Demonstration pit to put mining method to the test

In early 2026, Gippsland Critical Minerals (GCM) will build a Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit (MRDP), to provide clear evidence, under real conditions, of how the Fingerboards Project can be mined, refilled and restored.

Designed to replicate mining methods and provide robust, scientifically valid data, the MRDP is a best practice undertaking that will provide the community and regulators a clear and representative preview of the new Project in operation.

Located in the eastern section of the Fingerboards mining area, the pit will be 170 metres long, 55 metres wide and 22 metres deep - about the size of 6 quarter-acre blocks and as deep as a six-storey building. Around 3.5 hectares will be revegetated to test different soil treatments and seed mixes.

The Demonstration Pit will replicate the proposed new mining method from end-to-end, just at a reduced scale. This includes by using the same equipment to process ore and produce tailings, using the same polymer flocculants, which have a proven track record in agriculture and water treatment across Gippsland, and using identical backfilling methods with the same sequence of overburden replacement.

Replicating the process in this way will enable GCM to test and validate key changes to its proposed new approach mining, backfilling and land restoration methods in this ‘real world’ environment.

Through the Demonstration Pit, GCM will:

• Test earthworks properties such as soil strength and bearing capacity.

• Trial soil improvement methods to support strong revegetation outcomes.

• Monitor vegetation growth to optimise species selection and rehabilitation practices.

• Collect water quality, dust and noise data during and after the trial.

• Measure geological information such as soil permeability, water retention, density and moisture content.

• Confirm the in-situ tailings design parameters that were developed in laboratory test work, including consolidation, permeability, strength and water recovery.

• Install monitoring equipment for long-term seepage and groundwater quality monitoring.

As the work progresses, GCM will be able to confirm that proposed new approach will perform as intended, with results to be openly reported in plain language. Monitoring will then continue for years to track water quality, land stability, soil health and vegetation growth. All of this information will guide rehabilitation across the life of the project, helping to ensure land is stable, productive and able to return to agriculture.

GCM Technical Project Director Stefan Wolmarans said the program was about proof, not promises.

“We know the community wants clear data on how our methods perform, so that’s what we’ll deliver. This trial will show how mining and rehabilitation are managed under real conditions.”

Gippsland Critical Minerals – Media Release 1“The Demonstration Pit gives the community confidence that results will be scientifically rigorous, independently assessed, and directly applied to rehabilitation across the life of the project,” said Stefan.

Excavation and backfilling of the pit will take about three months, beginning in early 2026 if approved. All works will take place during daylight hours only (7am–6pm, Monday to Friday and 7am-1pm Saturday). Various types of earthmoving equipment will be used, including excavators, trucks and dozers, with strict controls in place to manage dust, noise, water quality and biosecurity.

“This will deliver immediate benefits for East Gippsland, with local contractors and suppliers engaged across a range of roles including earthmoving, steel fabrication, electrical and mechanical installation, fencing, transport, site services and vegetation seeding,” said Stefan.