Mineral Resources
An Australian mining services and diversified minerals company with operations in iron ore and lithium.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Mineral Resources Limited, commonly known as MinRes, is an Australian mining services, processing, logistics, and minerals company headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. Its business combines contract mining and mine-site services with direct participation in mineral extraction and processing, giving the company a position that spans the operating chain from mine development and crushing to bulk transportation and commodity production. The company was formed in July 2006 through the combination of three businesses: PIHA, a pipeline manufacturing and contracting business; Crushing Services International; and Process Minerals International. The combined company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, creating a platform that could provide mining infrastructure and processing services while also developing and operating mineral assets. This services-oriented origin remains central to MinRes's identity, even as its exposure to directly owned or jointly owned mining operations has expanded. MinRes's principal commodity interests include iron ore and lithium. In iron ore, the company operates or has operated mines and infrastructure associated with Iron Valley, Koolyanobbing, and Kumina, as well as two processing and export-oriented hubs: the Utah Point Hub near Port Hedland and the Yilgarn Hub in the Esperance region. The company has also participated in bulk ore transportation in the Pilbara. Its rail activities included the acquisition of six UGL Rail C44aci locomotives and 382 iron ore wagons in 2014. Rail operations later involved changes among external operators, with Aurizon taking over services in November 2023 and the locomotives being sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad. Lithium became an increasingly important part of the portfolio through hard-rock operations in Western Australia. MinRes operates the Mount Marion lithium mine in the Goldfields and the Wodgina lithium mine in the Pilbara. Mount Marion is described as containing one of the world's largest high-grade lithium mineral resources, with an estimated 71 million tonnes of spodumene-bearing mineral resources. The company also purchased the Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Mine in November 2023. Following a sharp decline in lithium prices, Bald Hill was closed and placed into care and maintenance in November 2024. Commodity-price conditions also affected the iron-ore business. In June 2024, MinRes announced that it would close its Yilgarn iron ore hub by the end of that year after determining that the operation was no longer financially viable. These actions illustrate the company's exposure to changing commodity prices, operating costs, logistics requirements, and the economics of individual mining hubs. MinRes has also developed an aviation initiative for its fly-in, fly-out workforce. MinRes Air was launched in July 2024 with a former Tigerair Airbus A319 serving routes between Brisbane and the Pilbara, with a Perth route planned. The initial services were operated by Skytraders while MinRes pursued its own air operator's certificate. A former Air France Airbus A320 was leased in the same month. The aviation venture was structured with Mineral Resources holding a 50 percent shareholding and the remaining interest held by Tim Roberts. Overall, MinRes is best understood as an Australian mining-services and resources group whose capabilities include contract mining, crushing, processing, transport, logistics, aviation support, iron ore, and lithium production.
History
Mineral Resources Limited was created in July 2006 when PIHA, Crushing Services International, and Process Minerals International were combined and the resulting company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. The constituent businesses gave the new group capabilities in pipeline manufacturing and contracting, crushing, processing, and broader mine-site services. This formation established the operating model for which MinRes became known: supporting mining projects with specialized infrastructure and services while also developing an interest in producing mineral commodities itself. After its formation, the company built a portfolio around Western Australia's mining regions. Its activities came to include contract mining, crushing and processing, materials handling, and transport infrastructure. In iron ore, MinRes developed and operated assets connected with Iron Valley, Koolyanobbing, and Kumina, and operated the Utah Point Hub in Port Hedland and the Yilgarn Hub near Esperance. The company also participated in the transportation of bulk ore in the Pilbara. In 2014, it purchased six UGL Rail C44aci locomotives and 382 iron ore wagons. Rail operations subsequently changed, and in November 2023 Aurizon took over the services while the six locomotives were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad. Lithium became a major part of the company's minerals portfolio through its Western Australian hard-rock assets. MinRes operates the Mount Marion mine in the Goldfields and the Wodgina mine in the Pilbara. Mount Marion contains a substantial high-grade spodumene resource and is described as having the world's second-largest high-grade lithium mineral resources. The company's lithium exposure also expanded in November 2023 through its purchase of the Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Mine. The company's later history reflects the effect of commodity-market cycles on individual operations. In June 2024, MinRes announced that it would close the Yilgarn iron ore hub by the end of the year because the operation was no longer financially viable. In November 2024, Bald Hill was closed and placed into care and maintenance following a significant decline in lithium prices. These decisions illustrate the group's willingness to reduce or suspend operations when the economics of a mine or hub deteriorate. MinRes broadened its workforce-support infrastructure in July 2024 with the launch of MinRes Air. The service initially used a former Tigerair Airbus A319 for flights between Brisbane and the Pilbara, with a Perth service planned. Skytraders operated the initial flights while the new aviation business sought its own air operator's certificate. A former Air France Airbus A320 was leased during the same month. Mineral Resources held a 50 percent interest in the venture, with the balance held by Tim Roberts. The initiative reflects the logistical demands of operating remote Australian mining projects and the company's broader approach of building or participating in supporting infrastructure around its resource operations.
- 2024
Yilgarn hub closure announced
[1]MinRes announced in June that the Yilgarn iron ore hub would be shut down by the end of the year because it was financially unviable.
- 2024
MinRes Air launched
[1]The company launched MinRes Air in July to support fly-in, fly-out workforce travel between Brisbane and the Pilbara.
- 2024
Bald Hill placed into care and maintenance
[1]The Bald Hill mine was closed and placed into care and maintenance in November following a collapse in lithium prices.
- 2023
Bald Hill acquisition
[1]Mineral Resources purchased the Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Mine in November.
- 2023
Change in rail-services operator
[1]Aurizon took over the company's rail services in November, and the six locomotives were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad.
- 2014
Expansion of iron ore rail capability
[1]The company purchased six UGL Rail C44aci locomotives and 382 iron ore wagons for its bulk-ore transportation activities.
- 2006
Formation and ASX listing
[1]PIHA, Crushing Services International, and Process Minerals International merged in July 2006, and Mineral Resources was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Products and positioning
An integrated Australian mining-services and minerals producer combining contract mining, processing, logistics, and direct exposure to iron ore and lithium assets.
Lithium mining
Lithium spodumene
MinRes's lithium exposure is centered on hard-rock spodumene operations in Western Australia, including Mount Marion in the Goldfields and Wodgina in the Pilbara. Mount Marion is described as containing one of the world's largest high-grade lithium mineral resources. The company also acquired Bald Hill, a lithium and tantalum mine, although that operation was placed into care and maintenance in 2024 after lithium prices fell sharply.
Iron ore mining
Iron ore
Iron ore activities have included mines and associated operations at Iron Valley, Koolyanobbing, and Kumina, together with the Utah Point Hub in Port Hedland and the Yilgarn Hub near Esperance. The Yilgarn hub was scheduled for closure by the end of 2024 after being judged financially unviable, while the company continued to maintain iron ore exposure through other assets and hubs.
Mining services · 2006
Mining and minerals processing services
Mining services are part of MinRes's original business model, inherited from the combination of PIHA, Crushing Services International, and Process Minerals International. The offering spans contracting, crushing, minerals processing, mine-site infrastructure, materials handling, and related operational support for resource projects.
Mining logistics · 2014
Bulk ore transportation
MinRes has participated in bulk ore transportation in the Pilbara, including rail-linked logistics. Its historical rolling stock included six UGL Rail C44aci locomotives and 382 iron ore wagons. Rail service arrangements changed in 2023, when Aurizon assumed the services and the locomotives were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad.
Brand decisions
2024
Close the Yilgarn iron ore hubStrategyBackground
The Yilgarn iron ore hub was assessed as financially unviable.
Action taken
Mineral Resources announced in June that it would shut the hub by the end of 2024.
Aftermath
The decision reduced the company's exposure to an uneconomic iron ore operation, although the available reference material does not provide financial figures or later operating results.
2024
Place Bald Hill into care and maintenanceStrategyBackground
Lithium prices declined substantially after Mineral Resources acquired the mine in November 2023.
Action taken
The Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Mine was closed and placed into care and maintenance in November 2024.
Aftermath
Mining at Bald Hill was suspended. The available reference material does not specify a restart date or financial impact.
2024
Launch MinRes AirOtherBackground
The company had previously relied on other aviation providers for fly-in, fly-out workforce transport.
Action taken
MinRes launched an aviation service using a former Tigerair Airbus A319 on Brisbane–Pilbara routes and leased a former Air France Airbus A320. Skytraders initially operated the services while MinRes sought its own air operator's certificate.
Aftermath
The initiative created an in-house branded aviation platform for workforce logistics, with a Perth service planned.
Recent events
- 2024
Mineral Resources closes Bald Hill after lithium-price decline[1]
Other
Bald Hill was closed and placed into care and maintenance in November 2024 after a collapse in lithium prices.
- 2024
Yilgarn iron ore hub scheduled for closure[1]
Other
Mineral Resources announced in June 2024 that it would shut down the Yilgarn iron ore hub by the end of the year because the operation was considered financially unviable.
- 2024
MinRes Air launches fly-in, fly-out services[1]
Product launch
MinRes Air began operations in July 2024 with a former Tigerair Airbus A319 on services between Brisbane and the Pilbara. Skytraders initially operated the flights while MinRes pursued its own air operator's certificate.
- 2023
Mineral Resources purchases Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Mine[1]
M&A
Mineral Resources acquired the Bald Hill Lithium and Tantalum Mine in November 2023.
- 2023
Aurizon takes over Mineral Resources rail services[1]
Other
Aurizon took over the company's bulk rail services in November 2023, while six locomotives were sold to Southern Shorthaul Railroad.
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