James Cook University research has identified Queensland's abundant rare earth mineral deposits, finding them both close to the surface and well-suited to extraction using newly developed and more environment-friendly processing options.
The multi-disciplinary team of JCU scientists published their latest research in journal Minerals Engineering, describing the extent of Queensland's rare earth element resources and exploring new and more sustainable methods of rare earth element (REE) extraction.
Rare earth elements make up a group of critical minerals used in defence, electronics, transport and medical applications, as well as being essential to the world's transition to clean and green technology.
"REE are a group of 17 chemical elements with great optical and magnetic properties," said the paper's first author and JCU chemical engineering Lecturer, Dr Rosilene Welter.
"We can apply them in a broad range of technologies. Things like cell phones, batteries, GPS and satellites … even MRI medical equipment needs REEs."
Researchers identified Queensland as a hotspot for REE resources - finding its deposits to be abundant, close to the surface and easily accessible.
Queensland REE deposits hold four percent of total global reserves and include ore bodies in the Hughenden Basin between Townsville and Mt Isa, and the Georgina Basin in Northwest Queensland.
REE are also abundant in old mine tailings dams, such as those resulting from past uranium mining at Mary Kathleen, west of Cloncurry. Dr Welter said that such resources were more easily extracted because the digging and crushing work had already been done.
World-wide rare earth mineral production has increased by 175% over the past 20 years, growing to an $8 billion dollar industry - in which China accounts for 90% of global refining capacity.
"Australia has about 8% of the world's REE reserves. While we dig up the ore, most of it is exported for refining overseas and there is limited domestic value-adding or Australian product manufacturing." said Dr Welter.
"Today, only one percent of the global downstream REE market is based in Australia."
Dr Welter explained that countries currently producing REE, like Myanmar, don't have the same environmental regulations Australia has, so they can extract and purify these minerals using really strong acids, at really low cost, but with high environmental impact.
"When we think about getting into this market, we need to develop more sustainable methods of production that are also competitive," she said.
With Queensland estimated to host around half of Australia's REE reserves, the JCU researchers were developing more environmentally friendly solvents to extract and purify REE from QLD deposits, using funding from the Australian Government's $370 million Critical Minerals Trailblazer Program.
"Queensland has a strong background in mining … we have the equipment and the know-how … so we are developing methods and processes where we can take advantage of what we already have," said Dr Welter.
"Our intention is to develop something that's straightforward but also aligns with the environmental legislation that we have in Queensland.
"That way our research will translate into something good for the community, good for Queensland and good for Australia."
