About critical minerals

Australia is uniquely positioned as a global leader in the production and development of critical minerals—materials that are essential for advanced technologies, clean energy, and national security. With abundant natural resources, a robust mining industry, and world-class research institutions like ANU, Australia is at the forefront of both mineral exploration and the innovation needed to transform these resources into sustainable energy solutions.

Critical minerals, such as lithium, rare earth elements (REEs), cobalt, and nickel, are vital components in batteries, electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels, and military technologies. As global demand for clean energy and high-tech applications rises, Australia’s role in supplying and researching these minerals becomes even more crucial.

Australia holds vast reserves of critical minerals, making it one of the top suppliers of many essential elements worldwide.

Through partnerships with industry and government ANU is exploring innovative methods to sustainably extract and process these critical minerals to ensure supply security while minimizing environmental impact.

List of Australia's critical minerals

Select an element to read more about its use.

13
Al
Aluminium
(HPA)
High Purity Alumina (HPA) is used in the manufacturing of products such as LED lights and lithium-ion batteries.
51
Sb
Antimony
Antimony is used in the manufacturing of flame retardants and alloys.
33
As
Arsenic
Arsenic is used in the manufacturing of alloys and semiconductors.
4
Be
Beryllium
Beryllium is used in telecommunications equipment, automotive electronics, and aerospace, defence and industrial components..
15
Bi
Bismuth
Bismuth is used in free-machining steels, brass, pigments, solders and pharmaceuticals.
24
Cr
Chromium
Chromium is used in stainless and heat-resistant steels, superalloys, non-ferrous alloys and pigments.
27
Co
Cobalt
Cobalt is used in lithium batteries, synthetic fuels, superalloys, steel and pigments.
9
F
Fluorine
Fluorine is used in the manufacturing of lithium batteries, semiconductors, electrical insulation, solar panels, Teflon, steel, aluminium, rocket propellants and cement, as well as uranium processing.
31
Ga
Gallium
Gallium is used in integrated circuits, laser diodes, LEDs, photodetectors and photovoltaics.
32
Ge
Germanium
Germanium is used in fibre and infrared optics, as a polymerisation catalyst and in electronic and solar electric applications.
6
C
Carbon
(Graphite)
Uses of graphite include carbon-graphite composites, electronics, foils, friction materials and special lubricants applications.
72
Hf
Hafnium
Hafnium is used in the control rods of nuclear reactors, and in vacuum tubes, and has been used as an alloying agent with iron, titanium, niobium and other metals. Hafnium oxide may be used as an electrical insulator in microchips.
49
In
Indium
Indium tin oxide (ITO) thin-film coatings are used for electrically conductive purposes in flat-panel, TV and smartphone devices. Other uses include electrical components and semiconductors, solders, alloys and compounds.
3
Li
Lithium
Lithium is used in batteries, ceramics and glass.
12
Mg
Magnesium
Magnesium is used in aluminium alloys, die-casting (alloyed with zinc), removal of sulphur during the production of iron and steel, and the production of titanium.
25
Mn
Manganese
Manganese is alloyed in steel and aluminium, and is used in batteries and fertiliser.
42
Mo
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is used in renewable energy (wind turbines, solar panels, and geothermal plants) and aerospace (jet and rocket engines and radiation shields).
28
Ni
Nickel
Nickel is used in stainless and heat-resistant steel production used in chemical industries, motor vehicles, medical applications, electronic engineering and construction. Nickel is also used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, non-ferrous alloys and electroplating.
41
Nb
Niobium
Niobium is used in micro-capacitors, steel and ferroalloys.
Platinum-group elements
(PGEs)
Platinum group elements include platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium. These metals are characterised by catalytic properties, resistance to wear, tarnish and chemical attack, and by stable electrical properties. Platinum and palladium are both used in catalytic converters. Platinum is used in electronic applications and fuel cells, and palladium is used in seawater desalination.
Rare earth elements (REE)
The 15 lanthanide elements plus yttrium are here grouped as rare-earth elements (chemists often include scandium). These 16 rare-earth elements have a variety of properties. Rare-earth elements are used in magnets, catalysts, metal alloys, polishing powders, phosphors, energy storage and superconductors.
75
Re
Rhenium
Rhenium is used in superalloys for high-temperature turbine engine components and in catalytic converters.
21
Sc
Scandium
Uses include in aluminium-scandium alloys, solid oxide fuel cells, ceramics, electronics, lasers, lighting and radioactive isotopes. Scandium isotopes may be used as tracing agents in oil refining.
34
Se
Selenium
Selenium is used in solar panels, steel manufacturing, glass tinting, pigmentation in paints and ceramics, semiconductors (as hydrogen selenide), and alloys used in the creation, storage and transmission of energy such as electronic components and electrical rectifiers (converting AC to DC). It is also a component of lithium-selenium (Li-Se) batteries.
14
Si
Silicon
Silicon is a widely used semiconductor material in micro-electronics and all electronic devices. It is also used in photovoltaics (solar panels), optical fibres, high performance ceramics and speciality glass applications.
73
Ta
Tantalum
Tantalum is used in electronic micro-capacitors and medical technology.
52
Te
Tellurium
Tellurium is used in high efficiency photovoltaics and steel alloys, as well as x-ray and infrared detectors.
22
Ti
Titanium
Titanium is used in titanium oxide pigments, carbides and chemicals, and as an alloy in steel and superalloys.
74
W
Tungsten
Major uses of tungsten include electronic applications, lighting, construction, steel and alloys, and mining.
23
V
Vanadium
Vanadium is used as alloy in iron and steel, superalloys, chemical catalysts and batteries.
40
Zr
Zirconium
Zirconium metal is used for cladding nuclear reactor fuels, and zirconium compounds are used in a variety of high-temperature applications, such as moulds for molten metals.
Source: Geoscience Australia"Critical minerals and their uses".

Why it matters

The shift toward renewable energy and sustainable technologies is driving unprecedented demand for critical minerals. Australia’s potential to supply these resources can play a transformative role in the global transition to clean energy. Moreover, research into critical minerals at ANU ensures that we are not only supplying the world but doing so responsibly, with a focus on sustainability, reducing emissions, and protecting the environment.

External resources