Finding critical minerals and high-tech metals

NSW has globally significant resources and potential for key critical minerals and 21 of the 31 nationally declared critical minerals. Certain minerals and metals are crucial as they are needed for renewable energy, electric vehicles and other advanced technologies. The NSW Government is driving growth in the critical mineral and high-tech metals sector for our economic prosperity through responsible exploration, mining, processing, recycling and advanced manufacturing. 

The Geological Survey of NSW is supporting the transition by:

• minimising investment risk in greenfield exploration in NSW
• promoting exploration in unexplored areas of NSW
• supporting industry by releasing pre-competitive data to support projects
• supporting industry in identifying new critical mineral resources in NSW.

To minimise investment risk and promote exploration in unexplored areas of NSW, a commitment has been made to provide pre-competitive geological data. 

This reduces the risks associated with the initial stages of exploration, making NSW more attractive for investment in exploration activities. 

Projects will provide support to:

• co-invest in exploration to attract investment in underexplored areas, support the testing of geological ideas, and expand efforts to include geochemistry, exploration drilling and geophysics
• deliver a targeted pre-competitive data acquisition program to encourage investment in exploration at depth
• leverage NSW’s significant geological dataset to scale and prove innovative data interpretation techniques.

Current activities

Macquarie Arc seismic survey

The GSNSW is planning a hybrid shallow- and deep-crustal seismic survey to be conducted between March and June 2026 in central NSW. The survey will traverse the Hermidale Terrane, Macquarie Arc and Hill End Trough. These geological regions of the Lachlan Orogen are prospective for critical minerals and high-tech metals.

This survey builds upon previous surveys and will help map the Earth’s crust in 3D. Seismic surveys generate an image, like an ultrasound, of the underground geology to depths of about 40–60 km. Vehicles move along a route and generate energy vibrations that penetrate the ground and bounce off buried rocks. The reflected energy is recorded by a series of sensors placed at regular intervals. Seismic surveys are a low impact, ground-based geophysical survey.

Geoscientists use these images to map different rock units and faults. This helps them understand geohazards, the tectonic evolution of NSW and the plumbing systems of mineral deposits. Such data helps identify areas with potential mineral and groundwater resources, and faults that may impact infrastructure. The data from this survey may also help refine the boundary of the Great Artesian Basin. 

The survey route will follow existing roads, fire trails and tracks so that no clearing is necessary. 

Most of the survey will occur during daylight hours. Where highways are used, day and night works may occur to minimise traffic disruption, improve safety and optimise data quality.

Community engagement activities will ensure that residents along the route, along with government agencies and the broader community, are kept informed about the survey.

Map showing proposed seismic lines

Photo of Vibroseis trucks used for seismic surveys

Central Lachlan seismic survey

The GSNSW conducted a hybrid shallow- and deep-crustal seismic survey to be conducted from April to July 2025 in the central Lachlan Orogen. This geological province is prospective for critical minerals and high-tech metals.

Seismic surveys help build an image of the geology under the ground (to depths of about 40–60 km). Geoscientists use these images to map different rock units and faults. This helps them understand geohazards and the plumbing systems of mineral deposits. This helps identify areas with potential mineral and groundwater resources, and faults that may impact infrastructure. Seismic surveys are a low impact, ground-based geophysical survey. Vehicles move along a route and generate energy vibrations that penetrate the ground and bounce off buried rocks. The reflected energy is recorded by a series of sensors place at regular intervals along the route.

The survey route followed existing roads, fire trails and tracks so that no clearing was necessary. Community engagement activities ensured that residents along the route were kept informed of the survey, along with government agencies and the broader community. The data from this survey will also supports a project to find deep groundwater for emergency use, in times of drought.

Map of completed seismic lines

All data acquired from this survey will be publicly available in late 2025 to early 2026. If you wish to receive a link to the data in MinView, please email geo.projects@dpird.nsw.gov.au.