Copper developer New Frontier Minerals has lodged a mining lease application for the Big One copper deposit, part of its NWQ copper project in the Mount Isa copper belt of north-west Queensland.

Covering 240 ha, the lease secures long-term tenure over the historical Big One workings and surrounding mineralised structures.

The application is supported by an initial development plan that outlines a potential opencut copper mining operation, referencing Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant indicated and inferred resources of 2.1-million tonnes at 1.1% copper, and an additional 7 000 t at 1.3% copper from surface stockpiles.

Preparatory earthworks are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026, with first production targeted for the first quarter of 2027. Ore would be hauled to Austral Resources’ Mt Kelly copper processing facility, in line with the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the two ASX-listed companies earlier this year.

“With the macro picture for copper demand remaining robust and a path to production in place through our MoU framework with Austral Resources, lodging a mining lease application for the Big One deposit is the optimal path to generate value for shareholders,” said New Frontier chairperson Gerrard Hall.

“As the known resource at the Big One deposit is relatively shallow, the current plans call for an opencut mining operation with ore then transported to Austral’s Mt Kelly copper processing facility and ultimately on-sold to end-users,” he added.

Hall said further development work could extend known mineralisation, with the broader NWQ copper project hosting 20 highly prospective targets that have yet to be fully evaluated.

Located within one of Australia’s most established copper districts, the NWQ copper project benefits from existing road, power and processing infrastructure, which New Frontier said would help streamline the development process and reduce capital intensity.

The company said the proposed operation was designed to leverage the site’s existing footprint, including previously disturbed areas, to minimise surface impact and support its commitment to responsible development.