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Building a critical mass of people and knowledge in critically important minerals.
Ongoing and secure supplies of some minerals are essential to our transition to a high-tech and clean energy world. Cost-effective, efficient and environmentally-sustainable discovery and extraction of these commodities is needed.
Mineralogy
Understanding ores and mineral chemistry.
Processing
New opportunities and strategies to optimise and be sustainable.
What are critical minerals?
- Metals and non-metals that are irreplaceable inputs for society’s future, including in renewable energy systems, infrastructure, transport, high tech equipment, and defence systems.
- Their supply may be at risk due to geological scarcity, geopolitical, economics or social issues.
- Examples include rare earth elements (REEs), cobalt, lithium, indium, germanium, tellurium and tungsten, but they can also be more abundant elements like copper and nickel. Any mineral can become ‘critical’ in the right conditions.
- Australia is perfectly positioned to be a global leader in ethical, environmentally responsible critical mineral research and supply due to our rich endowment, strong sovereignty, and highly skilled workforce.