Mining and mineral processing

Tasmania has a long history of prosperous mining industries that have yielded rich mineral wealth.

As one of the most mineralised places on the planet, Tasmania has remarkable geological diversity and an abundance of rich and high-grade mineral deposits that are easily accessible and close to transport and infrastructure.

Rocks from every period of the Earth's history from the Late Proterozoic are present in the State. Major commodities extracted in Tasmania include copper, gold, lead, iron, silver, tin, zinc, magnetite, and ultra-high purity silica flour.

Many untapped opportunities remain for exploration, extraction and downstream processing of Tasmania’s mineral resources, and supportive legislation is in place for both exploration and development. This is particularly true on the west coast of Tasmania which offers high potential for the discovery of a range of minerals, and in Tasmania’s north-east which is largely unexplored. The Tasmanian Government is interested in securing value-adding investment for our mining industry. Through Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT), the Tasmanian Government provides current geo-scientific data in state-of-the-art digital formats to assist explorers in identifying potential mineral targets.

Tasmanian Government priorities for this sector include attracting and facilitating new investment in both mining and mineral processing, providing adequate infrastructure for mining operations, maintaining a world-class regulatory system for exploration and mining, and assisting industry in the acquisition of data and critical skills.

Tasmania is blessed with natural assets, having abundant water and wind resources, and is one of the first jurisdictions in the world with 100 per cent renewable energy generation. The Tasmanian Government has now set a 200 per cent renewable energy target by 2040, which is the world’s most ambitious target for renewables.

Useful links

Mineral Resources Tasmania