The carbonate geology of the critical metal niobium

该项目旨在了解关键金属铌的主要矿石矿物烧绿石是如何在 地壳。铌仅从巴西和加拿大的碳酸岩岩浆体中开采， 澳大利亚资源它用于建筑和运输行业的高强度钢合金。预计 研究成果包括了解烧绿石如何在碳酸岩中形成，开发勘探工具， 寻找地表未出露的铌矿体， 从矿石中冶金提取铌的经济可持续技术。该研究旨在 以造福澳大利亚重要的金属勘探和采矿业。

This project aims to understand how pyrochlore, the major ore mineral of the critical metal niobium, forms in Earth’s crust. Niobium is exclusively mined from carbonatite magma bodies in Brazil and Canada, despite proven Australian resources. It is used in high strength steel alloys in the construction and transport industries. Expected research outcomes include understanding how pyrochlore forms in carbonatites, development of exploration tools to locate niobium ore bodies which are unexposed at the surface, and investigation of environmentally and economically sustainable technologies for metallurgical extraction of niobium from ore. The research is intended to benefit Australia’s critical metals exploration and mining industries.