EQ secures funding to advance XRT ore sorting trials - Mining.com.au

EQ Resources (ASX:EQR) has secured $250,000 in funding through the Queensland Government’s Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) Collaborative Project Fund to initiate advanced x-ray transmission (XRT) ore sorting trials.

The company says the advanced sorted technology trials are aimed at assessing the viability of redeveloping the historic Wolfram Camp tungsten mine in Queensland.

On 18 June 2024, EQ Resources secured an exploration permit-minerals for Wolfram, which covers 477km2 and lies only 100k southwest of the Mt Carbine Tungsten Mine.

Wolfram Camp represents a “unique opportunity” to revitalise the historic mining region it lies in and form part of a potential tungsten cluster the company has been advocating with the government.

The $118.56 million market capitalised company says it aims to unlock this potential through comprehensive region review and exploration programs, including mapping, soil and geophysical surveys, high-resolution magnetic imaging and drill testing over 10,000m in the next three years.

Trials of the sorting technology will be a collaborative effort involving Tomra Sorting, and The University of Queensland, Sustainable Minerals Institute. EQ will be the consortium lead to the project.

Tomra will provide its industrial XRT sorters and support for the optimisation of sorting technologies, and its pilot facility in Sydney will also be used for preliminary testing and onsite trials that will ensure the XRT sorters perform optimally on the Wolfram Camp materials.

The University of Queensland, through the Sustainable Minerals Institute, will lead geometallurgical characterisation of the stockpiles, focusing on tungsten and molybdenum deposits.

CEO Kevin MacNeill says this funding is key to advancing the company’s strategy at Wolfram Camp, enabling EQ to deploy cutting-edge technologies and expertise to unlock the site’s potential.

“By leveraging advanced ore sorting and geometallurgical techniques, we’re breathing new life into this historic asset while supporting Queensland’s critical minerals strategy,” MacNeill says.

“As with Mt Carbine, we’re committed to fostering local prosperity through modern, responsible exploration, driving sustainable growth and strengthening the global critical minerals supply chain.”

EQ Resources is a tungsten mining company focused on expanding its tungsten assets at Mt Carbine in North Queensland and at Barruecopardo in the Salamanca Province, Spain.

Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au