Tasmania's bauxite miner has found prized rare-earth elements at bauxite deposits in Tasmania and Queensland.
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Security of ongoing supply of rare-earth elements is a matter of concern for various countries and industries, with key producer China having shown it is prepared to limit supply.
Rare-earth elements are used in many advanced technologies, including smart phones, batteries, electric vehicles and military equipment.
Australian Bauxite Limited said early results from a 15-month exploration project in its "bauxite horizon" included:
- two Tasmanian prospects - DL130, west of Launceston, and FIngal Rail, near Campbell Town - identified, with testing results showing DL130 was enriched with rare-earth elements;
- DL130 rare-earth elements values averaging six times higher grade than the Fingal Rail prospect and those found in clays at the Binjour bauxite deposit in Queensland; and
- more than 4500 metres of samples overall which warranted assessment for rare-earth elements.
The company said the enriched zones at DL130 were 4-18 metres thick, with "good continuity" over distances of more than 1 kilometre.
It said solubility and ease of concentration of the rare-earth elements was being assessed at its bauxite research laboratory in Launceston.
Concentrates would be tested at its Alcore Research Centre in New South Wales.
Elements found in the Fingal Rail and DL130 material were yttrium oxide, lanthanum oxide, cerium oxide, terbium oxide, neodymium oxide, dysprosium oxide, erbium oxide and ytterbium oxide.
The highest concentrations on a best third of samples basis were cerium oxide and yttrium oxide at DL130.
Cerium's uses include in turbine blade coatings, self-cleaning ovens, flints for lighters and yellow colours in glass.
Yttrium is used in many applications, including battery cathodes, cancer treatments, camera and refractive telescope lenses, microwave filters and jewellery.
Sean Ford
The Advocate Newspaper, Tasmania. Business, economics, politics, crime.
The Advocate Newspaper, Tasmania. Business, economics, politics, crime.
