This paper discusses the mineral resource potential of the New South Wales segment of the continental shelf of eastern Australia. That portion of the shelf extends over 2000 km but is generally less than 50 km wide. Average water depths range from over 160 m in the north to less than 100 m in the south. Eastward-draining river valleys transect the coast at various places and their palaeovalleys extend across much of the shelf. The catalyst for this paper was the Australian Offshore Minerals Locations Map, a joint project between CSIRO’s Wealth From Oceans National Flagship Project; Geoscience Australia; CSIRO Exploration and Mining; and state/NT Geological Surveys. The New South Wales continental shelf has a diverse range of mineral resources that justify additional evaluation.

Marine aggregate (mainly quartz-rich sands) occurs in large deposits (>100 Mt) up to 40 m thick in shelf sand bodies at various places, notably near Sydney, that extend over many kilometres parallel to the shore, and as inner shelf sand sheets. These deposits contain sand suitable for such construction uses as concrete aggregate; for industrial applications, including glass manufacture; and for beach nourishment. The inner continental shelf hosts submerged coastal barriers formed during periods of lower sea levels that are variably preserved owing to extensive reworking by high-energy storm waves. Although submerged barriers have moderate potential for heavy minerals, principally rutile and zircon, their economic viability remains largely untested.

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