Highlights

• Cook Government funds $175,000 research initiative to explore rare earth element extraction in Western Australia's Yilgarn region
• Study led by RSC and Curtin University aims to develop environmentally friendly methods for processing critical minerals
• Project seeks to establish local processing capabilities and support global renewable energy transition

The Cook Government of Western Australia has announced funding (opens in a new tab) for a collaborative research initiative to advance the extraction of rare earth elements (REE), positioning the state as a leader in critical minerals for the global energy transition. The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) has awarded $175,000 to a study led by RSC in collaboration with Curtin University and multiple exploration companies. The focus is on clay-hosted REE deposits in the Yilgarn region, building on earlier research identifying valuable elements like gallium and niobium. This project aims to unlock under-utilized REE resources and assess the potential for local processing and purification, potentially fostering advanced manufacturing and a robust rare earth industry in WA. Notably, the study emphasizes environmentally friendly extraction methods, aligning with the state's commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices.

Key Assumptions and Risks:

The report assumes that identified deposits can be economically extracted and processed locally. However, it does not fully address potential challenges such as the high costs of establishing processing facilities, technological limitations, or market competition from dominant global players like China.

Additionally, Rare Earth Exchanges suggests environmental risks and regulatory hurdles associated with large-scale mining and processing remain underexplored. Despite these challenges, the initiative represents a step toward bolstering WA’s position in the critical minerals supply chain and supporting the global shift to renewable energy.