We have the resources for modern life
Mining and Critical Minerals
The Northern Territory is home to some of Australia’s largest deposits of minerals including manganese, bauxite, phosphate, gold and uranium, as well as critical minerals such as graphite, zinc, rare earths and lithium.
Underpinned by a rich geological endowment, strong regulatory environment, and growing global demand for critical minerals and gold, the Northern Territory continues to be ranked in the top 10 jurisdictions globally for mining investment attractiveness and mineral potential.
Mining and minerals processing is a priority sector, contributing 27% of the Northern Territory’s Gross State Product, employing approximately 4,060 people and generating A$10.2 billion in economic output in FY24, while mineral exploration activity added A$130.7 million in 2024-25 (FY25).
Eight mines currently operate across the Northern Territory. The extractives industry also supports production of non-metallic materials such as rock, sand, gravel, and quicklime. Together, these operations generated $4.36 billion in mineral production in FY 2024-25.
| Operating mines | Company | Resources |
|---|---|---|
| Tanami Operations | Newmont Corporation | Gold |
| Nobles Nob | Tennant Mines | Gold |
| McAthur River | Glencore PLC | Zinc, Lead, Silver |
| GEMCO | South32 Ltd | Manganese |
| Gove | Rio Tinto | Bauxite |
| Dhupuma Plateau | Gulkula Mining | Bauxite |
| Roper Bar | Nathan River Resources | Iron Ore |
| Sill 80 | Australia Ilmenite Resources | Ilmenite |
Northern Territory advantages
Top 10 location: for mining investment attractiveness and minerals potential globally.
Energy transition partner: We possess resources for 17 globally recognised critical minerals that are needed for the energy transition and potential for 13 emerging commodities.
Government assistance: Extensive support for proponents and projects is available, including reducing red tape and fast-tracking approvals. There are a range of stimulus initiatives and grants, including pre-competitive geoscience, exploration grants, and the management and free distribution of extensive geological and resource data.
Funding: Access to capital markets and expertise – Australia is one of the world’s most experienced countries in funding resources projects.
Labour: Access to capable labour and expertise locally and via a Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) workforce.
Rankings
| Resources | Rankings – Northern Territory |
|---|---|
| Gold | Ranked among top 5 gold-producing mines in Australia |
| Zinc | Australia’s 2nd largest zinc producer and 5th largest globally |
| Manganese | The world’s largest low-cost manganese operation |
| Bauxite | One of the top 5 bauxite producing mines worldwide |
| Rare Earths | Potential to supply up to 4% of global magnet feed rare earths |
| Graphite | Home to Australia’s largest graphite deposit |
Opportunities
Investment opportunities span the full value chain - from early-stage exploration and downstream processing to fully permitted projects seeking direct equity, joint ventures, or offtake agreements.
For investors seeking diversification or vertical integration, or for institutions looking for strong debt and equity returns, the Northern Territory’s resources sector presents compelling options in:
- Exploration: Around 80% of land (1.35M km²) in the Northern Territory remains underexplored, presenting greenfield opportunities. The government provides high-quality, free geoscience data and supports exploration through targeted pre-competitive geoscience programs and co-funded exploration grants under the A$9.5 million Resourcing the Territory program. It also offers a competitive royalty regime and robust regulatory frameworks that support responsible development.
- Existing or developing projects: The Northern Territory offers significant potential for growth in the discovery and development of mineral resources. Currently, 19 mining projects are in development, with A$6.2 billion in CapEx and are expected to generate approximately 3,300 construction jobs and 3,200 ongoing operational roles.
- Downstream processing: There are strong prospects to capture added value from minerals, moving beyond resource extraction into high- value downstream processing. In Central Australia, Arafura Rare Earths Ltd is advancing Australia’s first integrated rare earth element mining and separation plant at Nolans. In Darwin, the Middle Arm Precinct aims to be the cornerstone of the Northern Territory’s critical minerals and clean energy industries.
- Critically important minerals: The Northern Territory can play a key role in decarbonising the global economy by developing new and emerging technologies and securing supply chains for metallic and non-metallic minerals which as required to manufacture batteries, electric vehicles, medical equipment, solar panels, drones, AI technologies and more. Such minerals include rare earth elements, lithium, graphite, cobalt, and other high-value metals such as tungsten, molybdenum, and gallium batteries, electric vehicles, mobile phones, high-definition screens, solar panels, medical equipment and military technology.