Clay Hosted Rare Earth Element Deposits in Australia: A case study from Western Australia

Critical minerals, particularly Rare Earth Elements (REE), are of growing global and national significance, especially in Australia. A multidisciplinary project aims to assess Australia’s potential for lower-grade REE resources, develop tailored processing technologies for CHRED and IAD deposits, and demonstrate their compatibility with existing REE separation techniques.

We aim to improve the deposit-scale understanding of REE mineral systems in Australia and deliver an integrated perspective of their formation and distribution. Key research areas include examining enrichment processes to show how REEs are mobilized from source materials and how their ratios evolve during deposit formation. Comprehensive ore characterization involves analyzing clay mineralogy, REE mineral distributions, compositions, and speciation. Additionally, the research investigates deposit heterogeneity by delineating REE concentrations across regolith profiles, unconsolidated sediments, and basement rocks, shedding light on REE cycling in natural systems.

By integrating these approaches, this work aims to unlock the potential of Australia’s CHRED and IAD deposits, supporting the sustainable and efficient development of critical mineral resources while addressing global demand for REEs.