MCF Mining Approvals IndexData as at 18 October 2026 · from Western Australian Government registers and open data
Western Australian mining project · Operating
Thunderbird - Kimberley Mineral Sands
Thunderbird - Kimberley Mineral Sands is a Western Australian mining project (operating) in MINEDEX, owned by Sheffield Resources Ltd 50%; Ygh Australia Investment Pty Ltd 50%; Thunderbird Operations Pty Ltd 0%; Kimberley Mineral Sands Pty Ltd, on 11 current tenements held by THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD. Commodities: Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile.
- MINEDEX project
- J04280
- Stage
- Operating
- Owners (MINEDEX)
- Sheffield Resources Ltd 50%; Ygh Australia Investment Pty Ltd 50%; Thunderbird Operations Pty Ltd 0%; Kimberley Mineral Sands Pty Ltd
- Tenement holders
- THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD
- Commodities
- Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile
- Rehabilitation liability
- Its rehabilitation liability is in the MCF Mining Index (subscribers): the Mining Rehabilitation Fund estimate, its trend since 2014, company provisions and closure-plan costs
Resources and reserves
| Commodity | Resources | Reserves | Latest estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy minerals | 3,263 Mt at 13.2%, 432 Mt contained | 83 Mt at 100.0%, 82.7 Mt contained | 30 June 2025 |
| Ilmenite | 432 Mt at 27.7%, 119 Mt contained | 83 Mt at 3.1%, 2.6 Mt contained | 30 June 2025 |
| Zircon | 432 Mt at 8.3%, 35.9 Mt contained | 83 Mt at 0.85%, 706 kt contained | 30 June 2025 |
| Leucoxene | 432 Mt at 4.6%, 19.7 Mt contained | 83 Mt at 0.27%, 226 kt contained | 30 June 2025 |
| Rutile | 209 Mt at 2.4%, 5.0 Mt contained | — | 30 June 2025 |
Current MINEDEX estimates over all the project's sites; resources may include reserves. MINEDEX (DMPE), CC BY 4.0.
Mine closure plans
| Site | Operator | Latest plan approved | Plan (PDF on GeoDocs) | Closure year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird Minerals Sands Project - Construction and Mining (Years 1-3) | Sheffield Resources PTY LTD | 13 September 2019 | Thunderbird Minerals Sands Project - Mining Proposal - Construction and Mining (Years 1-3) |
EPA Ministerial Statements
MS 1080 Thunderbird Mineral Sands Project
Tenements
| Tenement | Holder | Status | Expires | Commodities | Hectares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M 04/459 Mining lease | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 24 September 2039 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 4,524 |
| L 04/82 Miscellaneous licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 25 June 2039 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 632 |
| L 04/83 Miscellaneous licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 25 June 2039 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 219 |
| L 04/84 Miscellaneous licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 22 April 2036 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 120 |
| L 04/85 Miscellaneous licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 22 April 2036 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 236 |
| L 04/86 Miscellaneous licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 22 April 2036 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 192 |
| E 04/2083 Exploration licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 4 September 2027 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 23,199 |
| E 04/2084 Exploration licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 21 March 2027 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 8,809 |
| E 04/2171 Exploration licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 20 February 2027 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite, Rutile | 8,475 |
| E 04/2456 Exploration licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 7 February 2027 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite | 5,208 |
| E 04/2494 Exploration licence | THUNDERBIRD OPERATIONS PTY LTD | Granted | 29 May 2028 | Heavy mineral sands, Zircon, Ilmenite | 8,786 |