Mineral commodities of NSW
Metallic minerals
New South Wales is a major producer of gold, copper, zinc, silver and lead. It also produces a range of other metals and materials such as heavy minerals, industrial minerals and construction materials.
Historically, NSW has produced a wide range of metals and industrial minerals.
Frequency of metal commodities recorded as major commodities in the MetIndEx database for NSW is shown below. Almost all of the occurrences are present in the exposed fold belt areas. A similar density of deposits is predicted to be present beneath the extensive areas, especially in the central and western parts of the State, where surficial and basin sediments cover the basement fold belt sequences.
The major metals produced have been gold, copper, tin, lead, silver, zinc, tungsten, iron, arsenic, antimony, molybdenum, manganese, bismuth, chromium, nickel, platinum, uranium and mercury.
NSW is prospective for all of these metals, but exploration for uranium is banned. In addition, a wide variety of other metals including rare earths and "techno" metals such as indium and tellurium are known to occur but have yet to be commercially exploited.
Extensive literature is available through Departmental records, particularly in DIGS, on the known mineral occurrences in the State.
- Metallogenic explanatory notes
- Metallogenic maps
- Mineral exploration highlights
- Minerals Project Map
- Mineral systems in New South Wales - Poster (see details in QN128)
Industrial minerals
Geology Bulletin 33
Industrial minerals are summarised in Industrial Mineral Opportunities in New South Wales (Geology Bulletin 33). This book is a comprehensive reference publication on the potential for mining industrial minerals in this state. The book contains information on 49 industrial minerals located throughout the state, including gemstones such as ruby, diamond and opal, and minerals with indirect industrial applications such as barite in petroleum exploration and development.
An overview of industrial minerals exploration and a chapter on the geology of New South Wales puts the industry into context. The minerals are listed alphabetically and each chapter details the:
- Potential and Outlook
- Nature and Occurrence
- Main Australian Deposits
- New South Wales Occurrences
- Applications, and
- Economic Factors
Extensive referencing supports the text, while detailed maps and tables clearly illustrate large quantities of data. The locality index provides a quick reference for users to check which minerals detailed in the book are found in which area.
This new publication is a timely release enabling mineral exploration and development professionals and companies to make the most of the current healthy economic climate for the state's mineral resources.
Digital download
Detailed study of individual industrial minerals can be downloaded below. Each document is part of a larger publication and is subject to the disclaimers and copyright of the full version from which it was extracted.
Hardcopy purchase
Harcopy of Geology Bulletin 33 is available at $44.00.
(Last updated on 24/02/2009)