Business · Energy & Commodities · 1 hr ago
Dateline and US government seek to resume work at California mine
Dateline Resources and the US government are challenging a work ban at the Colosseum gold and rare earths project in California.
The ban is a preliminary injunction brought by the National Parks Conservation Association, and it has stopped all work at the site.
The company says its mining plan was approved in 1985 and remains a valid right despite the later creation of Mojave National Preserve.
Both parties have asked the Ninth Circuit to pause the injunction while it hears the full appeal.
A three-judge panel will weigh the appeal’s merits, the harm from the ban, the effects of restarting work and the national interest.
The government says exploration is in US national security interests, as the country seeks domestic supplies of critical minerals.
A feasibility study projects a 10.4-year gold mine, but work can resume only if the court grants a stay.
Dateline Resources and the US Government have asked a federal appeals court to allow work to resume at the Colosseum mine project in California.
A preliminary injunction brought by the National Parks Conservation Association has halted all work at the site.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether to pause the injunction while it considers a full appeal.
Dateline says its 1985 operating plan gives it a valid existing right to work at the site.
The US Department of War has argued that exploration at Colosseum serves US national security interests.
- Who
- Dateline Resources and the US Government are seeking to lift the work ban; the National Parks Conservation Association brought the injunction.
- What
- They have filed separate motions asking the court to pause a preliminary injunction that halted work at the Colosseum project.
- When
- The motions were reported on November 4, 2026.
- Where
- The Colosseum project is in California’s Mojave National Preserve.
- Why
- Dateline says its 1985 Plan of Operations gives it a valid existing right, and the US Government says exploration serves national security interests.
Dateline Resources and the US Government
National Parks Conservation Association
Work ban
Dateline Resources and the US Government
Dateline and the US Government want the preliminary injunction stayed so work can resume while the appeal is heard.
National Parks Conservation Association
The association brought the preliminary injunction that halted work at the site.
Right to operate
Dateline Resources and the US Government
Dateline says its 1985 Plan of Operations is a valid existing right that survived the creation of the preserve.
National Parks Conservation Association
Not stated in the article.
The Bureau of Land Management approved Dateline’s Plan of Operations for the project.
Dateline says the National Park Service recognised its claimed existing right on these occasions.
Dateline and the US Government’s separate motions to stay the injunction were reported.
- Project
- Colosseum gold and rare earths project
- Location
- Mojave National Preserve, California
- Court
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- Mine purchase
- Dateline acquired the asset in 2021 for A$3.4 million, inclusive of environmental bonds
- Ore reserve
- 20.6 million tonnes grading 0.95 grams per tonne gold
- Forecast operation
- 10.4 years, producing 573,000 ounces of gold
What people are saying
valid existing right
national security interests of the United States