Rare Earth Elements (REE)

Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources

Tranche 2: 2024-2026

Project name Lead agency Aim
REE Mineral Potential Assessment ANSTO, supported by GA and CSIRO Accelerate discovery, extraction and processing of REE in developing Australian lower grade deposits

ANSTO is leading this project which involves all three science agencies.  While Australia’s rich endowment of high grade REE and processing techniques are understood, greater knowledge of the mineralogy and processing routes is needed to unlock the potential of lower grade deposits, particularly in clay-hosted REE and ionic adsorption deposits. This project will  accelerate the discovery, extraction and processing of REE from these deposits by: assessing Australia’s mineral potential for lower grade REE deposits; developing and testing process options specific to Australia’s clay-hosted rare earth and ionic absorption deposits; demonstrating how these deposits can be used in existing REE separation technologies; establishing a dedicated testing facility; and enhancing the environmental outcomes of critical minerals mining and processing.

Resources

Developing Australia’s Ionic Clay and Clay Hosted Rare Earth Deposits

ANSTO’s James Quinn, a Senior Hydrometallurgist with Minerals, presented at the AusIMM 2024 Critical Minerals Conference on the ADARER project -Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources.

Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources

The Hub is working to accelerate the discovery, extraction and processing of Rare Earth Elements (REE) from Australian lower grade deposits, particularly clay-hosted Rare Earth Deposits and Ionic Adsorption Deposits.

Unlocking the power of Australia’s rare earth elements

Discover how the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub hosted by CSIRO is helping diversify global supply chains.

Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources

As part of the Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, Geoscience Australia will contribute new knowledge on Australia’s rare earth element (REE) mineral potential on a national-scale with a focus on clay-hosted REE mineral deposits found in Australia.