Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are critical for developing 'green' technologies and renewable energy supplies, as well as various high-tech, civil, and military applications. Their growing demand, particularly for Heavy REEs (HREEs) like dysprosium, is outstripping current global supply, leading to a worldwide search for new sources.
Phosphorites, which are phosphate-rich sedimentary rocks containing over 18–20% P2O5, are currently the world's principal source of phosphorus for fertilizer. The primary phosphate mineral in phosphorites is carbonate fluorapatite (CFA), also commonly known as francolite. Recent research has identified phosphorites as an important potential source for industrial REE supply.
The Georgina Basin Discovery – A Game Changer:
Location and Age: Our focus is on the Cambrian (approximately 505 million years old) phosphorites located along the eastern margin of the Georgina Basin in northern Australia, an intracratonic basin covering about 330,000 km².
Unexpectedly High REE Concentrations: These Georgina Basin phosphorites can contain up to 0.5 wt% REE, classifying them among the most REE-enriched phosphorites globally. This finding contradicts earlier global assessments that suggested Cambrian phosphorites generally had poor REE endowment.
Regional Variations: REE concentrations in the Georgina Basin vary by orders of magnitude across its northern, central, and southern parts.
Seawater-Like REE Patterns: Despite the concentration differences, phosphorites from all prospects display REE patterns similar to modern seawater, featuring negative Ce anomalies, positive Y anomalies, and enrichment of MREE and HREE relative to LREE. This suggests that seawater was the major supply of REEs into these phosphorites.
Conclusion and Future Outlook: The Georgina Basin phosphorites represent a significant and easily extractable source of REEs, particularly HREEs, which are highly critical for emerging technologies. The ease of REE extraction using processes similar to existing phosphate fertilizer production makes them highly attractive, presenting fewer technological and environmental challenges than many conventional REE deposits. The studies highlight that local geological conditions and depositional environments are key indicators for prospectivity, emphasizing the need to look beyond global secular seawater chemistry for exploration. Other contemporaneous deposits in the Georgina Basin, especially along the Alexandria-Wonarah Basement high, may also hold similar REE mineralization potential.
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Join us for an insightful episode diving deep into High-Purity Quartz (HPQ), a mineral often overlooked but crucial for modern technology and Australia's journey to Net Zero. We discuss why silicon, derived from HPQ, is a critical mineral globally and locally, its complex journey from rock to high-tech applications like solar cells and semiconductors, and the pioneering work by Geoscience Australia to unlock Australia's HPQ potential.
High-Purity Quartz (HPQ) is the only naturally occurring, economically viable source of silicon, a critical mineral essential for technologies like semiconductors and solar cells. As global demand for clean energy accelerates, HPQ's role is growing rapidly, with demand for quartz feedstock expected to increase fortyfold by 2050. Producing high-tech silicon from HPQ is both material- and energy-intensive, requiring extensive beneficiation and purification processes to meet exacting purity standards—often exceeding 99.995% SiO₂. Not all quartz qualifies as HPQ, with economically viable deposits being rare and defined by extremely low impurity levels. These deposits are found in various geological settings globally, including pegmatites and hydrothermal veins, with Australia holding significant untapped potential but only one active operation. To address this, Geoscience Australia, through its Critical Minerals R&D Hub, is advancing a national HPQ prospectivity map and developing analytical tools to aid exploration. Their "Explorers Toolbox" aims to equip industry with cost-effective techniques and early indicators of quartz quality. With its abundant resources and growing expertise, Australia has a strategic opportunity to emerge as a key global supplier of HPQ and bolster its domestic silicon production for clean technology markets.Sources:
Welcome to our special episode where we explore how Australia, a "mining superpower," is positioning itself to be a key player in the global energy transition. We dive deep into the world of critical minerals, their vital role in modern technologies, and Australia's ambitious strategy to leverage its vast geological endowment for a sustainable future.
Critical minerals, which are essential for modern technology, national security, and the global transition to a low-emissions economy, are experiencing a surge in demand. This demand is driven by the growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. However, the concentration of their production and processing in a few countries creates significant supply chain risks.
Australia is in a unique position to address these challenges. As a mineral powerhouse, it is the world's largest producer of lithium and a top-five producer of several other critical minerals like manganese, rare earths, and tantalum. With vast, undeveloped resources, the country has a significant economic opportunity to expand its role in the global market.
To capitalize on this, Australia is implementing a comprehensive strategy focused on moving beyond its traditional "dig and ship" model. The core objective is to add value onshore by developing capabilities in processing ores into higher-value metals, chemicals, and finished products. The strategy also emphasizes reprocessing mine waste to create new supply and improve environmental outcomes.
The Australian government's "Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030" outlines six key focus areas:
Geoscience Australia underpins this strategy by providing essential pre-competitive data to guide exploration and discovery, which has already led to significant finds. By leveraging its mineral wealth, robust strategy, and commitment to sustainable practices, Australia aims to become a "green energy superpower," securing its role in the future of global energy and technology supply chains.
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Join us as we delve into the heart of Australia's Northern Territory to explore the Nolans Project, a globally significant rare earth elements (REE) venture. We'll uncover its vast resources, unique geological origins, and the intricate processes involved in bringing these critical minerals to market. From its "shovel-ready" status to the deep scientific debates about its formation, this episode sheds light on a project poised to supply a significant proportion of the world's NdPr demand for high-performance magnets.
Introduction to the Nolans Project
Resources & Reserves at Nolans Bore
Mining & Processing Operations
Geological Origin and Post-Depositional History of Nolans Bore
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Join us as we delve into the fascinating geological story of the Mount Weld carbonatite complex in Western Australia, home to one of the world's richest Rare Earth Element (REE) deposits. We'll explore its discovery, unique geological setting, the intricate processes of weathering that led to its extraordinary enrichment, and the diverse mineralogy that makes it a critical source for modern technologies.
Discovery and Significance:
A Journey Through Time: Geological Setting & Formation:
The Power of Weathering: Supergene Enrichment:
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In this episode, we dive into the fascinating world of Rare-Earth Elements (REEs), a group of seventeen specialty metals crucial for high-technology industries due to their unique chemical, magnetic, and luminescent properties. We'll explore where these vital elements are found, how they are classified, and the complex processes involved in extracting them from the Earth.
What are Rare-Earth Elements?
Australian REE Deposits and Geological Settings
Key REE-Bearing Minerals
Beneficiation of REE-Bearing Minerals
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the geological settings, resources, and beneficiation techniques for rare-earth elements, drawing on the latest information from Australian and international sources.
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AI generated content created using Google's NotebookLM.
Join us as we explore the geology of the remarkable Winu-Ngapakarra copper-gold-silver deposit in Western Australia's Great Sandy Desert, a discovery that's reshaping our understanding of mineral potential in the Paterson Orogen. Discovered by Rio Tinto Exploration in late 2017, Winu represents a unique new deposit style and is generating significant excitement for future exploration.
Key Takeaways from this Episode:
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AI generated content created using Google's NotebookLM.
Welcome to our podcast! Today, we're diving into the Winu Project, a significant copper-gold-silver discovery by Rio Tinto in Western Australia's remote Pilbara region.
The Discovery and What Lies Beneath:
How Exploration is Done:
Moving Towards Mining Operations:
Environmental and Community Focus:
This project highlights the complex balance between resource development and environmental and social responsibility in remote Australian landscapes.
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AI generated content created using Google's NotebookLM.
In this episode, we explore the Hillside Copper-Gold (Cu-Au) deposit in South Australia, part of the Olympic Cu-Au Province. We unpack the complex geology behind this significant mineral resource, starting with how rare earth and trace element geochemistry reveals key stages of mineralization and alteration in the skarn assemblages. We then dive into fluid inclusion studies that trace the temperature and salinity of the mineralizing fluids, highlighting processes like boiling and mixing. The episode also covers the broader geological setting within the Moonta-Wallaroo district, focusing on structural controls and geological interactions.
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AI generated content created using Google's NotebookLM.
