What 1,200 samples of mine waste say about the future of mining in NSW
A recent survey of mine waste across New South Wales has revealed elevated levels of critical minerals and high-tech metals at 28 current and historic sites, opening the door to possible reprocessing and renewed production.
Taking another look at mine waste could create new pathways for harvesting critical minerals according to findings of the Mine Reuse Project, developed under the NSW Government’s Critical Minerals and High-Tech Metals Strategy 2024–2035.
More than 1,200 samples of waste rock, tailings and by-products were tested using modern sampling and high-precision chemical analysis. The survey uncovered concentrations of 11 important minerals such as copper, cobalt, antimony, silver and tellurium. These are used in clean energy technologies, including electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels and wind turbines.
Sampling took place across various regions, including older sites like Hillgrove in the Northern Tablelands, Queen Bee and Great Cobar in the Far West, and CSA and Endeavour in the Central West. Current mine operations also contributed samples, including Tritton near Cobar, RASP in Broken Hill, and Stratford in the Upper Hunter. In some locations, earlier tailings already showed potential for reuse, such as gold at Mineral Hill in the Central West and tin at Ardlethan in the Riverina.
The data was developed through a collaboration between the Geological Survey of NSW, Geoscience Australia and the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland. It is now publicly available and is intended to support exploration activity by reducing investment risk.
The Mine Reuse Project is part of a broader push by the NSW Government to support new exploration and development through initiatives like a $2.5 million co-investment fund, a $250 million royalty deferral program, and new seismic surveys such as those underway in the Central Lachlan region.
NSW Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said, “The release of this data reinforces that NSW really is the state to be for explorers looking to find the next big critical minerals project.” She added that mining continues to play a key role in regional economies.
Dr Phil Blevin, Chief Geoscientist and head of the Geological Survey of NSW, said the results reflect the value of geoscientific data as a public resource: “The Mine Reuse Project is a direct outcome of the government’s commitment to a Critical Mineral and High-Tech Metals Strategy that drives investment and innovation in the exploration and mining sector through the provision of world-class and targeted precompetitive geoscience.”
Full survey results and site-specific findings are available through the Geological Survey of NSW.
