Tinkler company could be sold Receivers are preparing to put Nathan Tinkler's Aston Metals resources company up for sale. The metals explorer, which owns five projects around Mt Isa in Queensland's northwest, was placed in the control of receivers on Tuesday, putting the future of up to 12 staff at risk. Joint venture partners will also review their tenement agreements as John Park and Quentin Olde of FTI Consulting carry out the receivership process. The receivers are now reviewing each of the company's projects with a view to putting them up for sale. Aston Metals includes silver, copper and zinc among the metals for which it was searching. The receivers are expected to contact creditors and look at the best way to maximise the sale value after the company speaks with staff. Mount Isa-based Aston Metals had been conducting exploration work at Walford Creek in 2011 and 2012. Aston Metals chief executive Dan Johnson told investors in July that the company was eager to develop Walford Creek into a long-term, viable mining operation. At that time the company had an operational team of 12, including six geologists, five field crew and one tenement manager based in Mount Isa. Mr Johnson said he was not prepared to discuss what had happened at the company as it was now in administration. "I'm legally obliged to work with the administrators, so I'll have to decline to be any more helpful than that," Mr Johnson told AAP. Aston Metals is Mr Tinkler's main asset in the resources sector after he sold his stake in Whitehaven Coal for $600 million in June.