Minerals sands (Titanium, Zirconium, REE)

What are mineral sands?

Mineral sand deposits contain a concentrated amount of economically important minerals known as ‘heavy minerals’, which are much heavier than common sand minerals such as quartz. These heavy minerals contain high concentrations of the critical minerals titanium and zirconium with associated rare-earth elements (REE).

The critical minerals are hosted within the following minerals:

• zircon
• rutile
• leucoxene
• ilmenite
• monazite
• xenotime

Zircon is rich in the element zirconium. Rutile, leucoxene and ilmenite contain titanium and monazite and xenotime contain rare-earth elements. Rare-earth elements, in particular neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium, are contained within minerals such as monazite and xenotime in Victoria’s mineral sand deposits. Other minerals such as magnetite and garnet may also be present in mineral sands.

Victoria’s mineral sands deposits

Victoria’s mineral sand deposits occur a long way from the modern coastline. Their locations reflect the presence of former inland seas and associated coastal processes that occurred tens of millions of years ago.

The potential for mineral sands was first recognised in the Murray Basin of northwest Victoria by the Geological Survey of Victoria in 1969.

Heavy mineral sand deposits occur in the Murray and Gippsland basins in northwest and southeast Victoria, respectively.

The Murray Basin extends from Victoria into South Australia and New South Wales where mineral sands deposits have also been identified. The Basin hosts globally significant mineral sand resources.

Two types of mineral sand deposits are recognised in the Murray Basin. These deposits are characterised as either strandline deposits or Wimmera-style (WIM) deposits, depending on the type of rock that hosts them.

Northwest Victoria’s mineral sands deposits are globally significant.  Resource estimates indicates that they host:

• 22% of Australia’s ilmenite, a titanium bearing mineral (~7% global resource)
• 51% of Australia’s rutile, a titanium bearing mineral (~32% global resource)
• 39% of Australia’s zircon, containing zirconium (~27% global resource)
• Significant quantities of monazite and xenotime, which contain rare earth elements, in particular neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.

What could Victoria's mineral sands be used for?

Mineral sands are used for many purposes and can be found in a range of everyday household products.

Titanium’s qualities and very high melting point make it ideal for use in manufacturing aircraft engines, spacecraft, cars, sports equipment, wrist watches, underwater craft and general industrial equipment. Titanium is also an important component of many electric vehicle batteries and high efficiency solar cells. Its non-toxicity also makes it useful for surgical implants such as pacemakers, artificial joints such as knees and hips, and bone pins.

Titanium minerals are used to produce pigments for colourants in paints, paper and plastics. Titanium dioxide is also used in sunscreen.

Zirconium-bearing compounds are used in a variety of medical applications, including dental implants, knee and hip replacements and other restorative and prosthetic devices. This element is also a key input to hydrogen electrolysers, catalytic converters, surgical instruments, space and aeronautic vehicles.

Rare Earth Elements are ferromagnetic metals that can be permanently magnetised. They are a key input into wind turbines and electric vehicles and as such a vital part of the renewable energy transition.

More information

More information on mineral sands in Victoria is available in the below factsheet.

Page last updated: 09 Dec 2024