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New research has identified the geological conditions most likely to support scandium exploration in New South Wales, giving explorers a clearer framework for targeting prospective ground beyond the state’s established deposits.
The Geological Survey of New South Wales’ October 2026 report, Scandium in New South Wales, combines new geological, mineralogical and geochemical investigations to examine how scandium forms and accumulates in weathered rock profiles.
The findings reinforce the significance of the Fifield district, a small historic mining district in the central west region of the state, while highlighting the importance of identifying the right underlying rock types and preserved weathering profiles when assessing exploration potential.
The study found that pyroxenite-rich rocks are a key control on scandium prospectivity. Fresh pyroxenites from the Whitbarrow Creek and Honeybugle complexes, and the Owendale and Tout intrusive complexes, contained 60–100 parts per million (ppm) scandium, compared with generally less than 15ppm in dunite and serpentinite.
Weathering can further concentrate the metal, according to the report. Mature, iron-rich laterite profiles developed over prospective pyroxenites commonly showed scandium enrichment of five to 10 times relative to fresh rock, with peak values of 761ppm at the Whitbarrow Creek Complex and 678ppm at the Tout Intrusive Complex.
The report also found that poorly developed or partially preserved weathering profiles showed substantially weaker enrichment.
The findings indicate that significant scandium deposits require a combination of fertile underlying rocks, effective weathering and preservation of the resulting laterite profiles.
Data points to broader exploration potential
A statewide review of exploration geochemistry provided another layer of insight, assessing more than 1.8 million scandium assay values collected through exploration programs over several decades.
After quality control, removal of duplicate results and filtering out values below the 26ppm scandium anomaly threshold, approximately 272,500 samples were retained for analysis.
Elevated scandium was strongly associated with mafic-ultramafic rocks, with the analysis identifying the Hermidale, Junee–Narromine and Tumut terranes as areas of interest where favourable lithologies had undergone extensive weathering and the resulting profiles were preserved.
The Hermidale Terrane, which includes the Fifield Suite, returned the highest scandium values identified in the statewide study, reaching 1920ppm. Elevated values were concentrated within 50m of the surface, providing evidence of enrichment associated with weathering.
The report identified Hermidale as the most prospective region assessed, reinforcing the importance of Fifield, which hosts established projects including Syerston, Nyngan, Burra and Flemington.
The study also examined the Thuddungra region, where weathered ultramafic rocks host nickel-cobalt deposits and scandium enrichment. The region’s weathering profiles and associated mineralisation provide additional geological context for understanding the metal’s distribution.
New tools to guide targeting
Alongside its geological findings, the report assessed analytical techniques that could help explorers characterise laterite profiles and identify prospective intervals.
Hyperspectral analysis using HyLogger, an automated scanning system that non-destructively analyses geological drill cores, rock chips and pulps, was found to be effective for mapping regolith architecture and mineralogical domains.
X-ray diffraction (XRD), a non-destructive analytical technique used to determine the atomic and molecular structure of crystalline materials, provided mineralogical information and supported validation, while whole-rock geochemistry helped define rock fertility and scandium enrichment.
Portable analytical methods offered rapid, lower-cost screening, but the report emphasised that results required validation against laboratory datasets. Portable X-ray fluorescence, for example, was considered useful for general geological domaining but unreliable for reporting scandium grades.
The report’s integrated approach is intended to support exploration targeting, reduce geological uncertainty and improve mineralogical characterisation for future resource assessment.
The findings come as NSW seeks to build on its established scandium endowment. The report estimates the state hosts about 56,000 tonnes of scandium, with several advanced projects offering potential to become significant global producers.
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