October 2024 newsletter

October 23rd, 2024

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Welcome to the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub newsletter.

The Hub brings together expertise from Australia’s leading science agencies: ANSTO (Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation), Geoscience Australia and CSIRO and plays a key role in Australia’s critical minerals ecosystem, supporting R&D to drive the innovation needed to unlock our mineral potential and capitalise on downstream value chain opportunities. 

This value chain story is important for Australia and it’s important for like-minded partners who share the commitment to establish secure diversified supply chains that will underpin the transition to net zero. International collaboration will play an important role in building Australia’s critical mineral industry.

The Hub looks forward to meeting a number of international delegations at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney at the end of October. Please come and see us if you are at the conference.

International engagement to promote R&D collaboration is a key component of the Hub’s activities with work underway on a number of reports mapping R&D activities of partner countries. We look forward to sharing this work later in the year.

Please also visit the Hub’s website where you will find out more about the Hub-funded science projects, a central part of the Hub’s commitment to support innovation. 

I encourage you to share this newsletter and the website link with colleagues where they can sign up to subscribe.

And follow us on LinkedIn to connect with the Hub and find out more about what we’re doing to support R&D’s role in the innovation needed to develop Australia’s critical minerals sector.

Please enjoy reading more about the Hub’s work and we look forward to providing regular updates.

Lucy O’Connor
Manager, Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub

News and events

IMARC

The Hub will have a booth alongside Geoscience Australia and ANSTO at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) being held at the International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Sydney from 29-31 October.

If you are at IMARC, look out for us in the program with the Hub panel session Supporting Critical Minerals R&D: 
Date: Tuesday, 29 October 
Time: 4.00-4.30pm.

Panellists are:
Chris Griffith, Principal Consultant, ANSTO
Chris Vernon, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
Allison Britt, Director: Mineral Resources Advice and Promotion, Geoscience Australia

Details are in the conference program and our website.

AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference 

The Hub sponsored Critical Conversations as part of the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference held in Brisbane in August and experts from the Hub’s partners also gave presentations on their projects as part of the official program. The presentations Developing Australia’s Ionic Clay and Clay Hosted Rare Earth Deposits and The prospectivity of high purity quartz in Australia are available on our website.  

Resources

Australia’s unknown potential for high-purity quartz resources 

A new paper has established a baseline understanding of Australia’s potential for High Purity Quartz (HPQ) resources, an area that has been significantly under-reported. The paper – A review of High-Purity Quartz for silicon production in Australia – comes from Geoscience Australia’s High Purity Silica (HPS) Mineral Systems Study, a project under the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub. 

Learn more 

Australia’s critical minerals mid-stream processing capabilities 

A world-first assessment outlining Australia’s innovation capabilities and research and development opportunities essential for developing a cost-competitive and sustainable mid-stream processing industry manufacturing.  The report offers foundational insights to guide decision-makers in understanding the technology landscape for processing—from commercially mature technologies to emerging disruptive pathways. 

Learn more 

Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources 

Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources is a collaborative project between ANSTO, Geoscience Australia and CSIRO, with ANSTO as lead partner. The project aims to accelerate the discovery, extraction and processing of Rare Earth Elements (REE) from Australian lower grade deposits, particularly clay-hosted Rare Earth Deposits (CHRED) and Ionic Adsorption Deposits (IAD). Conventional processes might not be readily deployed. This fact sheet outlines what research is underway to address that challenge. 

Learn more. 

Features

Unlocking the power of Australia’s rare earth elements 

A person in a high viz top, hat and work boots crouched using a tool to look closely at rock. There is some scattered bush growing up against a blue sky.

From electronics to renewables, rare earth elements are essential to our daily lives. Discover how the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub is helping diversify global supply chains. Learn more.

Critical mineral power: Australia’s silicon future 

Silicon, in the form of quartz, is a fundamental ingredient for solar cells and other key technologies. It’s emerging as a linchpin in the quest for a sustainable future. Read the full article. 

The Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub is a partnership of ANSTO (Australia’s Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation), Geoscience Australia and CSIRO, funded by the Australian Government.