Minerals 

We are committed to growing Australia's role as a reliable, sustainable and globally competitive minerals supplier. We’re also building sovereign capability through downstream value-adding and manufacturing.

Australia’s mineral resources are among the richest in the world. 

Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, solids. There are 3 types of minerals:

  • metals and mineral ores
  • sands
  • gemstones. 

Critical minerals and strategic materials are used to produce the critical technologies vital to modern economies. Like those used in renewable energy and national security.

Read Geoscience Australia's definitions for each mineral.

Accelerating Australia’s critical minerals industry

Critical minerals

We are growing our critical minerals sector to make Australia a world-leading producer of raw and processed critical minerals. Find investment opportunities, funding and initiatives.

Critical Minerals Office

The CMO is the Australian Government's central coordination point for critical minerals. It provides national policy and strategic advice and facilitation services for industry.

Regulating minerals

Offshore mineral exploration and mining  

We regulate mineral activity in Australian waters under the Offshore Minerals Act 1994.

Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine  

Ranger is a uranium mine about 260 kilometres east of Darwin in the Northern Territory (NT).

Taxes, royalties and export controls on minerals and petroleum

Companies that extract mineral and petroleum resources must pay taxes and royalties. Companies who export minerals must meet requirements.

Find funding and opportunities

Minerals sector initiatives and services

Find initiatives

Latest news

More news
Photo of Earth from space showing Australia with swirling atmosphere

Net zero sector plans for industry, resources and the built environment

We are developing plans to help major sectors transition to a net zero economy. These will support the Australian Government’s Net Zero Plan.
Close up photo of copper mineralisation

Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive 2019–20 and 2020–21 impact assessment: have your say

We’re seeking feedback on the performance and effectiveness of the Junior Minerals Exploration Incentive (JMEI) rounds of 2019-20 and 2020-21. Give your feedback until 9 August 2024.
Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism and The Hon Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia sign the Memorandum for Understanding.
Critical Minerals Office

Australia and the European Union partner up on critical minerals

Australia and the EU’s new bilateral agreement will open up new opportunities to work together on critical minerals to accelerate the transition to net zero.
Photo of critical minerals

Investments to capitalise on Australia’s critical minerals and the global clean energy transition

As part of the 2024-25 May Budget, the Australian Government announced it will invest in a range of measures to secure our critical minerals processing industries.
Illustration shows map of Australia with hotspots.

Investments to map Australian resources that will power our future prosperity

As part of the 2024-25 May Budget, the Australian Government announced it will fund Geoscience Australia to accelerate the discovery of critical minerals, ground water and other resources…