This paper will examine the prospects for Queensland's non-fuel mineral
industries as we approach the 21st century. The opportunity for growth is
unprecedented. Exploitation of recent discoveries, proposals and
developments in downstream processing are predicted to contribute to a
doubling of the State's mineral exports to around $10 billion by the year
2000. In 1995 - 96 the value of Queensland's mineral production was $6
billion, comprising $1892 million metallic minerals, $127 million
non-metallic minerals and $4 025 million total fuel minerals. For many years Queensland has been among the world's major
producers of copper, silver, lead, zinc, bauxite and mineral sands.
Recently Queensland has become an important producer of magnesia.
Queensland's ability to compete results from its location close to rapidly
developing Asian markets, the diversity of its major minerals and an
increasing ability to add value to the resources base using competitively
priced energy. Northwest Queensland is one of the richest base metal provinces on
earth following the recent discovery of five world-class orebodies. Of
these deposits, Osborne (copper-gold) has commenced production and
Cannington (silver-lead-zinc) and Ernest Henry (copper-gold) are
scheduled to be developed by 1997. Century Zinc Limited and the
Queensland Government are negotiating with native title claimants on the
development of Century (zinc-lead-silver). Expansion is in progress at
the Mount Isa copper mine (renamed the Enterprise) and copper smelter
and a high analysis fertiliser project may be developed based on
Phosphate Hill. Korea Zinc Company Limited has reached agreement to
construct and operate a 350 000 Mtpa zinc smelter/refinery near
Townsville. There are future expansion prospects for the vertically integrated major
industrial mineral operations based on Weipa bauxite and Kunwarara
magnesite. Upgrading of the Boyne Island aluminium smelter will
require a doubling of alumina consumption. Downstream processing
options for Kunwarara magnesite are being investigated and are expected
to lead to increases in production and the manufacture of a range of
value-added products. At the Yabulu refinery near Townsville, nickel and
cobalt production using imported ore is to be increased and a commercial
cobalt plant is to be built. Additional opportunities for further processing and manufacturing are
associated with proposed new mines at Ely (bauxite), Skardon River
(kaolin) and Goondicum (ilmenite). Recently discovered resources of
zeolite and perlite also offer exciting development possibilities. Other
manufacturing opportunities such as glass and ceramics based on local
and plentiful clay and silica sand could replace imports. Silica sand at
Cape Flattery is currently exported and production is expected to double.