High Purity Silica Mineral Systems Study

Last updated:1 November 2024

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As part of the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, Geoscience Australia is undertaking a detailed mineral potential study of High Purity Silica (HPS) to identify the favourable geology and regions across Australia that have the greatest potential to supply raw material suitable for the production of silicon.

Why are we researching High Purity Silica?

High purity silica is the only naturally occurring and economically viable feedstock for the production of silicon. Silicon, a critical mineral, is the key component in advanced modern technologies such as semiconductors and solar photovoltaic cells.

The global transition towards a net-zero carbon future means there is a growing demand for new discoveries of HPS to meet the needs of the ever-expanding silicon production industry.

While silicon is among the most plentiful elements in the Earth’s crust, it does not occur naturally in its elemental form and is commonly found in various silicate minerals. Quartz (SiO2), the second most common mineral on Earth, is the primary form of silica and the main source of silicon production.

Despite its widespread presence, finding silica with the required purity needed to develop high-tech applications remains a challenge due to its rarity. For semiconductor and solar cell production, the silica used must exceed 98% SiO2 purity.

We are researching high purity silica to help gain an understanding about the geological factors that control the production of high purity silica in Australia and predict where their occurrences can be found.

As per caption

Geoscientists assessing quartz in the Mount Isa Cloncurry region

What are we doing?

As part of this project Geoscience Australia is:

  • Undertaking a summary review of the state of the HPS industry, exploration and deposit styles in Australia.
  • Delivering a mineral potential assessment to identify the regions of Australia that have the greatest potential for the discovery of suitable HPS deposits.
  • Defining controls on targeted HPS mineral systems and determining relevant datasets to support the mineral potential assessments.
  • Identifying required analytical techniques to deliver an ‘Explorer’s Toolbox’ that will guide explorers through the analytical processes required to discover and define high-quality mineral deposits.

To complement this work, ANSTO will be developing processing routes for High Purity Quartz (HPQ) production from Australian quartz and silica sand projects.

HPQ is used for the manufacture of the consumables (fused quartz products) required in elemental silicon production, plus a range of optical and specialty applications.

ANSTO’s project will provide access to the technologies and know-how required for HPQ production, in particular, high temperature chlorination for all future Australian projects.

What is Geoscience Australia’s goal?

Our goal is to identify mineral systems and regions that have the greatest potential to supply raw material suitable to support the production of silicon, stimulating exploration and supporting the development of a downstream silicon industry in Australia.

Find out more

Data and Publications

  • Jennings, A., Senior, A., Guerin, K., Main, P., & Walsh, J. (2024). A review of high-purity quartz for silicon production in Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/08120099.2024.2362296

Conference papers and presentations

Factsheets