New opportunity for Litchfield Minerals in garnet-rich NT heavy mineral sands
- Doug Bright
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Garnet-rich heavy mineral sands could represent a new industrial minerals opportunity at Litchfield Minerals’ (ASX: LMS) Oonagalabi project in the Northern Territory.
Recent mineralogical testwork confirms a significant presence of heavy mineral sands (HMS), primarily garnet, alongside pyroxenes, adding a compelling industrial dimension to the project’s core copper-zinc exploration focus.
The findings follow initial bulk sampling results from the company’s mid-June testwork and mark a key step in assessing dual-commodity potential of the project, which is about 125 kilometres northeast of Alice Springs in the Harts Range.
Litchfield is now seeking commercial partners with expertise in garnet processing, product qualification and market distribution to develop the garnet deposit.
The testwork utilised two standard analytical methods, including quantitative evaluation of minerals using scanning electron microscopy (QEMSCAN) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). QEMSCAN examines mineral composition, grain size and liberation characteristics, while XRD measures the weight percentages of key mineral groups.
Garnet, particularly almandine, made up about 20-36 per cent of the samples tested. Amphiboles and pyroxenes made up 53-69 per cent, while minor amounts of ilmenite, titanite and apatite were also identified, which could potentially have industrial applications.
Preliminary mineralogical work indicates the Oonagalabi HMS is garnet- and pyroxene-dominant. Confirming this assemblage would open a parallel industrial-minerals opportunity alongside our copper-zinc exploration.
Litchfield Minerals Managing Director Matthew Pustahya
The garnet and pyroxene grains show high liberation across key sizes, suggesting they can be efficiently separated using conventional gravity and magnetic methods. This would make them ideal for producing garnet-rich products for abrasives, waterjet cutting and filtration markets.
The company plans to conduct initial beneficiation tests to produce garnet concentrates, followed by product specification checks to meet industry standards, such as low chloride and heavy metal content.
If successful, bulk sampling and pilot processing will generate samples for potential offtake partners, paving the way for market entry.
These steps aim to establish Oonagalabi as a viable source of industrial minerals, capitalising on a global garnet market valued at about US$703 million (A$1085 million) in 2024. The market is projected to grow at 5.4 per cent annually, driven by demand for sustainable abrasives, precision cutting, and water filtration.
The outcome would boost Oonagalabi’s industrial mineral prospects, particularly given its almandine-rich garnet, provided it overcomes logistical challenges and secures strategic partnerships.
The project’s dual focus on industrial minerals and copper-zinc exploration enhances its long-term value proposition in a dynamic market.
While the heavy mineral sands discovery enhances Oonagalabi’s appeal, Litchfield remains focused on its primary goal of exploring iron oxide copper-gold (IOCG) systems.
Geoscience Australia’s IOCG mineral potential map ranks Oonagalabi as moderately prospective, supported by its alignment with continental-scale gravity lineaments and proximity to the major crustal boundaries between the Irindina and Aileron Provinces.
These geological features, common in Tier 1 deposits, underscore the project’s potential for significant copper-zinc discoveries, with the garnet-rich Oonagalabi Formation adding a secondary resource opportunity.
Litchfield’s Oonagalabi project stands out as a multi-commodity prospect in the heart of the Northern Territory. With its high-grade copper-zinc potential complemented by a garnet-rich HMS resource, the project offers diversified value.
As Litchfield advances its exploration and partnerships, Oonagalabi could emerge as a significant contributor to both critical and industrial mineral markets.
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