Latest Mining & Infrastructure News in Australia

From star power to subsurface smarts, next-gen tech is helping explorers drill less, discover more, and finally see what’s really beneath their feet

As the global mining industry continues to adapt to shifting expectations around productivity, sustainability, and cost-efficiency, exploration remains one of the most critical—and complex—phases in the mining life cycle.

By Jamie Wade on March 7, 2026
Efficiency, Production Optimisation, Workflow Management, Costs, Cost Control, Innovation, Technology Adoption, Process Innovation, Risk, Risk Assessment, Risk Mitigation, Exploration, Geological exploration and resource modelling, Remote sensing techniques in mineral exploration, Geophysical instruments and their applications, Geoscience data visualisation and analytics, Exploration technologies and methodologies
North America, Canada, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia
Precious Metals, Gold, Base Metals, Copper, Zinc, Strategic Minerals, Lithium

Smart mines get smarter as agentic AI steps up to connect data boost productivity and put intelligent decision making in every miner’s toolkit

The future of mining is already here - and it’s being shaped by AI systems that can think, act and integrate seamlessly with the tools you already use.

Mining just got complicated – diggers are now diplomats data wranglers and nation builders whether they like it or not

There was a time when mining’s job was simple: dig it up, ship it out, repeat.

Smart rocks and sharper minds how Australia’s data-driven explorers are redefining rare earth and vanadium discovery for the clean energy future

If you thought mining was all about brute force and big rigs, think again.

Data reveals what drilling can’t: How Geoscience Australia is mapping the hidden rare earth riches buried beneath Australia’s ancient landscapes

It’s not often a map redraws itself — but that’s exactly what’s happening to Australia’s rare earths landscape.

From data to drill rigs: how Jupiter became Australia’s biggest clay rare earth discovery and a model for finding the next generation of critical minerals

When a geologist looks at a gravity anomaly and sees the future of Australia’s critical minerals, it’s worth paying attention.

When dirt looks the same data decides how geochemistry and machine learning are revealing hidden rare earth riches beneath Western Australia’s surface

If you think spotting a rare earth deposit is tough, try identifying one when it looks exactly like barren dirt.

Cracking the clay code as CSIRO’s multiscale mineralogy reveals how rare earths hide in WA sands and why smart mineralogy is the new exploration edge

When it comes to rare earths, the real magic isn’t in the elements, it’s in the minerals that host them.

Australia maps a bold future with AI powered atlas and multibillion plan to unlock critical minerals and lead the global clean energy transition

It’s not every day that a government geoscience leader talks about AI assistants, rare earth mapping, and century-long prosperity in the same breath – but that’s exactly what Melissa Harris did in Perth.

Australia maps the future with a 3.4 billion geoscience playbook unlocking critical minerals groundwater and net zero opportunities

When a government commits to a multi-billion program over 35 years to a single initiative, it’s worth paying attention.