There are currently no ASX-listed “pure-play” silver mining firms that produce silver from Australian mines, according to the search results.
Large, diverse miners dominate Australia’s silver production as a by-product, and the businesses classified as “silver stocks” are mostly explorers or developers with projects in Australia or abroad.
The following lists the pertinent businesses along with the current state of their activities in Australia:
⚠️ Significant Difference: At the moment, Australia has no major silver producers that are actively mining. All silver that originates from Australian soil comes from businesses that mine lead, zinc, copper, or gold and produce silver as a byproduct or co-product.
- The sole developer with an Australian focus (not in production)
The only pure-play silver firm on the list with its main asset located in Australia is Silver Mines Limited (ASX: SVL). But as of now, it is a developer rather than a mining firm. It owns Australia’s largest untapped silver resource, the Bowdens Silver Project in New South Wales (71.7Moz reserve). The project is not in production and is presently on hold while the permit is redetermined.
- The Principal Manufacturers (a by-product is silver)
Although silver is not their main industry, these firms provide almost all of the physical silver mined in Australia:
One of the biggest silver-lead-zinc mines in the world, the Cannington mine in Queensland, is operated by South32 (ASX: S32). Although South32 is a diversified miner, this is the biggest supplier of Australian silver.
The Dugald River and Rosebery mines (QLD/TAS) are operated by MMG Limited (ASX: MMG).
The venerable Broken Hill operations (NSW) are run by Perilya / Broken Hill Mines (ASX: BHM).
- “Silver Stocks” on the ASX that don’t pertain to Australian mines
Many of the top “silver stocks” listed on the ASX don’t have any mining or exploration activities in Australia. All of their assets are located abroad:
Bosnia and Herzegovina assets are owned by DPM Metals (ASX:DPM).
Argentina’s Unico Silver (ASX:USL) assets.
Chilean assets include Andean Silver (ASX:ASL).
Sun Silver (ASX:SS1): U.S. assets located in Nevada.
Assets in Bosnia and Herzegovina are owned by Adriatic Metals (ASX:ADT) (Note: Adriatic was the previous leader, but DPM has since bought it).
- New Restarts in Australia
Polymetals Resources (ASX:POL): The renovated Endeavor mine (NSW) recently yielded the first silver concentrates.
The goal of Manuka Resources (ASX:MKR) is to restart production at the Wonawinta silver mine (NSW).
In summary, South32 (Cannington) is a corporation that is now physically extracting silver from Australian soil. Although it is pre-production, Silver Mines (SVL) is the main name if you are searching for a pure-play Australian silver developer.
