- Business
- Macarthur Minerals Limited (ASX: MIO; OTCQB: MMSDF) is an iron ore development and exploration company focused on advancing its projects in Western Australia. The company holds interests in the Lake Giles Iron Project in the Yilgarn region, encompassing the Moonshine Magnetite Project with mineral resources of 53.9 million tonnes (Measured) at 30.8% Fe, 218.7 million tonnes (Indicated) at 27.5% Fe, and 997 million tonnes (Inferred) at 28.4% Fe, supporting Proven Ore Reserves of 51.9 million tonnes and Probable Ore Reserves of 184.7 million tonnes for a 25-year mine life at 3 million tonnes per annum of 66.1% Fe magnetite concentrate; and the Ularring Hematite Project with Indicated resources of 54.5 million tonnes at 47.2% Fe and Inferred resources of 26 million tonnes at 45.4% Fe. Additional assets include the Treppo Grande Iron Project; nickel, cobalt, gold, lithium, and copper exploration tenements in the Pilbara and Lake Giles regions; and legacy lithium brine claims in Nevada, USA, covering 210 unpatented placer mining claims in Railroad Valley. Macarthur targets steelmakers and industrial users through potential exports via the Perth-Kalgoorlie Railway to the Port of Esperance.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, the company operates primarily in Western Australia with exploration interests spanning approximately 62 square kilometers at Lake Giles and additional Pilbara tenements. Subsidiaries include Macarthur Iron Ore Pty Ltd, which holds core iron ore assets; Esperance Iron Ore Export Company Pty Ltd; and Macarthur Lithium Nevada Limited. A 2022 feasibility study for the Lake Giles Magnetite Project outlines pre-tax NPV(6%) of A$816 million, post-tax IRR of 10.1%, and life-of-mine sales revenue of A$12,614 million.
Recent developments include the June 2024 binding term sheet with Gold Valley Yilgarn Pty Ltd granting mining rights to hematite at Ularring and Treppo Grande in exchange for A$750,000 in staged cash payments (fully received by December 2024), a A$5 million royalty on the first 1 million dry metric tonnes sold, a further A$5 million on the next 1 million tonnes, and A$1 per tonne thereafter, excluding magnetite resources; a July 2024 private placement raising A$1.282 million via 24.2 million shares at A$0.053; a February 2024 renounceable rights issue raising A$581,000; and a May 2025 renounceable rights issue to raise up to A$2 million fully underwritten by Gold Valley Yilgarn. The company divested its Infinity Mining Limited stake by January 2025, delisted from TSXV and OTC in May 2025 to focus on ASX, relocated its registered office to Brisbane's Waterfront Place in May 2025, appointed mining executive Nigel Jones for strategic transactions, and issued a A$250,000 convertible note in May 2025. Hematite operations with Gold Valley target export by late 2025, while magnetite advancement seeks strategic partners.