The Donald Project | Australia

The next globally significant mineral sands and rare earths developments

The Donald Project area, 300 kms northwest of Melbourne, includes the Donald and Jackson deposits – Tier 1 reserves of rare earths, zircon and titanium minerals.

Together, these deposits promise significant value through low-risk conventional mining and heavy mineral processing operations. Astron will develop them under respective subsidiaries:

  • Donald Project Pty Ltd (trading as Donald Mineral Sands (DMS))
  • Jackson Mineral Sands Pty Ltd.

DMS manages the Donald deposit licences, which include:

  • Mining Licence MIN5532 (2,778.54 ha)
  • Retention Licences RL2002 (24,371 ha)

DMS will develop the Donald deposit in two phases. Phase 1 is MIN5532. Phase 2 is the potential future development of RL2002. Progressing RL2002 to development would require conversion to a Mining Licence and the necessary planning, environmental and heritage assessments and approvals.

Market position

Diverse revenue mix from two product streams – mineral sands and rare earths

1.81 billion tonnes total mineral resource at 4.6% heavy mineral grade

World's largest new zircon source

One of the world's most significant rare earths resources outside China

Valuable heavy rare earths assemblage, including dysprosium and terbium

Scale & grade

Features of the globally significant Donald deposit include:

  • 1.81 billion tonnes total Donald mineral resource at 4.6% grade (MIN5532 + RL2002)
  • 58+ year mine life over planned two-phase development
  • 525 million tonnes mineral resource at 4.0% grade (Phase 1 – MIN5532)
  • 309 Mt ore reserve at 4.4% heavy mineral grade for Phase 1
  • 27 km² mining lease area
  • Light rare earths include neodymium and praseodymium from monazite
  • Favourable monazite to xenotime ratio of less than 3:1

View Resource Statement

 Mining and processing

  • Shallow, free flowing ore deposit
  • Conventional truck and shovel mining
  • Conventional and proven processing methods (froth recovery; gravity separation)
  • Extensive metallurgical testing provides high confidence of commercial recovery levels (90%+)
  • Proximity to all necessary infrastructure, including:
    • Power
    • Water
    • Established transport routes
    • Port export facilities

Production profile

Phase 1 annual output – two main products

  • 250,000 tonnes of heavy mineral concentrate (third-party processing)
    • Premium grade zircon (85%)
    • Ilmenite (with average titanium dioxide content of 65%)
  • 9,000 t rare earths concentrate (high-quality monazite and xenotime).
  • Expanding to 13,000 t in Phase 2

Strategic partnership

  • Joint venture with US-listed Energy Fuels Inc
  • A$183m contribution for 49% project stake
  • Processing of rare earths concentrate at Energy Fuels Inc’s White Mesa Mill, Utah

Development status

  • Advanced development stage
  • Victorian Government issued Work Plan approval June 2025
  • Final Investment Decision targeted 2025

More information

Find detailed project information on our Donald Project website.

Visit Project Website

Advanced regulatory approval status

Key approval requirementCompletedDateExpiry
Work Plan
2025Life of mine
Radiation Licence
20202026
Cultural Heritage Management Plan
2014Life of mine
Mining Licence (MIN5532)
20102030
Water Rights
20122041
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act
20092034
Environment Effects Statement
2008N/A

Project mining process