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Dubbo Zirconia Project, Toongi, Gordon Co., New South Wales, Australiai
Regional Level Types
Dubbo Zirconia ProjectProject (Planned Future Operation)
ToongiVillage
Gordon Co.County
New South WalesState
AustraliaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
32° 27' 55'' South , 148° 36' 0'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-32.46539,148.60016
GRN:
S22E90
Area:
10 km2
Type:
Project (Planned Future Operation) - last checked 2021
Age:
201.3 ± 0.2 to ~145.0 Ma
Geologic Time:
Jurassic
Reference for age:
https://asm-au.com/projects/dubbo-project/
Köppen climate type:
Cfa : Humid subtropical climate
Mindat Locality ID:
166627
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:166627:7
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Toongi deposit; Dubbo Project; Dubbo Zirconia Mine; DZP


An exploration prospect hosted by the altered Toongi intrusive trachyte (of Jurassic age) containing highly elevated levels of the metals zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, yttrium and rare earth elements (most notably dysprosium).

Ore minerals are very fine grained (20-100 μm) and poorly understood.
The deposit is proposed to be mined and processed by sulphuric acid leaching.

Located near Toongi, 25 km South of Dubbo.
[Note: The town of Dubbo is mostly located in Lincoln County, whereas the deposits listed under Toongi are in Gordon County.]

The Project is operated by Alkane Resources (2025) and the proposed mine area is approximately 10 km2. Exploration lease EL5548.

Reserves, 2019: 75Mt @ 1.89% ZrO2,0.44% Nb2O5,0.74% total rare earths
Unusual small REE deposit 20km SE of Dobbo.

Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Y and REE mineralisation within a small (ca. 0.3 km2), rapidly cooled trachyte laccolith. The primary ore minerals, evenly dispersed throughout the rock, include lueshite/natroniobite and complex Na–Fe–Zr–Nb–Y–REE silicate minerals dominated by a eudialyte-group mineral. Secondary ore minerals include REE carbonates, Y-rich milarite, catapleiite and gaidonnayite that fill fractures and vesicles in the rock.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


22 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Aegirine
Formula: NaFe3+Si2O6
ⓘ Aegirine-augite
Formula: (NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(Fe3+eAlfFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘ Agakhanovite-(Y) ?
Formula: K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Arfvedsonite
Formula: NaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ Armstrongite ?
Formula: CaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O
Description: “Armstrongite-like mineral”
ⓘ 'Bastnäsite'
Formula: (Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
ⓘ Bastnäsite-(La)
Formula: La(CO3)F
ⓘ Catapleiite
Formula: Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ Eudialyte ?
Formula: Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Description: “Eudialyte-like mineral”
ⓘ 'Eudialyte Group'
Formula: [N(1)N(2)N(3)N(4)N(5)]3[M(1.1)M(1.2)]3[M(2.1)M(2.2)M(2.3)]3-6[M(3)M(4)]Z3[Si24O72]Θ4X(1)X(2)
ⓘ Fayalite
Formula: Fe2+2(SiO4)
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ Gaidonnayite
Formula: Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
ⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)
Formula: Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
ⓘ Hilairite
Formula: Na2Zr[SiO3]3 · 3H2O
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Lueshite
Formula: NaNbO3
ⓘ Milarite
Formula: K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
References:
Morris, C., Spandler, C. (2014) The Petrology, Geochemistry and Ore Genesis of the Alkaline REE Toongi Deposit, Dubbo NSW. in Geological Society of Australia, 2014 Australian Earth Sciences Convention (AESC), Sustainable Australia. Abstract No 110 of the 22nd Australian Geological Convention.
Spandler, Carl, Morris, Caitlin (2016) Geology and genesis of the Toongi rare metal (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Y and REE) deposit, NSW, Australia, and implications for rare metal mineralization in peralkaline igneous rocks. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 171 (12). 104 doi:10.1007/s00410-016-1316-y
Anenburg, Michael, Williams, Morgan J. (2021) Quantifying the Tetrad Effect, Shape Components, and Ce–Eu–Gd Anomalies in Rare Earth Element Patterns. Mathematical Geosciences, 54 (1). 47-70 doi:10.1007/s11004-021-09959-5
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Natroniobite
Formula: NaNbO3
ⓘ Pyrolusite ?
Formula: Mn4+O2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rhodonite ?
Formula: CaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
ⓘ Röntgenite-(Ce)
Formula: Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
ⓘ Vlasovite
Formula: Na2ZrSi4O11

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘLueshite4.CC.30NaNbO3
ⓘNatroniobite4.CC.30NaNbO3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘPyrolusite ?4.DB.05Mn4+O2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘBastnäsite-(La)5.BD.20aLa(CO3)F
ⓘRöntgenite-(Ce)5.BD.20dCa2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
ⓘGalgenbergite-(Ce)5.CC.40Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘFayalite9.AC.05Fe2+2(SiO4)
ⓘCatapleiite9.CA.15Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
ⓘAgakhanovite-(Y) ?9.CM.K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
ⓘMilarite9.CM.05K(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
ⓘEudialyte ?9.CO.10Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
ⓘAegirine-augite9.DA.20(NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(Fe3+eAlfFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘAegirine9.DA.25NaFe3+Si2O6
ⓘArfvedsonite9.DE.25NaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘRhodonite ?9.DK.05CaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
ⓘHilairite9.DM.10Na2Zr[SiO3]3 · 3H2O
ⓘGaidonnayite9.DM.15Na2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
ⓘVlasovite9.DM.25Na2ZrSi4O11
ⓘArmstrongite ?9.EA.35CaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Bastnäsite'-(Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Eudialyte Group'-[N(1)N(2)N(3)N(4)N(5)]3[M(1.1)M(1.2)]3[M(2.1)M(2.2)M(2.3)]3-6[M(3)M(4)]Z3[Si24O72]Θ4X(1)X(2)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ ArfvedsoniteNaNa2(Fe42+Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ ArmstrongiteCaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O
Hⓘ CatapleiiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Hⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Hⓘ GaidonnayiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Hⓘ HilairiteNa2Zr[SiO3]3 · 3H2O
Hⓘ MilariteK(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
BeBeryllium
Beⓘ MilariteK(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
Beⓘ Agakhanovite-(Y)K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
CCarbon
Cⓘ Bastnäsite-(La)La(CO3)F
Cⓘ Bastnäsite(Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
Cⓘ Röntgenite-(Ce)Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
Cⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
OOxygen
Oⓘ AegirineNaFe3+Si2O6
Oⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ ArfvedsoniteNaNa2(Fe42+Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ ArmstrongiteCaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O
Oⓘ Bastnäsite-(La)La(CO3)F
Oⓘ Bastnäsite(Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
Oⓘ CatapleiiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Oⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Oⓘ FayaliteFe22+(SiO4)
Oⓘ GaidonnayiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Oⓘ HilairiteNa2Zr[SiO3]3 · 3H2O
Oⓘ LueshiteNaNbO3
Oⓘ MilariteK(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ NatroniobiteNaNbO3
Oⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
Oⓘ Röntgenite-(Ce)Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
Oⓘ VlasoviteNa2ZrSi4O11
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Eudialyte Group[N(1)N(2)N(3)N(4)N(5)]3[M(1.1)M(1.2)]3[M(2.1)M(2.2)M(2.3)]3-6[M(3)M(4)]Z3[Si24O72]Θ4X(1)X(2)
Oⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
Oⓘ Agakhanovite-(Y)K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
FFluorine
Fⓘ Bastnäsite-(La)La(CO3)F
Fⓘ Bastnäsite(Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
Fⓘ Röntgenite-(Ce)Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
NaSodium
Naⓘ AegirineNaFe3+Si2O6
Naⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Naⓘ ArfvedsoniteNaNa2(Fe42+Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2
Naⓘ CatapleiiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Naⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Naⓘ GaidonnayiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Naⓘ HilairiteNa2Zr[SiO3]3 · 3H2O
Naⓘ LueshiteNaNbO3
Naⓘ NatroniobiteNaNbO3
Naⓘ VlasoviteNa2ZrSi4O11
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ MilariteK(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AegirineNaFe3+Si2O6
Siⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ ArfvedsoniteNaNa2(Fe42+Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ ArmstrongiteCaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O
Siⓘ CatapleiiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Siⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Siⓘ FayaliteFe22+(SiO4)
Siⓘ GaidonnayiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Siⓘ HilairiteNa2Zr[SiO3]3 · 3H2O
Siⓘ MilariteK(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
Siⓘ VlasoviteNa2ZrSi4O11
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Eudialyte Group[N(1)N(2)N(3)N(4)N(5)]3[M(1.1)M(1.2)]3[M(2.1)M(2.2)M(2.3)]3-6[M(3)M(4)]Z3[Si24O72]Θ4X(1)X(2)
Siⓘ Agakhanovite-(Y)K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
ClChlorine
Clⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ MilariteK(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Agakhanovite-(Y)K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Caⓘ ArmstrongiteCaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O
Caⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Caⓘ MilariteK(◻H2O)Ca2(Be2Al)[Si12O30]
Caⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
Caⓘ Röntgenite-(Ce)Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
Caⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
Caⓘ Agakhanovite-(Y)K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
MnManganese
Mnⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Mnⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
FeIron
Feⓘ AegirineNaFe3+Si2O6
Feⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Feⓘ ArfvedsoniteNaNa2(Fe42+Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Feⓘ FayaliteFe22+(SiO4)
YYttrium
Yⓘ Bastnäsite(Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
Yⓘ Agakhanovite-(Y)K◻2(YCa)Be3[Si12O30]
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ArmstrongiteCaZr[Si6O15] · 3H2O
Zrⓘ CatapleiiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Zrⓘ EudialyteNa15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(O,OH,H2O)3(Cl,OH)2
Zrⓘ GaidonnayiteNa2Zr(Si3O9) · 2H2O
Zrⓘ HilairiteNa2Zr[SiO3]3 · 3H2O
Zrⓘ VlasoviteNa2ZrSi4O11
NbNiobium
Nbⓘ LueshiteNaNbO3
Nbⓘ NatroniobiteNaNbO3
LaLanthanum
Laⓘ Bastnäsite-(La)La(CO3)F
Laⓘ Röntgenite-(Ce)Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
Laⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
CeCerium
Ceⓘ Bastnäsite(Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
Ceⓘ Röntgenite-(Ce)Ca2(Ce,La)3(CO3)5F3
Ceⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O
NdNeodymium
Ndⓘ Bastnäsite(Ce/Nd/Y/REE)(CO3)F
Ndⓘ Galgenbergite-(Ce)Ca(Ce,La,Nd)2(CO3)4 · H2O

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australia
Australian PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

https://www.alkane.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Dubbo-Project.pdf
https://asm-au.com/mines/the-dubbo-project/resources-reserves/
https://smedg.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Toongi-Rare-Metal-Rare-Earth-Deposit-MW-2022.pdf
Morris, Caitlin; Spandler, Carl (2014) The Petrology, Geochemistry and Ore Genesis of the Alkaline REE Toongi Deposit, Dubbo NSW. Geological Society of Australia, 2014 Australian Earth Sciences Convention (AESC), Sustainable Australia. Abstract No.110 of the 22nd Australian Geological Convention, Newcastle City Hall and Civic Theatre, Newcastle, New South Wales, July 7-10., Geological Society of Australia.
Spandler, Carl, Morris, Caitlin (2016) Geology and genesis of the Toongi rare metal (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, Y and REE) deposit, NSW, Australia, and implications for rare metal mineralization in peralkaline igneous rocks. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 171 (12). 104 doi:10.1007/s00410-016-1316-y
Spandler, Carl, Slezak, Paul, Nazari-Dehkordi, Teimoor (2020) Tectonic significance of Australian rare earth element deposits. Earth-Science Reviews, 207. 103219 doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103219
Anenburg, Michael, Williams, Morgan J. (2021) Quantifying the Tetrad Effect, Shape Components, and Ce–Eu–Gd Anomalies in Rare Earth Element Patterns. Mathematical Geosciences, 54 (1). 47-70 doi:10.1007/s11004-021-09959-5
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