A MULTI-billion dollar bounty of resources is sitting on the doorstep of Cairns waiting to be explored and mined.

More than 180 delegates at a conference were told yesterday of the enormous potential on the Tableland, in the Gulf of Carpentaria and on Cape York.

The deposits include gold, diamonds, silver, tin, tungsten, bauxite, kaolin, marble, silica, coal, coal seam gas, oil, iron ore and uranium.

Bremar Minerals director Brett Duck said some of the mines and areas were known, many were not.

He said there were 37 public companies involved in mining in the Far North as well as more than 70 private businesses and more than 20 individuals.

Mr Duck said the community did not appreciate the potential of mining in the region, estimated at $900 million a year with a fly-in, fly-out workforce worth $250 million a year.

He said many of the deposits required exploration which should not be confused with mining.

"Exploration is conducted by small companies, not the majors," Mr Duck said.

"There are an estimated 30,000 exploration permits in the Far North under application or granted for minerals, another 7000 in coal," he said.

He said the Government was "at best confused about actively discouraging and/or encouraging exploration".

He said unexplored possibilities on Cape York and west of Cairns included:

TWO gold deposits with about three million ounces each: $4-5 billion each.

A large low-grade tin area: $4 billion.

LARGE gold deposits of 2.5 million ounces: $4 billion.

BRECCIA pipe gold deposits of two million ounces: $3
billion.

"If one of these targets could be developed it would mean in excess of 600 jobs," Mr Duck said.

"The target is there, they just need the money for exploration. Cairns could be a focal point for major exploration and
development."

Mr Duck said, while the current Queensland government would not grant uranium mining leases, there were at least six companies exploring for the metal.

Also highlighted were:

ALTIUS Mining at Forsayth: high-grade gold.

CAPE Flattery Silica: world’s biggest silica sand manufacturer.

HARD Rock (Koolgara) at Einasleigh: High-grade silica core exports to China.

VOLCAN Queensland, Mourilyan, Ravenshoe and Atherton: bauxite.

AXIOM Mining, Mt Molloy and Chillagoe: gold and base metals.

DEUTSCH Rohstoff, George-town: gold and tungsten.

JACARANDA Minerals, Cooktown, Malanda and Mt Surprise: diamonds.

KANGAROO Resources, Mt Ruby: iron ore.

AUZEX Resources, Herberton and Mt Garnet: tin, tungsten, gold and silver.

MONTO Minerals, Herberton: tin.

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