Critical minerals

Critical minerals to support the clean energy transition

Developing and adding value to our critical minerals can provide an important source of economic growth for Australia and help to power a global transition towards zero emissions. Our Critical Energy Minerals Roadmap estimates the critical mineral value of the energy transition’s top technologies to reach more than AUD$5 trillion dollars globally by 2050.

Critical energy metals

Unlocking the full economic potential of Australia's energy metals.

Battery-grade nickel

CSIRO is helping BHP’s Nickel West asset in their journey to become a producer of highly pure nickel sulphate for the battery industry.

Critical Energy Minerals Roadmap

The Critical Energy Minerals Roadmap outlines opportunities in how we can extract new value from our mining and manufacturing sectors. It aims to give Australia the competitive advantage in a world undergoing massive change.

LithSonic lithium metal production

The LithSonic™ process could support the global battery revolution.

Lithium PF6 recovery during battery recycling

Recovery of high-value lithium electrolyte from lithium battery recycling

Zinc isotopes

Zinc isotopes found in manganese crust samples of soils and termite mounds in the Pilbara, Western Australia, can be used by mineral explorers to find hidden deposits of critical metals necessary to support the transition to low emission energy technologies.

Critical energy metal demand

It's become clear that the global transition to clean energy will need a lot of metal. For example, annual demand for battery metals – like lithium and cobalt – is expected to increase by over 450 per cent by 2050. By JERAD FORD and JIM WEST

Ore sorter for copper and iron

We developed the world's first sensor system for large-scale ore sorting. It rapidly determines ore grade to cost-effectively sort minerals of value from waste. The technology can significantly boost productivity for mining companies and is available to the international market through NextOre.

Mineral detection and measurement

The ability to accurately measure valuable elements and minerals is critical for optimising processes. Our emerging sensor technologies provide real-time results, opening up opportunities to make significant cost savings and increase mineral recovery rates.

Graphite formation and processing

We worked with Talga Resources to better understand their large graphite ore deposit and provide a benchmark to compare their product after processing.

Complex mineral systems

Thanks to our advanced analysis, a top-tier mining company gained a better understanding of the nature and abundance of amorphous mineral phases in their complex ore. This knowledge is used to make critical decisions at various stages in the minerals value chain.

Solvent extraction for metals

We're improving solvent extraction processes for recovering a range of metals. Our technology improvements have helped companies save millions of dollars.

Resourceful - mineral resources news

What is a critical metal

Fashionable as it might be to talk about critical metals in a world migrating towards a clean-energy future it is equally important to ask why some metals are considered critical and others not.

Value adding to tech metals

Australia has the ingredients to be a leader in the world’s energy transition, but it can also be compared to a well-stocked kitchen in need of a chef with a recipe to combine the raw materials in a practical and profitable way. TIM TREADGOLD reports

Critical energy metal demand

New indicator minerals in the nickel hunt

Finding the next Kambalda, home of Australia’s sulfide nickel mining industry, will be a lot harder than the original discovery, but to aid the process a new indicator mineral exploration technique is emerging from CSIRO research. TIM TREADGOLD reports

Securing the mineral supply for batteries

The batteries powering a decarbonised world will need millions of tonnes of minerals to make them, and yet many suitable resources are scarce. Manganese has emerged as a suitable and plentiful battery metal resource, but where are the best fit-for-purpose deposits? CSIRO researchers are working to discover the answers.

Using microbes to mine metals from e-waste

Whether it’s rare earths used in new renewable power and energy storage technologies, certain metals are critical in the transition to a high-tech, low carbon economy. Biomining could help Australia reclaim some of these. MARY-LOU CONSIDINE explores

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Critical minerals