Scientists take long view on Australia’s mineral future

Imagine having a ‘downward-looking telescope’ that could look at least 300km beneath the Earth’s surface and unlock Australia’s hidden mineral wealth. That is among several proposals in a 10-year plan for Australian Geoscience (2018-27) launched today by the Australian Academy of Science’s National Committee for Earth Sciences. The plan highlights how the world’s shift towards mobile device technology, renewable energy sources and electric cars will involve massive increases in demand for copper, cobalt, gold, rare-earth elements and other specialt...