Delivering critical minerals for a better tomorrow
RZ Resources is a 100% Australian-owned, responsible mining company focused on mining and producing critical minerals and rare earths in the far south western corner of New South Wales.
RZ Resources has a portfolio of 17 tenements, including the flagship Copi Project, with a further four tenements under application, for an exploration area totalling 6,403 km2. As demand for high quality mineral sands — specifically rutile, zircon and titanium, and rare earth elements — continues to increase, RZ Resources is well positioned to deliver the Copi Project and generate jobs for the local communities of far south-western NSW.
RZ Resources was incorporated in 2012 to identify high value mineral sands projects in tier one locations that support proven operations and existing infrastructure. In 2015, RZ Resources entered into a joint venture which controlled three tenements in the far south western corner of New South Wales. In 2017, RZ Resources acquired 100% ownership of the joint venture tenements and a further five tenements in the area.
What are critical minerals
Critical minerals are metals and non-metals that are considered vital for the economic well-being of the world’s major and emerging economies. Both the US and Australia have identified 25 minerals that are critical for development and among these important minerals are metals and semi-metals used in the manufacture of mobile phones, flat screen monitors, wind turbines, electric cars, solar panels, and many other high-tech applications.
Mineral sands typically comprise zircon, rutile, leucoxene, ilmenite, monazite and xenotime, which are the feedstocks in the production of Zirconium and Hafnium metal, Titanium metal and the Rare Earth elements vital in a low-carbon world.
This global demand for critical minerals is instrumental for the development and expansion of clean technology applications, like high-powered magnets and batteries, is growing exponentially. Australia is already among the world’s top suppliers of some of the world’s most sought-after critical minerals.
Titanium
Titanium feedstocks are defined by their titanium dioxide (TiO2) content, with the higher the content, the more valuable the product.
Zircon
The worldwide demand for Zircon is being driven by urbanisation of developing economies, world economic growth and the increasing end applications of zircon. However, the global supply of Zircon is declining due to current mines coming to their end of life and associated declining grades.
Rare Earth Elements
Rare Earth Elements (REE) are a group of 17 metals made up of 15 lanthanides, plus scandium and yttrium. At the Copi Project the rare earths bearing minerals are found in the form of monazite and xenotime grains.