View source for Chemistry:Finniss Lithium mine

{{Short description|Lithium mine in the Northern Territory, Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox mine
| name         = Finniss Lithium mine
| country       = Australia
| subdivision_type = Territory
| state/province = Northern Territory
| image_size    = 
| pushpin_map        = Australia
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_map_caption= Location in Australia
| pushpin_image      = 
| pushpin_label      = Finniss Lithium mine
| pushpin_label_position = 
| owner = Core Lithium
| time          = 
| place         = 
| official website   = [https://www.corelithium.com.au/assets/finniss-lithium-operation Finniss Lithium Operation]
| coordinates    = {{coord|-12.713|130.789|type:landmark_region:AU-NT|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| discovery year = 
| opening year =2022
| products = [[Chemistry:Spodumene|Spodumene]]
| financial year = 2024
| amount = 95,020 dmt Spodumene concentrate<ref name=AnnualReport2024>{{citation |url=https://www.datocms-assets.com/106701/1727402206-cxo-core_lithium-2024-annual-report-to-shareholders.pdf |title=Annual Report 2024 |author=Core Lithium}}</ref>
}}

The '''Finnis Lithium mine''' is a lithium mine situated near Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia.  It is being developed by '''Core Lithium'''.<!-- which has a four year contract to supply A LOT of lithium mineral concentrate to Tesla; need details and better source -->

The ore body was discovered in 2016, and feasibility work was done in 2018–2020 with a firm investment decision made in September 2021. Commercial production began in February 2023 {{update after |2031|02 |text=with an 8-year lifespan.}}<ref name=miningtech202201/>

== Geological setup ==
The mine comprises {{cvt|500|km2}} of leases, covering the Bynoe [[Earth:Pegmatite|pegmatite]] field (BPF) and several pegmatites near Darwin.<ref name=miningtech202201/> Specifically, it encompasses the five ore deposits "Grants, Carlton, Sandras, Hang Gong SW, and BP33."<ref name=miningtech202201 /> The:<ref name=nse20221013 />
{{blockquote |text=ore bodies of the Finniss lithium project are characterised as [[Chemistry:Lithium|lithium]]-cesium-[[Chemistry:Tantalum|tantalum]] (LCT) pegmatite deposits that are hosted within the Burrell Creek metasedimentary rock formation. The pegmatites at the deposits comprise lithium-bearing [[Chemistry:Spodumene|spodumene]], [[Chemistry:Quartz|quartz]], [[Chemistry:Albite|albite]], [[Chemistry:Microcline|microcline]] as well as [[Chemistry:Mica|mica]]}}
with a consistent lithium content across the ore body.<ref name=nse20221013>{{cite web |title=Finniss Lithium Project |url=https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/finniss-lithium-project/ |publisher=NS Energy |website=business.com |access-date=13 October 2022 }}</ref>

== Description ==
Core Lithium is developing the mine,<ref name=primero20221013>[https://primero.com.au/projects/finniss-lithium/ CORE Lithium : Finnis Lithium], retrieved 13 October 2022</ref> having completed a pre-feasibility study (PFS) in June 2018 and a definitive feasibility study (DFS) in April 2019.  Revisions to the feasibility study were completed in 2020 to incorporate underground mining methods in the mining plan. A revised DFS was completed in July 2021 outlining a project that will occur in multiple stages. The first stage will involve open-pit mining near Grants and Hang Gong, as well as underground mining at the Grants, BP33, and Carlton prospects.<ref name=miningtech202201>{{cite news |title=Finniss Lithium Project, Northern Territory, Australia |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/finniss-lithium-project/ |work=Mining Technology |date=13 January 2022 |access-date=13 October 2022 }}</ref> The Australian JORC 2012 compliance process estimated 3.45 million tonnes (Mt) of mineral resource at 1.4 percent [[Chemistry:Lithium oxide|lithium oxide]].<ref name=primero20221013/>  Major Project Status (MPS) was granted by the Australian government in March 2021, recognizing the strategic significance of the project.<ref name=miningnews20210317>{{cite news |title=Australia grants MPS for Core Lithium's Finniss lithium project |url=https://www.miningmetalnews.com/20210317/1786/australia-grants-mps-core-lithiums-finniss-lithium-project |last=Matthis |first=Simon |work=MiningMetalNews |date=17 March 2021 |access-date=13 October 2022 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013033439/https://www.miningmetalnews.com/20210317/1786/australia-grants-mps-core-lithiums-finniss-lithium-project |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Battery-grade [[Chemistry:Lithium hydroxide|lithium hydroxide]] was produced as part of the test works on [[Chemistry:Spodumene|spodumene]] mineral concentrate sample from the mine in April 2021.<ref name=miningtech202201/> Construction began in 2021 and full operational mining commenced in October 2022,<ref name=abc20221010/> with the first shipment of spodumene concentrate being exported from Port Darwin in May 2023.<ref name=miningtech202201/>

Development of the mine is an $89 million project. Over the 12-year lifespan of the project {{convert|16|e6t|e9lb|abbr=off}} of ore {{update after |2034|10 |text=are expected to be mined. Most lithium concentrate is expected to be exported overseas.}}<ref name=abc20221010/>

== Production and sales ==
In 2022, [[Company:Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]] contracted for {{convert|110|e3t|e6lb|abbr=off}} of spodumene concentrate over four years from the Core Lithium and its Finniss lithium mine.<ref name=pvmag20221013>{{cite news |title=NT opens first lithium mine, supplying Tesla |url=https://www.pv-magazine-australia.com/2022/10/13/nt-opens-first-lithium-mine-supplying-tesla/ |work=PV Magazine |date=13 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 }}</ref><ref name=abc20221010>{{cite news |title=Core Lithium opens the Northern Territory's first lithium mine amid surging demand for electric vehicles |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-11/core-lithium-opens-finniss-mine-near-darwin-nt-electric-vehicles/101518998 |work=ABC News |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=15 October 2022 }}</ref>

==See also==
* Lithium mining in Australia

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://portal.ga.gov.au/deposit-report/minerals/finniss-lithium-project/606494 Finnish Lithium Project Deposit Summary Report]
* [https://portergeo.com.au/database/mineinfo.asp?mineid=mn1657 Bynoe Pegmatite Field - Finniss Lithium (Grants, Carlton, Sandras, Hang Gong SW, BP33), Mount Finniss Tin-Tantalum]

[[Category:Lithium minerals]]

{{Sourceattribution|Finniss Lithium mine}}