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Technical case record · Metals recovery

NSW mine-waste critical-mineral characterisation

More than 1,200 samples from 28 mine sites and one power-station site were screened for critical minerals and high-tech metals.

Regional New South Wales, AustraliaState-wide characterisationConcept evidence

What was developed or tested

High-precision chemical analysis identified elevated concentrations across sites including CSA, Great Cobar, Nymagee, Endeavour and Hillgrove; mineral deportment and recovery testing remain site-level next steps.

What the evidence supports

A strong Australian precompetitive dataset showing how systematic characterisation can identify secondary prospectivity without overstating commercial readiness.

Environmental and technical uncertainty

Elevated concentration is not recoverability. Any secondary-mining proposal must integrate acid-generating potential, contaminated-site obligations and rehabilitation of remaining material.

Benefit-case screening lens

Potential value: Recovered metal revenue, critical-mineral supply, improved resource efficiency and possible reduction of a legacy or active tailings inventory.

Deployment constraints: Representative grade, mineral deportment, recovery, throughput, reagents, energy, CAPEX, commodity price and management of the reprocessed residue.

Question before applying elsewhere

Do grade variability, mineral deportment, recovery, reagent demand and residual-waste management support a viable site-specific flowsheet?

Sources

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