Australian heavy rare earths developer Northern Minerals Limited (ASX: NTU) has been granted a new Mining Lease, M80/650, over the company’s Browns Range heavy rare earths project, in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
The grant follows the receipt of the required Native Title party consents.
The newly granted M80/650 replaces the previous mining lease M80/627, which was voluntarily surrendered upon the grant of M80/650. The new mining lease more than doubles the area covered under a mining lease at Browns Range from 4,923 to 10,458 hectares by converting existing Northern Minerals exploration tenure into the granted M80/650.
This expanded area includes priority targets for near-term exploration. The lease has an initial term of 21 years until 8 September 2046, plus a further term of 21 years.
Northern Minerals holds a 100% interest in the newly granted mining lease.
Browns Range, in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, is a globally significant source of the heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium, which are essential in the manufacture of high-performance permanent magnets used for the propulsion of electric vehicles, wind turbines and specialist defence applications.
On 15 September 2025, Northern Minerals released its definitive feasibility study for the proposed development of Browns Range. which confirmed a technically and economically robust heavy rare earths development opportunity.
This expanded mining lease will further support development of Browns Range as outlined in the DFS.
Northern Minerals will continue to undertake project and exploration activities over the granted Mining Lease.
