Beneath the surface: Mapping where mineral extraction makes sense
Beneath the surface: Mapping where mineral extraction makes sense
14 May 2026
Monash Critical Minerals Initiative and Geoscience Australia have built a tool that tests how real-world conditions affect the viability of resource projects.
Australia may have abundant mineral deposits, but knowing where to dig does not determine success.
Energy costs, infrastructure access and market conditions all play a critical role in project feasibility.
Now, a partnership between the Monash Critical Minerals Initiative and Geoscience Australia has created a tool to assess those conditions at a national scale.
Led by Associate Professor Stuart Walsh, the project developed the Economic Fairways Mapper - an open source platform combining geoscience datasets with techno-economic modelling to identify where resource development will most likely succeed.
Associate Professor Stuart Walsh.
“When it comes to assessing whether or not we should mine a resource in a particular location, traditionally we’ve led with geological assessments,” A/Prof Walsh said.
“While this is important, it overlooks the fact that economic potential is equally critical when developing a new resource.”
Turning data into insight
The team used multiple datasets spanning geology, transport networks, energy systems and commodity markets.
They drew on data and modelling approaches developed through the broader Exploring for the Future program, integrating them within a spatial economic modelling framework.
The platform evaluates how key variables such as energy availability, infrastructure access, logistics costs and commodity prices interact and impact project viability.
The system applies these inputs across the national landscape to generate “economic fairways” - regions where conditions align to improve the likelihood of commercial success.
Users can adjust assumptions for a range of conditions and commodities, and it can be downloaded and adapted to requirements.
“Our tool brings assessments of economic potential much earlier into the mine development cycle, giving exploration companies a better chance of identifying locations that not only contain minerals, but where those minerals can be extracted profitably,” A/Prof Walsh said.
“It helps shift the focus from simply finding resources to finding resources that are viable under real-world conditions.”
Smarter decisions and future growth
A/Prof Walsh said the Economic Fairways Mapper will help governments, industry and researchers take a more informed approach to resource development decisions.
Government agencies can use the tool to align infrastructure planning with regions that show stronger economic potential.
Industry can assess project risks earlier in the development cycle, while researchers can test how different energy, technology and commodity scenarios affect outcomes over time.
A/Prof Stuart said the collaboration continues to evolve.“We’ve been expanding the research beyond mineral and economic potential to also incorporate the social and environmental impacts of new mine developments,” he said.
“This gives early-stage developers insight into potential ESG risks associated with a project.
They are also extending the work into different types of commodities, including those linked to renewable energy systems, such as green iron and steel, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuels and green hydrogen.
In addition, the team is looking beyond Australia, applying similar mapping approaches to regions such as India, China and North America.“This tool represents a new approach to an old problem,” A/Prof Walsh said.
“Its importance lies in enabling earlier, better-informed decisions, with the potential to scale globally and deliver more sustainable, viable and consistent resource outcomes worldwide.”
The Economic Fairways Mapper has been recognised with a 2023 Eureka Prize for Innovative Research in Sustainability. It is available via Tools on the Geoscience Australia portal.