It is expected the first 30,000 tonne shipment will set sail next month by NT Bullion subsidiary Linecrest, which has 50% indigenous shareholders.

Over the past nine months, a research and development project has seen new German ore sorting technology from Steinert adapted in a world's first for iron ore on the large stockpile at Frances Creek, 250km south of Darwin.

"The technology enables the higher quality ore to be sorted into high-grade premium export grade lump and recycles the stock piles without any hard mining, contributing significantly to the rehabilitation of the mine," NT Bullion managing director Rod Illingworth said.

"The ore will be trucked 15km using the existing all-weather access road from the mine to the north-south rail line and then be railed directly into the Darwin Port.

"The first 30,000 tonnes will be exported towards the end of next month from the Port of Darwin and we expect similar amounts each month after that."

NT Bullion is planning to expand to as much as 2 million tonnes per annum.

Frances Creek was operated by Territory Iron until its closure in 2014 due to low iron ore prices.

NT Bullion also has gold projects in Tennant Creek and Pine Creek, including a joint venture with Emerson Resources.