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Australian Mines and Mineral Deposits

Australian Mines and Mineral Deposits

Auteur(s): Geoscience Podcasts
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 Australia is a leading global producer of 19 valuable minerals, sourced from over 350 active mines. This podcast will summarise the geology of important mines and mineral deposits in Australia.Geoscience Podcasts Science Sciences de la Terre
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  • Rare Earth Element Enrichment in Georgina Basin Phosphorites: Unearthing a Hidden Resource for Green Technology

    Rare Earth Element Enrichment in Georgina Basin Phosphorites: Unearthing a Hidden Resource for Green Technology
    Jun 24 2025
    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.Southern Prospects (Ardmore, Duchess, Phosphate Hill) exhibit significantly higher REE concentrations (mean 563-1689 ppm) and are enriched in elements typically found within the carbonate fluorapatite lattice, such as P2O5, CaO, Na2O, Sr, and possibly Ba. Ardmore, in particular, shows the highest total REE content, ranging from 809 to 5333 ppm.Central and Northern Prospects (Lily, Sherrin Creek, Barr Creek, DTREE, Paradise South, Paradise North) generally have lower average REE concentrations (mean 175-583 ppm) and a greater contribution of terrigenous material, characterized by higher concentrations of elements like SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, and K2O.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.Sources:The aqueous geochemistry of the rare earth elementsREE enrichment of phosphorites: An example of the Cambrian Georgina Basin of AustraliaRare earth elements in sedimentary phosphate deposits: Solution to the global REE crisis?Extraction of rare earth elements from waste products of phosphateCarl Spandler presents 'Rare Earth Element potential of phosphorites of the Georgina Basin'Recovery of Rare Earth Elements in The Hydrometallurgical Processes of Phosphate Rock- A Critical ReviewGeochemical and Isotopic (Nd, Sr) Tracing of the Origin of REE Enrichment in the Cambrian Georgina Basin PhosphoritesDisclaimer:AI generated content created using Google's NotebookLM.
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    51 min
  • Australia's High-Purity Quartz for Silicon Production

    Australia's High-Purity Quartz for Silicon Production
    Jun 20 2025

    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:

    • Quartz – The Unsuspected Critical Mineral
    • Australian Mines Atlas
    • A Review of High-Purity Quartz for Silicon Production in Australia⁠


    Disclaimer:

    • AI generated content created using Google's NotebookLM.
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    53 min
  • Australia's Critical Minerals: Endowment, Opportunities, and Global Significance

    Australia's Critical Minerals: Endowment, Opportunities, and Global Significance
    Jun 15 2025
    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:Developing Strategically Important Projects through significant government funding, loans, and tax incentives to de-risk and encourage private investment.Attracting Investment and Building International Partnerships by forming alliances with key nations like the US, UK, Japan, and members of the Quad to secure capital and diversify supply chains.Ensuring First Nations Engagement through genuine collaboration and benefit sharing.Promoting World-Leading ESG Performance by leveraging Australia's high environmental, social, and governance standards as a competitive advantage.Investing in Enabling Infrastructure such as roads, rail, and ports to support industry growth.Growing a Skilled Workforce to meet the demands of an expanding and more complex sector.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.Sources:Australian Mines AtlasCritical Minerals Mapping InitiativeCritical Energy Minerals RoadmapA review of critical mineral resources in AustraliaCritical minerals at Geoscience AustraliaCritical Minerals in AustraliaGeological Surveys Unite to Improve Critical Mineral SecurityMaximising critical mineral opportunities to meet global demandThe role of geoscience in Australia s critical mineral futureWhat are Critical Minerals and Strategic Materials and why do they matter? An Australian PerspectiveAustralian Critical Minerals Prospectus, 2025 Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030The economic potential of Australia’s critical minerals and energy transition mineralsInternational Geoscience Collaboration to Support Critical Mineral DiscoveryDeposit classification scheme for the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative Global Geochemical DatabaseOutlook for selected critical minerals in Australia: 2021Disclaimer:AI generated content created using Google's NotebookLM.
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    1 h et 12 min

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