Western Operations

Centred on the Mt Kelly processing facility, Western Operations form the producing foundation of Austral Resources. Our established oxide processing pathway converts mined ore into copper cathode, supported by nearby copper assets and ongoing development across North West Queensland.

Western Operations at a glance

Mt Kelly facility

Oxide

The central processing facility at the heart of Western Operations.

Heap leach processing

Cathode

Heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning recover copper from oxide ore.

Operating status

Producing

Western Operations produce copper through the Mt Kelly processing facility.

Feedstock

Regional

Nearby mining and resource areas support the Western Operations production and development pipeline.

From oxide ore to copper cathode

Western Operations use the Mt Kelly heap-leach and SX-EW circuit to recover copper from oxide ore and produce copper cathode.

01 - Ore preparation

Mined oxide ore is crushed, sized and agglomerated before being stacked in engineered heaps on lined leach pads.

02 - Heap leaching

A dilute sulphuric acid solution is applied to the heaps, dissolving copper from the ore as it passes through the material.

03 - Solvent extraction

Copper is selectively transferred from the collected leach solution into a cleaner, concentrated solution ready for electrowinning.

04 - Electrowinning

Electrical current deposits copper onto stainless-steel plates. The finished copper is stripped, bundled and prepared for transport.

Western Operations in focus

Mt Kelly is supported by mining and resource areas across Western Operations, providing feed for current production and opportunities for future development.