The State Government is throwing $1.5 million behind a study examining options to recover valuable minerals, such as rare earths and vanadium, from mine waste across the Bowen Basin.
Coreo will lead the study in collaboration with major coal producers, building on the work completed in the Bowen Basin Circularity Project to capture untapped value across the mining supply chain.
Coreo chief executive officer and co-founder Ashleigh Morris said this program would sharpen the understanding of critical minerals in tailings and create new value pathways for regional Queensland, supporting long-term jobs and competitive industry growth.
“By focusing on critical minerals in coal tailings and the potential to extract them alongside other valuable components, we are targeting full value from the full volume of tailings,” Ms Morris said.
“This advances whole-of-system resource recovery and positions Queensland to lead in circular resource innovation.”
Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dale Last said the project demonstrated the strength and innovation Queensland’s resources sector has to offer.
“Queensland’s coal industry helped build this state and now it’s helping us build the next generation of resource opportunities,” Mr Last said.
“This collaboration is what our industry does best, bringing together some of Queensland’s leading coal producers with government and research partners to find value in materials once considered waste.
“By finding value in what was once considered waste, we’re creating new jobs, attracting new investment and supporting a more sustainable future for regional Queensland.”