Name of the Mine
Burton Mine Complex.

Location  
The complex is located about 160 km west of Mackay, and an estimated 50 km south of Bowen’s Hillalong project, in the northern part of the Bowen basin, in Queensland, Australia.

Mine Owner/s  
Hard coking coal company Bowen Coking Coal.

Brief Description  
The Burton Mine Complex operates as a hub-and-spoke facility where multiple mines serve one central coal handling preparation plant (CHPP) to reduce significant development costs.

The mine encompasses multiple operations with the Ellensfield South, Plumtree North and Broadmeadow East mines serving the CHPP. 

The Lenton and Isaac deposits are co-located undeveloped opencut projects that will provide production continuity at Burton.

Brief History  
Mining at Burton started in 1996 under Portman Resources, with Thiess operating the mine under a life-of-mine contract. The operation produced steadily for about 18 years before being placed on care and maintenance in late 2016. In 2017, Peabody divested the Burton assets, including key infrastructure, to the Lenton Joint Venture led by New Hope, with the transaction completed the following year. 

Bowen Coking Coal entered the picture in 2021 when it signed a binding deal to acquire into the Burton–Lenton package and subsequently advanced restart works through 2022. Reports from 2023 highlighted the progressive ramp-up of operations and new employment opportunities.

By 2024 the resource base was updated to about 110-million tonnes, with a higher proportion classified as measured and indicated. However, weaker metallurgical coal prices in 2025 prompted a scale-back of operations, and the complex later entered voluntary administration while continuing to operate under appointed administrators. This trajectory captures Burton’s evolution from one of Australia’s early low-sulphur hard coking coal producers through cycles of development, suspension, restart and restructuring.

Primary Metals/Minerals  
Hard coking coal.

Secondary Metals/Minerals  
None stated.

Geology/Mineralisation  
Burton targets the Rangal Coal Measures (RCM) and is located on the eastern upthrown side of the Burton Range Fault within a structurally complex zone on the eastern side of the Collinsville Shelf, in the North Bowen basin. The fault has upthrown the overlying Triassic strata and the coal-bearing strata of the Permian Rangal Coal Measures by several hundred metres and subsequent erosion of the Triassic sequences has exposed the Rangal Coal Measures.

Underlying the RCM are the Fort Cooper Coal Measures (FCCM).

The primary coal seams of interest are the Leichhardt seams and the upper and middle Vermont seams, which are contained within the RCM and the lower Vermont Seams within the FCCM.

In the north and south pits resource (BNBS), the Leichhardt and Vermont seams coalesce to form the Burton seam, a contiguous coal interval with a thickness generally between about 9 m and 11 m consisting of alternating bright and dull coal with minor tuffaceous and/or claystone partings. 

The Burton seam dips steeply (15° to 25°) in the BNBS area, averaging 20 to the east-northeast.

Reserves  
As at November 30, 2024, Burton had estimated proven and probable reserves of 37-million tonnes of coal.

Resources  
Total mineral resources as at June 30, 2024, were estimated at 111-million tonnes of coal.

Type of Mine
Openpit.

Mining Method  
Bowen announced on June 10, 2025, a transition of the Burton mine to an owner-operator model, under the full direction and management of Bowen Coking Coal employees.

Major Infrastructure/Equipment  
Burton contains three undeveloped openpit deposits and substantial infrastructure, including the Burton CHPP and the Mallawa train loadout facility. Associated facilities include a rail loop, a 350-person camp, haul road, offices and a workshop.

Prospects  
None stated.

Contact Details 
Bowen Coking Coal
Tel +61 7 3191 8413
Email info@bowencokingcoal.com
Website https://www.bowencokingcoal.com.au/