Minerals

World-leading expertise

ANSTO has globally recognised expertise in the processing of critical and strategic metals such as rare earths, scandium, lithium, zirconium, niobium and hafnium.

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Australia’s critical mineral opportunity

Critical minerals are a diverse range of metallic and non-metallic elements that are essential to renewable energy systems, modern computing, emerging technologies, and sustainable economic development. However, their supply chains are vulnerable due to limited pricing transparency and the geographic concentration of mining and/or processing.

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Petalite, petalite or castorite is an important mineral for obtaining lithium, battery industry, lithium source

Supporting the mining and minerals processing industries

ANSTO offers consultancy, process development and research services to industry and is helping support the transition to renewable energy and net zero targets. Hear more about our latest projects, technology developments and news.

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Consultancy

Our experienced team of engineers, metallurgists, chemists and scientists have a proven track record of working with our clients in Australia and around the world to design and evaluate novel flowsheets and improve established processes.

Research and development

Our research group carries out fundamental research uniquely applied to industrial problems in the areas of uranium, rare earth and lithium processing.

ANSTO Staff member reviewing data on computer screen in Minerals pilot facility

Facilities

ANSTO has a full suite of mineralogical, chemical and hydrometallurgical facilities from laboratory through to pilot scale.

The Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub

ANSTO, CSIRO, and Geoscience Australia are working together to boost and commercialize Australia's critical minerals.

By focusing on key technical challenges and national priorities, the Hub supports international R&D collaboration to strengthen supply chain resilience.

This initiative is an Australian Government-funded partnership supporting the federal Critical Minerals Strategy.

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Translational R&D to boost on-shore processing

Australian Rare Earths (AR3) has been announced as the first industry partner to access ANSTO’s new pilot-scale rare earth processing facility. The new facility, supported by government funding through the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub, a collaboration between ANSTO, Geoscience Australia and CSIRO, will extend Australia’s on-shore rare earth processing capabilities and accelerate the development of our ionic and clay-hosted rare earth deposits.

MOU for critical minerals technology cooperation

ANSTO has entered into a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) with POSCO Holdings that will support the acceleration of innovation in critical minerals processing and refining. This collaboration will leverage ANSTO’s world-class expertise in minerals technology and POSCO’s industrial capabilities to develop new mid-stream and down-stream processing solutions for lithium, rare earths, and other strategic minerals.

Innovative patent removes key radioactive contaminant in critical minerals processing

ANSTO has secured patents for an innovative process that removes actinium-277, a radioactive contaminant, from the process liquors used in critical minerals extraction. The patent has been granted in Australia and across several European countries.

LieNa® technology receives funding boost

A world-first processing technology developed in collaboration by ANSTO’s Minerals unit and Lithium Australia Limited to extract lithium from discarded mining waste, LieNa^®, has reached an exciting new milestone in its progress towards commercialisation.

Dr Chris Griffith

Principal Consultant

Dr Karin Soldenhoff

Principal Consultant

Sateesha Tirumali Seetharam

General Manager - Minerals

Meet the Minerals team

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