Prohibited SA zone open for mining

South Australian Resources Minister Tom Koutsantonis says legislation enabling access to a potentially mineral-rich zone in the state's northwest paves the way for major investment.

Federal parliament on Wednesday passed legislation opening up the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA), a military testing range stretching more than 127,000 square km.

While defence will remain the primary user of the area, miners will be able to secure permits to explore mineral deposits within the zone.

The WPA hosts several existing resources projects, including OZ Minerals' Prominent Hill copper-gold mine and Arrium Mining's Peculiar Knob iron ore mine.

Mr Koutsantonis said the new legislation would allow access to an estimated $35 billion worth of gold, uranium, copper and iron ore deposits.

"A new access regime will allow the development of multiple mineral deposits across the breadth of the WPA, potentially transforming it into one of the country's most significant resources provinces," he said on Thursday.

"That means millions of dollars in further investment and hundreds of jobs for South Australians."

Existing WPA users, including indigenous groups and pastoralists, will retain their existing access to the zone under the legislation.