Critica Advances Mt Lindsay Underground Mining Scoping Study Amid Strong Tin-Tungsten Markets

Mt Lindsay Reimagined for Today’s Critical Minerals Market

Critica Limited (ASX:CRI) is taking a fresh, integrated approach to developing its Mt Lindsay Tin-Tungsten Project in Tasmania, pivoting from historical open-pit concepts to an underground mining model designed to meet modern environmental and commercial expectations. This reimagining comes as tin and tungsten prices surge, with ammonium paratungstate (APT) recently hitting US$3,075 per mtu and LME tin settling at US$56,050 per tonne, reflecting growing strategic demand and supply-chain security concerns.

Rather than updating old plans, Critica is applying first-principles thinking to every aspect of the project, from mine access and infrastructure to processing and tailings management, aiming to build a technically robust and commercially compelling operation that minimizes surface disturbance and environmental footprint.

Underground Access Leveraging Existing Disturbance

Central to the new strategy is locating the primary underground mine portal within the footprint of a historical stone quarry, the HEC Quarry, which has already been extensively disturbed. This choice significantly reduces the need to clear new land, aligning with Critica’s goal to avoid new surface disturbance where practical. The portal sits about 600 metres from the proposed processing plant site, itself positioned near existing roads and electricity infrastructure, including sealed Pieman Road and transmission lines.

This underground access approach marks a clear departure from earlier open-pit proposals, enabling most mining activities to occur below ground and thus preserving the mountain’s surface. The integration of mine design with surface infrastructure is intended to create a compact, efficient layout that maximises the use of existing disturbed areas.

Integrated Design Includes Processing and Materials Handling

The Scoping Study is also evaluating surface infrastructure as a unified system, including the processing plant, mine services, water management, and materials handling. Innovative options like conveyor systems and electrification are under consideration to reduce truck traffic, lower emissions, and improve operational efficiency. Access to hydroelectric power in the region supports these lower-emission ambitions, aligning with broader decarbonisation trends in mining.

By designing the underground mine and surface facilities together, Critica hopes to avoid redundant infrastructure and optimise capital efficiency, a key consideration in the early phases of project development.

Tailings Management Tied to Underground Backfill Strategy

Critica is exploring an integrated tailings and backfill approach, where a portion of process tailings would be returned underground as backfill material. This method could reduce the volume of tailings requiring permanent surface storage and support the underground mining sequence. The balance between backfill and surface tailings storage will depend on ongoing engineering, mine scheduling, and testwork outcomes.

This integrated approach to tailings management reflects a broader commitment to responsible development, aiming to reduce long-term environmental impacts while maintaining operational efficiency.

Scoping Study Led by DRA Global Targets Q3 2026 Completion

DRA Global, appointed in May 2026, is spearheading the Scoping Study, which includes mine design, processing, infrastructure, materials handling, tailings management, and project optimisation. The study runs in parallel with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, ensuring that mine planning and project design are tightly aligned with the latest resource data.

Critica’s CEO Jacob Deysel emphasised the importance of early design decisions, noting that the project aims to deliver a better Mt Lindsay adapted to today’s markets and environmental standards. He highlighted the strategic importance of tin and tungsten in global technology, manufacturing, and defence supply chains, underlining the project’s potential to create meaningful investment and employment benefits for Tasmania.

Alongside Mt Lindsay, Critica is advancing a parallel Scoping Study for its Jupiter Project in Western Australia, focusing on rare earths, yttrium, and gallium, with both studies expected to conclude in Q3 2026.