Mineral potential assessment reveals new areas for likely unconformity-related rare earth element discoveries

Geoscience Australia has unveiled new research that reshapes Australia’s understanding of where unconformity-related rare earth element (REE) deposits may be found, revealing previously unrecognised regions with strong potential for future discovery. Announced by the Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia the Hon. Madeleine King MP, the study focuses on unconformity-related rare earth element (URREE) mineral systems and marks the first in a suite of national mineral potential assessments to be delivered under Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity.

Hosting large proportions of heavy rare earth elements, URREE mineral systems are essential for advancing manufacturing, defence applications, and clean energy technologies, such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. Published resource information shows URREE systems are typically more enriched in these critical elements than other rare earth deposit types.

This new assessment will support Australia’s long-term mineral security efforts, complementing the recently announced Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. By identifying areas with high geological potential, this work will help guide investment in exploration through to development, by explorers, industry and government toward regions most likely to deliver future discoveries.

“These results are just the start of how the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity program will help us understand where to find the critical minerals and resources we will need to support clean energy, defence and medical technology,” Minister King said.

­By using advanced scientific techniques, the assessment narrows the exploration search space for URREE mineralisation by up to 95%, significantly reducing exploration uncertainty. The research confirms high potential in the Birrindudu-Halls Creek region along the Western Australia/Northern Territory border, an area already known to host deposits.

Importantly, the assessment also identifies new prospective regions, including the:

• Yeneena basin (WA)
• Louisa basin (WA)
• Murraba basin (WA)
• Parts of the South Nicholson Basin (NT)

Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity will continue delivering major scientific insights through Australia’s first comprehensive national prospectus for rare earth elements, due for release in late 2026. These efforts aim to further illuminate Australia’s geological and economic potential and support the responsible supply of critical minerals needed for the nation’s future.

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The unconformity-related rare earth element mineral potential maps and data package can be found online.

The journal article on the URREE research can also be found online here.