While much of the spotlight has been on Rio Tinto’s Tier 1 operations, the company’s Burra scandium project in New South Wales could quietly emerge as a key component of its growing critical minerals strategy.
Acquired in April 2023 for $14 million, Burra hosts a high-grade scandium oxide resource with the potential to produce up to 40 tonnes of scandium oxide annually over a projected 30-year mine life.
“This acquisition supports our commitment to critical minerals and finding better ways to provide materials the world needs,” Rio Tinto minerals chief executive Sinead Kaufman said.
“It will enable us to further develop and grow with the global scandium market, complementing our existing scandium production in Quebec, where we have the expertise, technology and capacity to produce pure, highly reliable scandium through sustainable methods.”
Burra, which is being developed by Rio Tinto’s scandium unit, Element North 21, has flown under the radar, with little known development since the acquisition was announced.
Scandium is prized for its ability to strengthen aluminum alloys, enhancing their flexibility and corrosion resistance.
These qualities make scandium a valuable material in the aerospace, automotive, and clean energy sectors, all of which are expected to see rising demand in the push for decarbonisation.
“The Burra project has the potential to establish itself as a leading scandium operation within Australia, adding on to our existing scandium production operation located in Quebec, where a sustainable refining process was developed at Element North 21,” Rio Tinto said.
“Together, the Quebec and the Australian operations enhance our position as an emerging global supplier of the growing scandium market.”
Designed as a small, shallow, open-cut operation, Burra is intended to operate with minimal environmental impact – featuring no tailings dam, no blasting, and limited water use.
As industries increasingly demand lighter, stronger, and more sustainable materials, Rio Tinto sees scandium as a growth opportunity.
The Burra project, while modest in stature, reflects the company’s strategic focus on future-facing commodities and supports its broader ambition to provide the materials needed for a low-carbon future.
