Data

Cenozoic heavy mineral sand rare earth element mineral potential map of Australia

Geoscience Australia
McPherson, A. ; Walsh, J. ; Oborski, E. ; Cloutier, J. ; Senior, A. ; Ford, A.
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=info:doi10.26186/150650&rft.title=Cenozoic heavy mineral sand rare earth element mineral potential map of Australia&rft.identifier=10.26186/150650&rft.publisher=Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia)&rft.description=Map showing the potential for Cenozoic heavy mineral sand rare earth element (HMS REE) mineral systems in Australia.The mineral potential map is a synthesis of four component layers:    1. Source of metals, fluids and ligands (represented by subsets of the Surface Geology of Australia 1:2.5M and Alkaline Rocks Atlas of Australia).    2. Energy sources and fluid flow drivers (represented by a subset of palaeovalleys derived from the Palaeogeographic Atlas of Australia - Vol. 10 Cenozoic.    3. Fluid flow pathways and architecture (represented by the combined continental shelf and onshore basins with Cenozoic oceanic connection and sediment deposition).    4. Ore depositional gradients and traps (represented by both (i) reported HMS occurrences and (ii) selected sand-dominated Cenozoic geological units from the Layered Geology of Australia).The model uses a hybrid data-driven and knowledge driven methodology to produce the final mineral potential map for the mineral system. The input maps and mineral deposit training and validation datasets used to generate the mineral potential map are provided.These are accompanied by an assessment criteria table which contains information on the map creation including model weightings applied to each component.Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: Mineral potential model developed for the first national-scale mineral potential assessment of Cenozoic heavy mineral sand rare earth element mineral systems in Australia as part of the Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources (ADARER) project under the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub. Model input maps, training and validation data and assessment criteria table developed during 2025 are supplied along with the final output map. The dataset underpins the related journal paper (eCat 150612) accepted for publication in Ore Geology Reviews.&rft.creator=McPherson, A. &rft.creator=Walsh, J. &rft.creator=Oborski, E. &rft.creator=Cloutier, J. &rft.creator=Senior, A. &rft.creator=Ford, A. &rft.date=2025&rft.coverage=westlimit=112.00; southlimit=-44.00; eastlimit=154.00; northlimit=-9.00; projection=GDA2020 / GA LCC (EPSG: 7845)&rft.coverage=westlimit=112.00; southlimit=-44.00; eastlimit=154.00; northlimit=-9.00; projection=GDA2020 / GA LCC (EPSG: 7845)&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/&rft_rights=© Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2026&rft_rights=Australian Government Security Classification System https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/pspf-annual-release&rft_subject=geoscientificInformation&rft_subject=heavy mineral sands&rft_subject=rare earth elements&rft_subject=mineral potential assessment&rft_subject=critical minerals&rft_subject=Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub&rft_subject=Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources&rft_subject=ADARER&rft_subject=Resource geoscience&rft_subject=Published_External&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

© Commonwealth of Australia (Geoscience Australia) 2026

Australian Government Security Classification System
https://www.protectivesecurity.gov.au/pspf-annual-release

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Full description

Map showing the potential for Cenozoic heavy mineral sand rare earth element (HMS REE) mineral systems in Australia.

The mineral potential map is a synthesis of four component layers:
    1. Source of metals, fluids and ligands (represented by subsets of the Surface Geology of Australia 1:2.5M and Alkaline Rocks Atlas of Australia).
    2. Energy sources and fluid flow drivers (represented by a subset of palaeovalleys derived from the Palaeogeographic Atlas of Australia - Vol. 10 Cenozoic.
    3. Fluid flow pathways and architecture (represented by the combined continental shelf and onshore basins with Cenozoic oceanic connection and sediment deposition).
    4. Ore depositional gradients and traps (represented by both (i) reported HMS occurrences and (ii) selected sand-dominated Cenozoic geological units from the Layered Geology of Australia).

The model uses a hybrid data-driven and knowledge driven methodology to produce the final mineral potential map for the mineral system. 

The input maps and mineral deposit training and validation datasets used to generate the mineral potential map are provided.

These are accompanied by an assessment criteria table which contains information on the map creation including model weightings applied to each component.

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Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement:
Mineral potential model developed for the first national-scale mineral potential assessment of Cenozoic heavy mineral sand rare earth element mineral systems in Australia as part of the Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources (ADARER) project under the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub. Model input maps, training and validation data and assessment criteria table developed during 2025 are supplied along with the final output map. The dataset underpins the related journal paper (eCat 150612) accepted for publication in Ore Geology Reviews.

Notes

Purpose
Mineral potential model for heavy mineral sand rare earth elements delivered as part of Geoscience Australia (GA) commitments under the Accelerating Development of Australia's Rare Earth Resources (ADARER) project; a collaborative research initiative led by ANSTO and involving CSIRO and GA. Funded by the Australian Government, the project aims to enhance Australia's capacity to discover, extract, and process rare earth elements (REEs), particularly from clay-hosted and ionic adsorption deposits, to support critical technologies and strengthen supply chains.

Created: 18 09 2025

Issued: 11 03 2026

Data time period: 2025-02-03 to 2026-02-09

This dataset is part of a larger collection

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154,-9 154,-44 112,-44 112,-9 154,-9

133,-26.5

text: westlimit=112.00; southlimit=-44.00; eastlimit=154.00; northlimit=-9.00; projection=GDA2020 / GA LCC (EPSG: 7845)

Subjects
ADARER | Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Resources | Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub | Published_External | Resource geoscience | critical minerals | geoscientificInformation | heavy mineral sands | mineral potential assessment | rare earth elements |

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Download data package (zip) [122.4 MB]

url : https://d28rz98at9flks.cloudfront.net/150650/150650_00_0.ZIP

National-scale mineral potential assessment of heavy mineral sand rare earth element systems in Australia

local : 150612

Identifiers
ACN 633 798 857