WA Mining Weekly May 11 - 17

This Week’s Big Stories

Greatland Completes Telfer Handover as Newmont Exits

Newcrest USA Inc. has transferred 15 tenements, including the core M45/33 mining lease, to Greatland Pty Ltd, formalizing the handover of the Telfer and Havieron projects in the Paterson Province. Registry records indicate Greatland is receiving a package of tenements in the same transaction, though the precise count is subject to final DMIRS confirmation. According to public announcements, Greatland acquired the assets for up to US$475 million (comprising roughly $207.5M cash, $167.5M in shares, and contingent payments), with company disclosures noting a $120M equity package from Andrew Forrest’s Wyloo underpinning the deal. The strategic logic, per company guidance, is a stated two-year production plan to extend Telfer’s processing operations through FY27, bridging to Havieron’s targeted underground production in FY28 and making use of what technical reports describe as a 20Mtpa dual-train plant. For Newmont, analysts suggest the divestment tidies a post-Newcrest portfolio that carried more Pilbara exposure than the major wanted. For Greatland, the transfer paperwork marks the moment a junior-to-mid-tier operator inherits one of Australia’s most complex operating mine-plus-development combinations.

Wyloo Formalizes Yangibana JV, Then Eyes the Exit

Gascoyne Metals Pty Ltd has transferred nine tenements, including L09/71, to Wyloo Gascoyne Pty Ltd, cementing the registry footprint of Wyloo’s operating position at the Yangibana Rare Earths Project. According to company disclosures, Wyloo secured its stake by canceling roughly A$123M in Hastings Technology Metals exchangeable notes, converting that debt into a 60:40 unincorporated JV with Wyloo as operator. Industry context suggests Yangibana is among Australia’s most advanced NdPr-focused developments, with a notably high ratio of the magnet-critical oxides relative to total rare earth output. What makes the tenement transfer more than routine: shortly after taking operator control, Wyloo reportedly mandated Bank of America to run a strategic sale process over the 60% interest. The read here, according to industry sources, is that converting distressed debt into direct project ownership created a cleaner, more marketable asset structure, one that could appeal to processors or offtakers seeking non-Chinese rare earth supply. Whether Forrest ultimately sells or retains the position, the L09/71 transfer confirms Wyloo holds the keys. The tenure is now structured for a transaction if the price is right.

MCA Nominees Beefs Up Music Well Ahead of Augustus Sale

MCA Nominees Pty Ltd has applied for 12 tenements in the Mt Margaret mineral field, including P39/6604 and P39/6610, adding to a portfolio the DMPE registry already shows at 67 P-type tenements in the field. According to company disclosures, these acquisitions complete consolidation of the Music Well Gold Project, a package described in public announcements as covering approximately 1,345 sq km. The ground sits near active gold operations: the Mt Margaret expiry-rush context places Thunderbox (operator: Thunderbox Gold, 10km) and Hub (operator: Redcliffe, 12km) as the closest producing mines. Per an ASX announcement, MCA has executed a binding Share Purchase Agreement to sell 100% of Music Well Gold Mines to Augustus Minerals for A$275,000 in cash. That headline price looks modest, but Augustus is buying scale in a corridor that industry sources characterize as prospective for multi-million-ounce gold endowment. For Augustus, the deal delivers an immediate, large-footprint land position without the years of ground-floor staking. For MCA, it is an exit after a methodical accumulation campaign across the Mt Margaret field.

Contested Ground

8 New Applications in Kimberley

RED CENTRE RESOURCES PTY LTD, C2 MINERALS PTY LTD, and AILAKIS, RODNEY are among the applicants for 8 new applications lodged in the Kimberley mineral field.

6 New Applications in Mt Margaret

MCAULAY, DARREN MICHAEL, REDCLIFFE PROJECT PTY LTD, and NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS RESOURCES PTY LTD are among the applicants for 6 new applications lodged in the Mt Margaret mineral field.

6 New Applications in Pilbara

MINING EQUITIES PTY LTD, ACCELERATE RESOURCES LIMITED, and GREATLAND EXPLORATION PTY LTD are among the applicants for 6 new applications lodged in the Pilbara mineral field.

5 New Applications in Murchison

MEEKASAN PTY LTD, 1 MEEKATHARRA SG50 PERTH PTY LTD, and YARRI RESOURCES PTY LTD are among the applicants for 5 new applications lodged in the Murchison mineral field.

Pilbara Tenement Expires, 4 New Applications

Following the expiry of 1 tenement in the Pilbara mineral field, PATERSON EXPLORATION PTY LTD, WILDCAT RESOURCES LIMITED, and BALL, BRENDON PHILLIP JOHN are among the applicants for 4 new applications.

Mt Margaret Tenement Expires, 3 New Applications

Following the expiry of 1 tenement in the Mt Margaret mineral field, NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS RESOURCES PTY LTD and TURNER RIVER HOLDINGS PTY LTD are among the applicants for 3 new applications.

Kimberley Tenement Expires, 3 New Applications

Following the expiry of 1 tenement in the Kimberley mineral field, C2 MINERALS PTY LTD is among the applicants for 3 new applications.

Coolgardie Tenement Expires, 3 New Applications

Following the expiry of 1 tenement in the Coolgardie mineral field, MCCLAREN, KYM ANTHONY, MINING EQUITIES PTY LTD, and MCAULAY, DARREN MICHAEL are among the applicants for 3 new applications.

Ground Set to Expire This Week

Live tenements expiring in the next 7 days with no renewal applied for.

Great Western Exploration tenement expiring in Wiluna

A 9,016 hectare Exploration Licence held by mid-tier GREAT WESTERN EXPLORATION LIMITED in the WILUNA mineral field is set to expire on 2026-05-24.

Carnegie Gold tenement expiring in Ularring

A 1,960 hectare Exploration Licence held by mid-tier CARNEGIE GOLD PTY LTD in the ULARRING mineral field is due to expire on 2026-05-19.

Great Western Exploration tenement expiring in Wiluna

A 1,960 hectare Exploration Licence held by mid-tier GREAT WESTERN EXPLORATION LIMITED in the WILUNA mineral field is set to expire on 2026-05-24.

Antipa Resources tenement expiring in Marble Bar

A 1,372 hectare Exploration Licence held by mid-tier ANTIPA RESOURCES PTY LTD in the MARBLE BAR mineral field is due to expire on 2026-05-22.

Pilbara Gold Exploration tenement expiring in West Pilbara

A 1,176 hectare Exploration Licence held by mid-tier PILBARA GOLD EXPLORATION PTY LTD in the WEST PILBARA M.F. mineral field is set to expire on 2026-05-24.

Antipa Resources tenement expiring in Marble Bar

A 980 hectare Exploration Licence held by mid-tier ANTIPA RESOURCES PTY LTD in the MARBLE BAR mineral field is due to expire on 2026-05-22.

Antipa Resources tenement expiring in Marble Bar

A 588 hectare Exploration Licence held by mid-tier ANTIPA RESOURCES PTY LTD in the MARBLE BAR mineral field is due to expire on 2026-05-22.

Zuleika Gold tenement expiring in Broad Arrow

A 183 hectare Prospecting Licence held by mid-tier ZULEIKA GOLD LIMITED in the BROAD ARROW M.F. mineral field is set to expire on 2026-05-23.

Zuleika Gold tenement expiring in Broad Arrow

A 181 hectare Prospecting Licence held by mid-tier ZULEIKA GOLD LIMITED in the BROAD ARROW M.F. mineral field is set to expire on 2026-05-23.

Zuleika Gold tenement expiring in Broad Arrow

A 171 hectare Prospecting Licence held by mid-tier ZULEIKA GOLD LIMITED in the BROAD ARROW M.F. mineral field is set to expire on 2026-05-23.

For more information on these stories or anything else going on WA this week, check out NextMaps, for all the mining news that’s fit to print: https://nextmaps.com.au/

Disclaimer

Tenement expiry dates, applications, transfers, and status changes are based on currently available data and may not reflect real-time outcomes. There is often a 4–6 week delay for Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration to process, lodge, and gazette dealings, meaning ground referenced as “expiring”, “relinquished”, or “transferred” may already have been renewed, surrendered, amended, or otherwise dealt with but not yet publicly reflected.

This information is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute a definitive statement of tenement status, ownership, or availability. Coverage is not exhaustive. No guarantee is given that ground identified will become available, or as to the timing of any such availability. Users should verify all tenement details and dealings directly with official government sources before making any commercial or exploration decisions.

All commentary and interpretations are based on public data and are subject to change as new information becomes available.

Live spatial overlays highlighting tenement drops and upcoming compulsory or voluntary surrenders are available on NextMaps, derived from the MTO dealings feed and the DASC.