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Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development

Our critical minerals

Queensland hosts some of the world’s richest mineral-producing regions and has a competitive advantage in a focused set of key commodities where geology, capability, demand and ambition align.

See where critical minerals are found in Queensland:

North West Minerals Province

The North West Minerals Province hosts some of the world’s most significant deposits of critical minerals, including copper, zinc, vanadium, phosphate and rare earth elements. The province comprises a diverse range of mineral systems and deposits, supported by established mining, processing and transport infrastructure. With a substantial project pipeline, significant resource potential and strong links to emerging processing, manufacturing and energy infrastructure, the North West Minerals Province presents a compelling opportunity for government to accelerate investment, strengthen regional economies and secure Queensland’s position in global critical minerals value chains.

North East Queensland

North East Queensland holds significant strategic value to Queensland, hosting a diverse and globally relevant endowment of critical minerals. Rich in tin, tungsten, rare earth elements, molybdenum, scandium, cobalt and nickel, the region has the potential to support emerging industries, advanced manufacturing, defence applications and future energy technologies. As global competition for critical minerals intensifies, North East Queensland represents an opportunity to unlock new investment, strengthen regional economies, build resilient supply chains and position Queensland as a trusted supplier of the resources needed for the industries of the future.

Our minerals in focus

Queensland has globally significant reserves of copper, zinc, tungsten, vanadium, phosphate, rare earth elements, gallium and germanium.

Many of these resources already underpin established mining and processing operations, while others are the critical minerals needed for new applications and products in industries like defence and advanced manufacturing, as well as future energy needs.

Queensland has one of the most significant graphite deposits globally and some of the highest-grade graphite resources. With emerging mine-to-refinery projects and manufacturing capability, the state is well positioned to become a global hub for graphite production, processing and battery anode manufacturing.

With some of the world's largest known vanadium resources, particularly in the Julia Creek–Richmond region, and rising demand for high-strength steel, industrial applications and grid-scale energy storage, Queensland is well positioned to support secure supply chains and emerging battery industries.

Copper is fundamental to electrification, energy systems, advanced manufacturing and industrial growth. With significant copper resources and established smelting and refining capability in Mount Isa and Townsville, Queensland will support secure and diversified global copper supply chains.

Queensland has a long history as a tungsten producer and is home to key operations like Mt Carbine. With established resources and renewed development activity in Far North Queensland, the state is well positioned to support tungsten supply chains for defence, aerospace, advanced manufacturing and other applications.

Queensland's established bauxite, alumina and aluminium industry provides a strong industrial foundation for critical minerals processing, including opportunities to recover rare earth minerals from existing processing streams. New common-user processing capability in Queensland will support secure supply chains for advanced technologies and industries.

Queensland is home to Australia's only ammonium phosphate fertiliser production facility at Phosphate Hill, supporting a secure domestic source of fertiliser for Australian farmers and supplying agricultural markets. These products are critical to agricultural productivity and food security.

Last updated
29 July 2026
Last reviewed
28 July 2026