Company knowledge base · Lithium
Liontown
The owner and operator of Kathleen Valley, Australia's first underground lithium mine, producing spodumene concentrate north of Leinster.
At a glance
Kathleen Valley · Northern Goldfields, Western Australia
Kathleen Valley moved into production in 2024 and underground production in 2025. Liontown describes a mine, fourth-generation process plant, paste plant and large off-grid hybrid power station connected by sealed highways to Geraldton.
This independent summary does not imply affiliation with the operator. Operational status, ownership and mine plans can change; follow the linked company sources for current detail.
Mine and project directory
2 Australian operations, mapped in plain English.
Operating mines are separated from development, care-and-maintenance and rehabilitation assets. Status and mine plans can change, so each profile links to the operator's current record.
LocationApproximately 60 km north of Leinster, Northern Goldfields, WA
Kathleen Valley
Australia's first underground lithium operation produces spodumene concentrate from the Mt Mann orebody. Underground production began in 2025 and the planned open-pit starter phase was completed in December 2025.
- Mine type
- Underground · hard-rock lithium
- Operating system
- Mechanised underground mining and paste fill feed a whole-of-ore flotation plant. A hybrid power station supports site, while sealed roads connect concentrate haulage with Geraldton.
- Workforce lens
- More than 400 personnel are reported onsite across underground mining, paste, processing, maintenance, power, technical and village work.
LocationEastern Goldfields, approximately 600 km east of Perth, WA
Buldania Project
A lithium project south of Kalgoorlie with a defined mineral resource. It is not an operating mine, so exploration activity should not be read as a current production-workforce promise.
- Mine type
- Hard-rock lithium project
- Operating system
- Exploration, resource definition and study work are assessing a deposit near road and rail infrastructure, with the Port of Esperance about 200 km to the south.
- Workforce lens
- Current demand is more likely to involve geology, field services, drilling, heritage, environment and studies than full mining crews.
Follow the commodity
Lithium mine to conversion
See how extraction, processing, transport and the final customer handover differ from the Pilbara iron ore model.
Workforce lens
Roles across the operating chain.
Job titles, rosters, residential requirements and contractor arrangements differ by site. Use the employer's current advertisement and position description.
Underground minersBogger operatorsProcess operatorsPaste-plant operatorsElectriciansMechanical fittersHD fittersMetallurgistsMine plannersGeologistsPower-station techniciansEmergency response
Official careers site ↗Sources
Start with the operator.
Checked 30 August 2026. Company pages and mine plans change; these links are the current primary reference points.
Official company website ↗