During 2011 to 2013 there were four mining tenements on Helena and Aurora Range (see map below). These were at Bungalbin East (M77/1097), Bungalbin Hill (M77/1096), J5 (M77/1095) and J4 (M77/1242). They cover known iron ore deposits.
As of April 2026 the status of these four mining tenements were*:
- M77/1097 status: Pending (since 2004) Locaion: Bungalbin East.
- M77/1096 status: Dead (surrendered August 2019) Location: Bungalbin Hill
- M77/1095 status: Live (since 2007) Location: J5^
- M77/1242 status: Dead (surrendered August 2014) Location: J4 (mined)
*source: Dept. Local Government, Industry Regulation and Safety, 27 April 2026
^Jackson 4 (J4) and Jackson 5 (J5) are on the low BIF hills that head north-west for ~20km from the main range. These hills have been considered to be part of Mt Jackson Range by mining companies, hence the deposits were named 'Jackson'. This is despite the north-west hills being part of Helena and Aurora Range. The deposit J4 is outside the boundary of the Helena and Aurora Range Conservation Park, located at the very north-west end of these low hills. By contrast, J5 is close to the main range and within the boundary of Helena and Aurora Range Conservation Park.
The mining and exploration tenements on Helena and Aurora Range are owned by Polaris Metals Pty Ltd. The two remaining (current) mining tenements on the Range will remain unless surrendered, whether Helena and Aurora Range is within a conservation park or national park. As will the exploration tenements.
There is another mining tenement, Aurora Mine (M77/580) within the Helena and Aurora Range Conservation Park (although excised from the conservation park) located south of Bungalbin Hill. It is owned by Polaris Metals Pty Ltd* with a 'Live' status.
*Polaris Metals Pty Ltd is a subsidiary of Mineral Resources Limited.
Note: This information was current as of April 2026
Map showing the locations of exploration (E) tenements and the four mining (M) tenements on Helena and Aurora Range as of October 2013, with aerial photography in the background and contours (red lines) also shown
