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

Feb 2025 Critical Minerals Office

Incentive for critical minerals production and processing in Australia

The Critical Minerals Production Tax Incentive (CMPTI) will support Australia’s efforts to produce and process more of the minerals needed for global net zero transformation.
Dec 2024

$40 million for international critical minerals partnerships

The Australian Government is securing international supply chains through the International Partnerships in Critical Minerals program.
Jun 2024

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.
Jun 2024

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.
May 2024 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.