Support for exploring critical minerals
Location of critical minerals
The global demand for critical minerals is rapidly increasing given their key role in the development of modern technology. Queensland is recognised globally as a leading destination for mining and resources investment, and as Australia's gateway to Asian markets. This puts our state in a great position to discover critical minerals that are used to make everyday items such as:
- smartphones
- wind turbines
- electric cars
- solar panels
- batteries.
Although critical minerals are found across Queensland, they are concentrated in the state's North West and North East Minerals Provinces—from Mount Isa in the west to Townsville in the east, a distance of nearly 1,000km. Some critical minerals are found with other traditionally mined resources, such as cobalt with copper, while others are the dominant mineral in a deposit. Find out more about Queensland's North West Minerals Province.
Learn more about mining and resources maps and spatial data.
The Geological Survey of Queensland (GSQ) is expanding our shared knowledge of Queensland's geology and resource potential. This information assists the industry in sustainably accessing Queensland's minerals and energy resources.
Projects in Queensland
With a diverse resource endowment, proven capability to bring a resource to market and a responsible operating environment, Queensland is an attractive investment jurisdiction.
View our interactive map of critical mineral resources and project locations across Queensland.
Mining critical minerals
Some critical minerals—such as copper, zinc and aluminium—have been mined in Queensland for decades but are being used in new and different applications to help emerging technologies and contribute to decarbonisation. However, quite a few minerals are about to be mined for the first time. That's why the exploration of critical minerals is crucial to help unearth new and deeper reserves and deposits.
We know there are deposits of critical minerals in a broad corridor from Mount Isa to Townsville and we are currently exploring these areas through numerous initiatives. Many critical minerals are located alongside traditional commodities, so we are focusing on the following 2 areas to locate and utilise these minerals:
- new exploration activities
- re-examining existing mines and reprocessing mine waste.
Support for critical mineral exploration in Queensland
An immediate priority for delivering the Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy is encouraging more exploration to support new mineral discoveries. To help encourage more exploration, zero rent arrangements apply to exploration permits for minerals from 1 September 2023 until 31 August 2028.
Funding is available to advance innovative exploration in mineral prospects and to support future development, including tenders, grants and other resource investment opportunities.
Find out about the exploration incentives and opportunities available in Queensland.
To develop critical mineral projects, the government is investing in exploration activities to improve scientific understanding and supply the valuable geoscience data needed by industry to help locate and define deposits for future production.
Where to from here
Support is available at each step of your exploration activity, beginning with access to georesource products and progressing to applying for the relevant resource authorities and environmental approvals for exploration activities.
For more information
Contact Critical Minerals Queensland at criticalminerals@resources.qld.gov.au with any enquiries.
- Last updated
- 20 June 2024
- Last reviewed
- 20 June 2024