Copper, uranium, gold, iron ore, rare earths, mineral sands assets among world's biggest

South Australia's share of uranium deposits, compared to elsewhere in the world.
 

South Australia is among world leaders in the scale of its mineral assets with significant deposits of copper, gold, iron ore, uranium, rare earths and mineral sands.
South Australia has around 25% of the world’s (80% of Australia’s) uranium resources and produces 9% of the world’s mined uranium. South Australia’s Olympic Dam uranium deposit is the largest in the world, and other major sites are also contained in the state.

Olympic Dam also has the world’s fourth largest remaining copper deposit, fifth largest gold deposit and the largest single uranium deposit.

South Australia is the world’s sixth biggest and Australia’s third biggest copper producer, with nearly 70% of Australia’s known copper resources.

Iron ore is South Australia’s second most explored and produced mineral. South Australia is Australia’s second highest mineral sands producer and largest magnetite deposit.

South Australia produces and exports 25% of the global zircon supply. It also supplies 80% of the world’s opals.

The world’s largest single-stream lead smelter at Port Pirie also refines zinc, copper and silver.

Cobalt, fine-grade dolomite and graphite add to the mix of South Australian minerals that make up the biggest slice – at 40% – of South Australia’s exports.

The prospects are high for much bigger mineral deposits being found in the rocks in beneath the deep sedimentary cover. Uncovering these deposits will depend on the switch to technologies such as 3D seismic modelling.

Forty per cent of SA’s export revenues are from mining.