New global database advances critical minerals research

A new global mineral chemistry database will help researchers, governments and industry better understand how critical minerals occur and support mineral exploration, resource assessment and future supply.

The Critical Minerals in Ores – Mineral Chemistry database, known as CMiO-MIN, has been developed through the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI), an international partnership between Geoscience Australia, the United States Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada.

The release adds approximately 13,000 data points from ore-related mineral samples collected from deposits around the world. The data is publicly available in a standardised format through the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative portal.

CMiO-MIN brings together compositional data from mineralised core intervals, surface samples and mine waste materials. It builds on the existing Critical Minerals in Ores database by linking chemistry data with sample characteristics and deposit classifications .

Critical minerals are essential to many modern technologies, including advanced manufacturing, consumer electronics, aerospace and renewable energy technologies. Better access to consistent, high-quality geoscience data can support more informed decisions about exploration, resource assessment and potential supply opportunities.

By bringing this information together, CMiO-MIN can help users investigate the geological processes associated with critical mineral processing and strengthen research, analysis and mineral potential modelling.

Geoscience Australia’s Chief of the Mineral, Energy and Groundwater Division, Dr Andrew Heap, said the release demonstrated the value of international collaboration in making high-quality geoscience data more accessible.

“Critical minerals are a global priority, and improving access to consistent, trusted data is an important part of supporting future discovery and supply,” Dr Heap said.

“CMiO-MIN gives researchers, governments and industry a trusted international evidence base for understanding how critical minerals occur and how those resources may be assessed and recovered.”

United States Geological Survey Associate Director for Geology, Energy and Minerals, Dr Sarah Ryker, said the initiative built on the strength of the partner agencies' shared knowledge.

"The geological surveys' science has even greater impact when we pool and share our knowledge with the world. The original CMiO global database already helps users better understand critical mineral potential in over 60 countries. CMiO-MIN will take that foundation farther, sharpening research insights and accelerating evaluation of the world's future resource options," Dr Ryker said.

Dr Sonia Talwar, Director General of the Geological Survey of Canada, said the database reflected the importance of harmonised data to global mineral security.

"International collaboration is key to advancing shared global priorities in a rapidly changing world. A modern minerals database with harmonized, high-quality data ensures that everyone can access the crucial geoscientific information that underpins competitive, responsible mineral exploration," Dr Talwar said.

Organisations can contribute additional mineral chemistry data using the submission template available through the portal and via Geoscience Australia’s Data and Publications Catalogue.

Learn more about the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative and explore the dataset: https://www.criticalminerals.org