The Hillgrove Mine in New South Wales has resumed production after more than a decade, with gold and antimony now being extracted near Armidale and plans to add tungsten in the future.
The reopening of the historic operation comes as restrictions on antimony exports from China contribute to shortages of the critical mineral. Antimony is used in electronics, artificial intelligence and defence, as well as in lead-acid batteries and fire retardants.
Larvotto Resources, which owns the mine, said its output could make a significant contribution to supply outside China. Managing director Ron Heeks said Hillgrove was expected to produce “seven per cent of world antimony and more than 50 per cent of antimony available outside of China influences”.
Antimony is listed as a critical mineral by Australia, Japan, the United States and Europe, while most of the world’s supply is mined in China.
Mr Heeks said demand for the mineral had also been driven by solar panels. “The big growth area has been solar panels, so over the last eight to 10 years it has gone from nothing to about 40 per cent of the market and that’s the main driver of the shortfall,” he said.
Hillgrove Mine returns to production
The processing plant has been upgraded as part of the mine’s revival, while the underground operation has also been redeveloped.
The site dates back to the 1880s and was initially used mainly for gold mining. It experienced intermittent mineral production in the late 20th century before being placed into care and maintenance in 2015.
Larvotto Resources acquired the mine at the end of 2023. Mr Heeks said the company had, in less than three years, completed technical studies, secured funding, redeveloped the underground mine, upgraded the processing plant and returned the operation to production.
The company has held talks with governments and stakeholders in Australia, Taiwan, Japan and the United States over the project and its role in supplying antimony.
Located 23 kilometres from Armidale, the mine’s revival has injected about 100 million Australian dollars into the city’s local economy over the past 12 months.
Larvotto chief operating officer Sonja Neame said 86 per cent of the workforce came from Hillgrove, Armidale and the wider New England region.
“It’s the beginning of the next chapter for Hillgrove and we’re very proud of all the people we’ve got working here who have joined us,” she said.
