Scientific topics Critical minerals at Geoscience Australia

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Geoscience Australia supports the objectives of Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030 to grow our critical minerals sector, expand downstream processing, and help meet future global demand. We support the Critical Minerals Office to help grow Australia's critical minerals sector and position Australia globally as a secure, reliable, and ethical supplier of critical minerals.

Our critical minerals activities include:

  • Technical advice to government
  • Scientific research including pre-competitive data acquisition
  • Data enabling services and decision-support tools
  • International and national collaborations
  • Publications
  • Public communication
  • Investment attraction

These activities align with Geoscience Australia’s priority stream of Building Australia’s resources wealth under Strategy 2028, in particular the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative, which aims to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals and other resources to support Australia’s net zero transition and enable responsible management of all resources.

What is a critical mineral?

A critical mineral is a metallic or non-metallic element that has two characteristics:

  1. It is essential for the functioning of our modern technologies, economies or national security and
  2. There is a risk that its supply chains could be disrupted.

Critical minerals are used to manufacture advanced technologies including mobile phones, computers, fibre-optic cables, semi-conductors, banknotes, and defence, aerospace and medical applications. Many critical minerals are used in low-emission technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and rechargeable batteries. While some are also crucial for common products such as stainless steel and electronics.

Risks to critical mineral supply chains can come about when mineral production or processing is dominated by individual countries or companies that could limit availability. Other risks include market immaturity, political decisions, social unrest, natural disasters, mine accidents, geological scarcity, pandemics, and war.

Overview of Critical Minerals

A critical mineral is a metallic or non-metallic element that is essential for modern technologies, economies, national security, and has a supply chain at risk of disruption. Individual countries develop their own lists of critical minerals based on the relative importance of particular minerals to their industrial needs and strategic assessment of supply risks. In addition, assessments of mineral criticality reflect market and political conditions at a particular point in time and are subject to change.

As of 20 February 2024, the Australian Government considers 31 resource commodities to be critical minerals. These have been selected by assessing Australia’s geological endowment and potential with global technology needs, particularly those of partner countries such as the United States, European Union, India, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Australia’s 31 critical minerals are listed in the table below with more information here or in the Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030.

Australia's critical minerals list, resources and production with global comparisons.

Critical mineral On US list1 On EU list2 On India list3 On Japan list4 On ROK list5 On Canada list6 On UK list7 Australian geological potential8 Australian economic demonstrated resources (2024)9 Australian production (2024)10 World resources (2024)11 Global production (2024)12
High-purity Alumina No No No No No No No High13 HPA ore:14
35.9 Mt 		0 No data No data
Antimony Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Moderate15 125.6 kt 1.3 kt >2,000 kt 103 kt
Arsenic Yes Yes No No No No No Moderate No data No data No data 58 kt
Beryllium Yes Yes Yes Yes No No No Moderate No data No data >100,000 t 360 t
Bismuth Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Moderate 4.4 kt No data No data 16 kt
Chromium Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Moderate 748 kt 0 >1,200,000 kt 47,000 kt
Cobalt Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High 1,697 kt 4.8 kt 11,000 kt 290 kt
Fluorine16 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Moderate 3,682 kt 0 155,000 kt 4,600 kt
Gallium Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High No data No data No data 760 t
Germanium Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes High No data No data No data No data
Graphite17 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Moderate 22.6 Mt 0 302 Mt 1.6 Mt
Hafnium Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Moderate 14.5 kt No data No data No data
Indium Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Moderate 0.1 kt No data No data 1,080 t
Lithium Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High 8,799 kt 108 kt 31,000 kt 250 kt
Magnesium Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes High Magnesite:18
354 Mt 		Magnesite:
0.4 Mt 		Magnesite:
7,800 Mt 		Magnesite:
22 Mt
Manganese Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes High Manganese ore:19
675 Mt 		Manganese ore:
2.7 Mt 		Manganese content:
1,300 Mt 		Manganese content:
18.2 Mt
Molybdenum No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Moderate 894 kt 1.934 kt 15,000 kt 260 kt
Nickel Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High 24.7 Mt 0.10 Mt >130 Mt 3.6 Mt
Niobium Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Unknown (interpreted moderate)20 269 kt No data >17,000 kt 110 kt
Platinum-group elements21 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Moderate 527.6 t 0.575 t >81,000 t 360 t
Rare-earth elements22 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High 7.36 Mt 0.031 Mt >90 Mt 0.41 Mt
Rhenium Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Unknown (interpreted moderate) 165 t No data No data 62 t
Scandium Yes Yes No No No Yes No High 43.24 kt No data No data No data
Selenium No No Yes Yes Yes No No Unknown (interpreted moderate) No data No data 92 kt 3.7 kt
Silicon Yes Yes23 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High No data No data No data 4,600 kt
Tantalum Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High 103.3 kt 0.2 kt No data 2.1 kt
Tellurium Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Unknown (interpreted moderate) No data No data 35 kt 0.98 kt
Titanium Yes Yes24 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High Ilmenite:25
308.3
Mt Rutile:26
42.2 Mt 		Ilmenite:
0.51
Mt Rutile:
0.22 Mt 		Ilmenite:
>588
Mt Rutile:
>56 Mt 		Ilmenite:
14.3
Mt Rutile:
0.5 Mt
Tungsten Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High 568 kt >1 kt >4,600 kt 81 kt
Vanadium Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes High 10,173 kt No data 20,000 kt 100 kt
Zirconium Yes No Yes Yes Yes No No High Zircon:27
89.7 Mt 		Zircon:
0.35 Mt 		Zircon:
110 Mt 		Zircon:
1.8 Mt
  1. U.S. Geological Survey. 2025. About the 2025 List of Critical Minerals. United States Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, Federal Government of the United States. Accessed 3 March 2026.
  2. European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. 2023. Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020. Publications Office of the European Union, Brussels. Accessed 3 March 2026
  3. Ministry of Mines. 2023. Critical Minerals For India. Ministry of Mines, Government of India. Accessed 3 March 2026.
  4. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. 2024. Policy for Efforts to Ensure a Stable Supply of Critical Minerals. Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan. Accessed 3 March 2026.
  5. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources. 2023. Core Mineral Securing Strategy. Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, Republic of Korea. Accessed 3 March 2026.
  6. Canada.CA. 2024. Canada's critical minerals. Government of Canada. Accessed 3 March 2026.
  7. UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. 2024. UK 2024 Criticality Assessment. British Geological Survey, Nottingham. Accessed 3 March 2026.
  8. Australian Geological Potential is organised into three categories: High, Moderate and Low, based on specific criteria.
  9. Hughes, A., Britt, A., Pheeney, J., Kucka, C., Morfiadakis, A., Munns, C., Boyd, J., Senior, A., Cross, A. and Thorne, J. 2026. Australia's Identified Mineral Resources 2025. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://dx.doi.10.26186/150676
  10. Ibid.
  11. Ibid.
  12. Ibid.
  13. For a critical mineral to be classified with High geological potential, it must meet some of the following criteria: Australia is in the top 5 in the world for known resources. Australia is in the top 5 for world production. The critical mineral is a recognised byproduct in currently mined deposits. There are multiple known deposits (in conjunction with other criteria. Australia is a current producer. The critical mineral is common in known Australian mineral systems (in conjunction with other criteria).
  14. HPA ore refers to high-purity alumina ore and is characterised by its purity levels (i.e. ≥99.99% Al2O3).
  15. For a critical mineral to be classified with Moderate geological potential, it must meet some of the following criteria: Australia is in the top 10 in the world for known resources. Australia is in the top 10 for world production or a past producer. The critical mineral is a possible byproduct in existing deposits. There are some known deposits (+/- current production). The critical mineral is present in known Australian mineral systems (in conjunction with other criteria).
  16. The United States, the European Union and Canada identify fluorspar as a critical mineral.
  17. Natural graphite is identified by the European Union as a critical raw material and by the UK as a critical mineral.
  18. Magnesite refers to magnesium carbonate (MgCO3).
  19. Manganese ore is most commonly pyrolusite (MnO2).
  20. Unknown geological potential owing to lack of data. Interpretation is based on knowledge of Australia's geology, known mineral associations and historical information.
  21. The platinum group elements include ruthenium (Ru), rhodium (Rh), palladium (Pd), osmium (Os), iridium (Ir), and platinum (Pt). Several partner lists separately identify the platinum group elements and/or identify certain platinum group elements as critical minerals.
  22. The rare earth elements include yttrium (Y), lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd), promethium (Pm), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), and lutetium (Lu). Several partner lists separately identify the rare earth elements and/or only identify certain rare earth elements as critical minerals.
  23. The European Union identifies silicon metal as a critical raw material.
  24. The European Union identifies titanium metal as a critical raw material.
  25. Ilmenite refers to Iron(II) titanium oxide (FeIITiO3) and is one of the main constituents of heavy mineral sands.
  26. Rutile refers to titanium dioxide (TiO2) and is one of the main constituents of heavy mineral sands.
  27. Zircon refers to zirconium silicate (ZrSiO4) and is one of the main constituents of heavy mineral sands.

Australia’s critical minerals sector is constantly growing in response to the increasing global need for a secure supply of these vital and strategic minerals. Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources 2024 shows that, in 2023, Australia retained its position as the world’s top lithium producer (49%) and was also a top five producer for cobalt (2%), manganese ore (9%), rare earths (8%), rutile (35%), tantalum (6%), and zircon (24%). As well as being a global leader in the supply of critical minerals, many more deposits have been discovered or are under development, as seen in the map below.

Due to the limited audience of this diagram and its complexity, no alternative description has been provided. Please email clientservices@ga.gov.au

Australian critical mineral deposits and mines in 2024

The Australian resources industry has responded to increased demand for critical minerals with additional exploration and resource definition. There was significant growth in the economic inventories of 13 critical minerals and strategic materials. Economic inventories increased for platinum group elements (up 30%), graphite (up 27%), lithium (up 20%), niobium and vanadium (both up 18%), manganese ore (up 16%), high-purity alumina (up 14%), molybdenum, rare earths and tantalum (all up 10%), rutile (up 6%) and bauxite (up 5%). In addition, new economic resources (748 kt) were recorded for chromium. Information regarding developing and advanced-stage critical minerals projects in Australia, can be found in the Australian Critical Minerals Prospectus 2023.

Click for further information about each critical mineral.

Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity

Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity is the Australian Government’s 35-year, $3.4 billion precompetitive geoscience initiative, led by Geoscience Australia, to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals and other resources, to support Australia’s net zero transition and enable responsible management of all resources.

The landmark Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative (2024-59) will play a key role in unlocking new opportunities to support a thriving and resilient national economy and a Future Made in Australia.

It will use innovative data, research and analysis to assess national potential for a broad range of the resources critical to the net zero transition, supporting a strong resource sector. This initiative focuses on mapping our potential for critical minerals and strategic materials, hydrogen and carbon storage, and offshore renewable energy. It will also map the groundwater systems that support the development of our natural resources, contribute to our water and food security, and bolster our climate resilience.

Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity will drive economic growth and create jobs in the global shift to a net zero economy. By partnering with state and territory governments and our research partners, this initiative also lays the groundwork for a prosperous, competitive and sustainable future.

Learn more

Exploring for the Future

The Australian Government’s $225 million Exploring for the Future program (2016-24), led by Geoscience Australia, committed to supporting a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of Australians.

At its heart, the program was about contributing to a sustainable, long-term future for Australia through an improved understanding of the nation’s mineral and energy potential and groundwater resources.

By gathering and analysing geological and geophysical data and making the results publicly available, the program supported regional development and informed decision making across Australia, resulting in jobs and growth.

The 2020–2024 program focused on eight interrelated projects, united in growing our understanding of subsurface geology. Three of these projects had an application to critical minerals: Australia’s Resources FrameworkAustralia’s as a continental-scale project; Darling-Curnamona-Delamerian as a regional-scale deep-dive project across western New South Wales and Victoria, eastern South Australia, and northwest Tasmania; and Barkly-Isa-Georgetown as a regional-scale deep-dive project between Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory, through to Mount Isa and Georgetown in Queensland.

Learn more

Due to the limited audience of this diagram and its complexity, no alternative description has been provided. Please email clientservices@ga.gov.au

Project activities during Phase 2 of the EFTF program

Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub

The (the R&D Hub) is hosted by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and brings together expertise from leading Federal science agencies: the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and Geoscience Australia.

The R&D Hub will work with industry to address technical challenges and drive collaborative research across the critical minerals value chain needed to support clean energy and Australia’s net zero policy agenda.

The top priorities of the R&D Hub are to:

  • scale-up and commercialise critical minerals research and development – including priority research projects on supply chains of strategic significance
  • help coordinate, guide and prioritise critical minerals research and development efforts across Australia
  • connect critical minerals projects to the technical and research expertise they need
  • support strategic international critical minerals collaboration and science diplomacy.

Find out more about Geoscience Australia’s projects that are funded through the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub.

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative

The importance of critical minerals and the need to expand and diversify critical mineral supply chains has been endorsed by the federal governments of Australia, Canada, and the United States. The geoscience organisations of Geoscience Australia, the Geological Survey of Canada and the United States Geological Survey have created the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) to build a diversified critical minerals industry in all three countries. The aim of this collaboration is to utilize our combined geological expertise to address global natural resource vulnerabilities whilst also highlighting emerging opportunities in the resource sector and promoting critical mineral discovery in Australia, Canada and the USA.

CMMI is developing a better understanding of:

  • Known critical mineral resources.
  • Geologic controls on critical mineral distribution for deposits currently producing by-products.
  • Identification of new sources of supply through critical mineral potential mapping and quantitative mineral assessments.

As part of the initiative, CMMI has combined the mineral resources information held by the three geoscience organisations into a singular dataset to create the world’s largest compilation of Critical Minerals in Ores. This data is available through the CMMI Portal, a free interactive mapping tool designed to display critical minerals information on a global scale. It includes over 25,000 mineral samples provided by 60 countries, from both historical and modern mining operations. New data and publications from the collaboration will be added to the portal as they become available.

Investors

Australia has a rich and diverse mineral endowment and long history of discovering and responsibly developing high-quality mineral resources. This, combined with vast tracts of largely under-explored and highly prospective areas, makes Australia an ideal place for investment in mineral exploration.

In addition, Australia’s adherence to the rule of law creates an investment environment of low political and sovereign risk. Investors can have confidence in consistent and transparent management of economic settings such as labour, taxes, royalties, health and safety, skilled migration, foreign investment and environmental protection as they operate in a strong and well-established resources industry. This robust framework combined with Australia’s enormous resource wealth, huge potential for new discoveries and well-coordinated government support for exploration and resource development creates a competitive advantage for investors in Australia’s mineral resources sector.

Geoscience Australia:

  • Supports the objectives of Australia’s Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030 to grow our critical minerals sector, expand downstream processing and help meet future global demand.
  • Supports the Critical Minerals Office to help grow Australia's critical minerals sector and position Australia globally as a secure, reliable and ethical supplier of critical minerals.
  • Works with Austrade to promote investment opportunities in Australian critical minerals projects to investors. These government agencies, publications and resources help investors find opportunities and navigate approval requirements to invest in Australia.

Read more:

Publications

Science and technical information

Maps

Policy

  • The 2023-2030 Critical Minerals Strategy outlines priorities for the development of Australia’s critical minerals sector to ensure that it can seize the opportunities of the net zero transformation
  • The Australian government is committed to developing the country’s first National Battery Strategy to articulate a clear pathway for integrated, end-to-end onshore battery minerals supply chains
  • The Australian government has committed $15 billion to establish the National Reconstruction Fund to provide finance for projects that diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy.

Presentations and videos

Geoscience Australia has also produced a series of presentations on critical minerals, many of which can be found on our YouTube page.

Relevant presentations include: