Resources Victoria has updated its Victorian Critical Minerals Roadmap from 2024 to outline the state’s next moves to build a responsible and globally competitive critical minerals sector.
The Victorian Critical Minerals Roadmap 2026 generates four new themes to strengthen the state’s critical minerals reach. These include identifying future development opportunities; ensuring the state operates as a safe, stable, and predictable jurisdiction; securing a place in the global supply chain; and embedding best practice in social and environmental activities.
Historically, Victoria’s mining industry has been shaped around gold discoveries that span back to the mid-1800s, during the Victorian Gold Rush.
Many explorers ensure they keep their grasp on Victorian gold, while also diving into the minerals needed to bring the world to net zero.
Kalamazoo Resources (ASX:KZR) is one company searching for both gold and antimony in the Central Victorian Goldfields.
With one of the largest tenement holdings in this region, Kalamazoo owns the Mt Piper, South Muckleford, and Castlemaine gold projects.
The company’s tenement holding spans 2,006km² in the Bendigo Zone, which historically produced more than 60 million ounces of gold, and the Melbourne Zone, which demonstrates ‘high-grade’ gold-antimony potential.
Searching for gold and antimony together is an emerging theme in the mining industry, due to the commonality of gold and antimony mineralisation occurring together in the same ore deposit.
Resources Victoria reports stibnite, the natural mineral ore of antimony, is an accessory of gold-bearing quartz veins.
Progress in Victoria
Since releasing the 2024 roadmap, Victoria has prioritised accessibility for critical minerals licence applications, released over 40,000 geochemical analyses, reviewed antimony occurrences within the state, completed early studies into antimony, and progressed rare earths processing opportunities.
The state has also established a Critical Minerals Coordination Office and advisory group, among many other initiatives.
However, many initiatives are still underway, including the establishment of a statewide airborne electromagnetic map, statewide strategic land use assessments, and engagement with Traditional Owners and community.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Main Image: Resources Victoria
