EPM29324 -MAYTOWN PALMER RIVER

Location

The Maytown EPM 29324 is strategically positioned on the banks of the Palmer River, at the historic intersection of Maytown—the centre of the legendary 1873 River of Gold rush. The tenement covers portions of the Palmer Goldfield Resources Reserve as well as sections of Palmerville Station, placing it directly within one of Australia’s most significant historic gold-producing districts.

Access to the area is excellent for a remote Far North Queensland location, with multiple Council and federally maintained roads providing reliable connectivity. Whites Creek Road links the project to the Mulligan Highway south of Lakeland. West Whites Creek Road connects directly to Palmerville Road, which then joins the Peninsula Development Road at Laura. To the south, Mount Mulgrave Road provides access to the Burke Development Road leading toward Chillagoe. These routes support exploration logistics and present strong future access options for mining operations.

The rich mining legacy of the Palmer River district—particularly around Dogleg Creek and the historic Maytown crossing—has made this region world-famous among gold prospectors, historians, and modern exploration companies alike.

Geological and Historical Context

The mining lease application area lies within the Hodgkinson Formation, part of the Hodgkinson Province in Far North Queensland. This geologically rich formation is primarily composed of laterally discontinuous arenites, siltstones, and shales, interbedded with minor conglomerates, chert, basalt, and limestone. These sedimentary sequences are interpreted as the result of turbidity current deposits in a deep-water submarine fan system, formed during the Devonian period (Bain & Draper, 1997).

Over time, the formation has been subjected to multiple phases of both brittle and ductile deformation, ranging from early isoclinal folding and protomylonite development to later-stage, steeply plunging folds and reverse faulting (Dugdale, 1989). Cratonisation occurred in the Early Permian, following extensive magmatic activity including the emplacement of granitic plutons and widespread volcanic episodes.

One of the most significant regional geological structures influencing the area is the Palmerville Fault, which demarcates the boundary between the Proterozoic Dargalong Metamorphics to the west and the Siluro-Devonian sediments to the east. This fault system played a critical role in controlling sedimentation along the western margin of the province (Shepherd, 1992).

The regional geology is further intruded by large Permian–Carboniferous granitic bodies, notably the Whypalla Supersuite and the Cannibal Creek Granite. These igneous intrusions, along with isoclinal folding and major north-northwest–south-southeast trending structural lineaments, have shaped the mineralisation framework of the region.

 

Mineralisation and Production History

The Hodgkinson Formation hosts widespread and diverse mineralisation. Notable historic production centres include the Herberton–Irvinebank tin field, and the Palmer River and Hodgkinson goldfields. Mineral occurrences within the region include:

  • Gold, typically in epigenetic quartz vein systems hosted in fissures, reverse faults, laminated veins, stockworks, and breccia zones.

  • Tungsten, primarily as wolfram and scheelite.

  • Molybdenum, commonly found as molybdenite, often in association with gold veins.

  • Antimony, occurring as stibnite, frequently as a minor gold associate.

  • Base metals, such as copper, lead, and zinc, particularly in sub-volcanic environments like the OK Mine.

The gold mineralisation is often associated with limonite, pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and stibnite. Although alluvial gold has historically dominated production figures, the region also hosts significant hard rock gold potential, particularly around Maytown and the Hodgkinson field.

Modern Exploration Activity

The Maytown–Palmer River region has attracted sustained exploration interest over the past several decades, with numerous major and mid-tier mining companies evaluating its potential. Groups such as BHP, Placer, Western Mining Corporation, Huston Minerals, and Republic Gold Limited have completed multi-phase exploration programs across the district. Republic Gold, listed on the ASX in 2003, undertook approximately 16,000 metres of drilling, culminating in a published resource estimate in 2009 before the company redirected its focus to other assets.

To the south of the current application area, Territory Minerals holds tenements hosting a JORC-compliant resource exceeding 200,000 ounces of gold. Their extensive drilling programs demonstrate the fertility of the broader structural corridor and provide important geological context for identifying mineralisation trends extending toward the EPM 29324 area.

Despite this history of interest, regional-scale modern exploration remains limited. The application area has seen minimal high-resolution geophysical coverage, including modern magnetics, radiometrics, or Induced Polarisation/Resistivity (IP/Res) surveys. Given that gold mineralisation in the Palmer–Maytown district is closely associated with structural controls, this lack of systematic geophysical work presents a significant greenfield discovery opportunity. Mapping deeper structural networks and alteration systems has the potential to unlock new hard-rock gold targets within the tenement.

Historical Mining Legacy

The region surrounding EPM 29324 is one of Australia’s most storied goldfields, rooted in the Palmer River Gold Rush of the 1870s. Multiple gold rushes swept across the district, several occurring within a short distance of the application area:

  • Sandy Creek Rush – 3 km west

  • Oaky Creek Rush – 7 km southwest

  • Perdies Camp Rush – 3 km south

  • Dogleg Creek Rush – 2 km east

These events triggered a wave of prospecting activity, resulting in more than 100 historical mining leases being pegged in the surrounding area, largely targeting alluvial gold.

From the 1970s through the 1990s, larger alluvial mining operations were established by companies such as AUR, ADR, and Cambrian Resources, particularly along Sandy, Oaky, and Dogleg Creeks. These ventures demonstrated strong gold recoveries and confirmed the ongoing potential for scalable alluvial and eluvial operations in the region.

Today, the district remains highly active, with over 30 granted Mining Leases (MLs) and Mining Lease Applications (MLAs) continuing to operate within the broader Palmer River and Maytown area. This enduring activity reflects both the historic richness of the field and the substantial remaining potential for new discoveries—particularly where modern exploration tools have yet to be applied.

Other Significant Mining Operations in the Region

The broader district surrounding the current mining lease application forms part of a highly active, mineral-rich corridor in Far North Queensland, hosting multiple advanced mining operations and exploration projects. These operations demonstrate the region’s strong mineral endowment, established processing infrastructure, and continued industry investment.

Mungana Gold-Copper Mine – Actus Resources

Mungana operates a 700,000 tonne per annum (Mtpa) processing plant incorporating a fine-grind circuit and copper flotation capability. This modern polymetallic processing hub enables efficient recovery of gold, copper, and associated base metals, providing critical infrastructure for nearby projects.

Mount Garnet Copper Mine – Consolidated Tin Mines Ltd

A major base-metals producer in the region, Mount Garnet processes copper ore into concentrate for export through the Port of Townsville. The operation supports significant local employment, logistics, and regional infrastructure.

Mount Carbine Tungsten Project – EQ Resources

One of Australia’s most important tungsten operations, Mount Carbine has undergone renewed investment, with mining activities recommencing in 2023. Current programs include feasibility studies, drilling beneath the historic open pit, and expansion of both hard-rock and stockpile-reprocessing operations. Its proximity—approximately 60 km from Palmerville—offers meaningful synergies for future tungsten production.

Dianne Copper Mine – Revolver Resources

A historically high-grade copper producer, the Dianne Mine is now undergoing extensive resource definition drilling. Recent results have confirmed strong mineralisation extensions, positioning it as one of the region’s most promising copper redevelopment opportunities.

Territory Minerals

South of the current application area, Territory Minerals continues active exploration and feasibility assessment. Their tenements host a JORC-compliant gold resource exceeding 200,000 ounces, validating the district’s strong structural and stratigraphic controls for primary gold mineralisation.

Collectively, these operations highlight a strategic and emerging mining corridor with:

  • Proven gold, copper, tungsten, and base-metal systems

  • Active exploration across multiple companies

  • Existing regional processing infrastructure

  • Established transport routes to Cairns and the Port of Townsville

  • Significant ongoing investment across multiple commodities

This dynamic environment enhances the development potential for Diversified Mining and Resources Pty Ltd, positioning the company’s exploration projects within a well-supported geological and economic framework.

Golden Bend Mining Project

Diversified Mining and Resources, in collaboration with alluvial miners Dale Forrester and Matt Hancock, has recently identified and pegged the Golden Bend Mining Project, located within the broader Palmer River–Maytown goldfield corridor. This initiative represents the first project established under the Diversified Mining and Resources royalty agreement framework, signalling a new phase of structured partnerships with experienced operators in the region.

The Golden Bend area was specifically targeted for its high-grade alluvial, colluvial, and eluvial gold potential, supported by historical production records and modern field verification. A total of five Mining Leases have now been secured, each accompanied by landholder consent and royalty agreements already in place, providing a clear and accelerated pathway toward operational development.

These mining leases are now available for purchase, offering incoming operators a rare opportunity to enter one of Queensland’s most historically significant and actively producing alluvial gold districts, immediately adjacent to modern exploration activities including EPM 29324.

DIVERSIFIED MINING AND RESOURCES

To prove up and develop critical mineral, rare earths (REE), defence mineral projects.