The Queensland Government is launching Australia’s largest high-resolution regional airborne gravity gradiometry survey covering 40,000km across Northwest Queensland.
Geophysical data collected will be used to inform the geology beneath the surface and identify areas with critical minerals exploration potential.
The up-to-$4-million project comes following the Queensland Government’s introduction of new legislation in Parliament last week to expedite the next wave of critical minerals development by streamlining regulatory pathways.
Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Dale Last says the investment shows Queensland’s commitment to progressing the critical minerals sector and would help to uncover new exploration areas.
“The high-resolution survey is the first of this scale in Australia and will provide valuable data to guide new exploration and mining opportunities across Northwest Queensland,” Last says.
“We’re investing up to $4 million in this program to ensure explorers have access to the data they need to drive new mining projects, create more jobs, and unlock the full potential of Queensland’s world-class resources.”
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) Chief Executive Warren Pearce adds that high-quality pre-competitive geoscience data was fundamental to unlocking the state’s mineral potential.
“By providing a reliable baseline, it allows explorers to focus their investment where it matters most, reducing duplication, lowering upfront costs, and accelerating discovery,” Pearce says.
As previously reported, amendments were made to the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 aiming to streamline the delivery of critical mineral projects in Queensland.
The reforms are designed to improve coordination, reduce duplication, and provide greater certainty for major projects.
Mining is Queensland’s largest industry, valued at $115.2 billion as of 2024-25. The sector employs nearly 550,000 people and supports over 17,600 local businesses.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Queensland Government
