A recent government statement announced the discovery in the Diamantina Minerals Province and said that the global production of rare earths was estimated at 112,500 tonnes and that the technologies that depended on these minerals were worth trillions. 

China held most of the market of rare earth elements which could be in short supply in 15 years, according to the statement by mines minister Anthony Lynham.

Shadow minister Andrew Cripps supported the positive news for the resource industry and said that exploration in areas of potential growth was a key focus when he was in the cabinet of the former Newman government. 

“The former LNP Government’s $30 million Future Resources Program was a much needed injection of support for exploration activities in Queensland at at time when the resources industry was struggling. 

“I’m confident Queensland has a lot of potential in rare earths and we started laying the foundation for an industry to develop around these resources by making the Mary Kathleen site available back in 2014.”

Rare earths had already been discovered in Western Queensland, which Mr Cripps referred to when mentioning Mary Kathleen. 

Rare earths were also found at the former Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine, west of Cloncurry. When the mine was operational in the 1950s to the early 1980s the rare earth elements – used for modern technology – were overlooked and piled in the tailings. 

The Newman government had legalised uranium mining and opened Mary Kathleen for tender in July, 2014. When the Palaszczuk government was formed the following year it overturned the ban which meant rare earths cannot legally be mined at Mary Kathleen because of the uranium content. 

Cloncurry prospector John Walton also made a discovery in the region.