Critical Minerals Consortium

Critical Minerals Consortium (CMC)

Monash led the establishment of the CMC to improve our understanding of minerals criticality and to provide advice, ideas and expertise to assist policymakers. The CMC is particularly interested in understanding the reliability of global supply chains for minerals and mineral-derived raw materials.

The consortium draws on the expertise of a number of researchers and practitioners from academia, research and industry. The consortium brings a group of researchers from RMIT University, the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, CSIRO Minerals, University of Queensland, Federation University and Latrobe University.

Mission statement

To improve our understanding of minerals criticality and to provide advice, ideas and expertise to assist policy makers.

Our vision

To be recognised as the world leading critical minerals research consortium by harnessing national and international wherewithal around critical minerals supply chains.

Our people

We are assembling leading experts in critical minerals assessment research, and will soon be seeking to expand the consortium to include industry advisers.

Latest news

Monash University news

Mr Stephen McIntosh joins the Critical Minerals Consortium as a Special Advisor

Today, the Critical Minerals Consortium is pleased to announce that Stephen McIntosh will join the CMC Board of Advisors. With over 33 years with Rio Tinto, Stephen brings to the team a wealth of knowledge spanning the A-Z of minerals and metals across a diverse range of projects both Nationally and Internationally. Stephen has direct experience consulting with both governments and their agencies reviewing approaches to critical minerals exploration, its evaluation and ultimately supply. Stephen's expertise will be invaluable to the CMC.

Minerals Criticality Assessment from an Australian Perspective

Monash University news

Today the CMC presented to the 25th ALTA conference, the first ALTA conference to have been conducted entirely online. The presentation covered CMA methods that have been applied by other countries; Australian contribution to the science of CMA; and the specific needs of CMA if it is to be conducted from an Australian perspective. Based on that analysis, we make recommendations for an analytical framework for conducting CMA and provide information as to its ongoing development. The paper also focuses on why rare earth elements (REEs) are commonly determined to be ‘critical’, that is: The impact of a supply disruption is significant, and the risk of a supply disruption is high. We also provide some information as the challenges in mining REEs and Australia’s REE mineral endowment. The abstract can be viewed here.

The Critical Minerals Consortium (CMC) submits recommendations to the Federal COVID-19 inquiry

Today the CMC submitted recommendations to the Australian Parliamentary inquiry: Inquiry into the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for Australia’s foreign affairs, defence and trade. The inquiry was instigated by the Hon. David Fawcett MP, who is chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. The questions to be addressed include: “What policy and practical measures would be required to form an ongoing effective national framework to ensure the resilience required to underpin Australia’s economic and strategic objectives[?]”. The CMCs submission includes recommendations aimed at improving Australian’s analytical foundations for policy-making with regards to critical minerals supplies for Australia, and its international trade and security partners.

Critical Minerals Assessment White Paper released

The CMC has today released a White Paper titled “Critical Minerals Assessment”. The White Paper reviews the global research and development of critical minerals assessment (CMA), identifies gaps and makes recommendations as the development and application of CMA in Australia. The White Paper can be downloaded here.
Monash University news

Soft launch of the Critical Minerals Consortium

Today marks the soft launch of the Critical Minerals Consortium (CMC). The CMC is an initiative of Monash University to assemble leading experts in critical minerals assessment research and industry advisers, for the purpose of advancing the development and application of critical minerals assessment. Critical minerals assessment is used by sovereign entities as an objective foundation upon which to base policy decisions, and by minerals businesses in the development of strategy. The founders of the CMC are Associate Professor Mohan Yellishetty; Dr Stuart Walsh; Associate Professor Gavin Mudd (RMIT) and Dr David Whittle. Drs Yellishetty, Walsh and Mudd have each made significant contributions to the science and application of critical minerals assessment in the last several years. Dr Whittle has joined to add his industry experience to the consortium, particularly in the field of strategic mine planning.
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