Release of Pilbara land for exploration (A/Min)

Several large tracts of land in the Pilbara region of Western Australia are to be released for the exploration of iron ore.

Acting Mines Minister Jim McGinty, who announced the move today, said that the areas totalling 2,300 square kilometres would be released for exploration under the Mining Act 1978.

Applications for iron ore exploration licences would soon be called through a series of newspaper advertisements.

"The reserves in the Chichester Range near Roy Hill in the Mindy Mindy Creek area were originally created under the 1904 Mining Act to ensure the orderly development of the State's iron ore resources," Mr McGinty said.

"Such procedures are now very much in place so the need to reserve these areas no longer exists."

Mr McGinty said that title to the land would be granted on the basis of work programs submitted by the exploration licence applicants.

Full details of the location of the released area and the conditions which would apply to explorers could be obtained from the Department of Minerals and Energy in Perth.