Powering the future: Critical and rare earth elements in basalts from Central Queensland.

Theme: Earth Science and Resources 

Description: Critical and rare earth elements (REE) are needed for the energy transition in increasing amounts.  Waste rocks such as basalt overburden or soils overlying basalts may be one of the sources.  This project will use existing data with imaging and geochemical techniques to characterise vesicular basalt overburden from the Bowen Basin that shows REE and other element enrichment, especially in weathered zones.  The host mineral sources of these elements, fluid accessibility, and extractability will be investigated.

Contact: Assoc Prof Carlos Spier