of native title issues over land and waters.