26376 ¿ Establishing a Baseline for Vanadium Deportment in the Toolebuc Formation to Enable Next-Generation Processing (2026)
Abstract
Unlocking Julia Creek¿s vanadium potential requires understanding natural mobilisation mechanisms and accelerating them for economic recovery. The Toolebuc Formation hosts ~5.6 Bt of V2O5, yet decades of feasibility work have been hindered by poor, unpredictable recoveries due to unresolved controls on vanadium deportment. This project will develop the first depth-based deportment model, integrating mineralogical, organic, and microbial analyses across stratigraphic horizons. By identifying host phases, oxidation states, and biogenic influences, we aim to explain current processing limitations and enable innovative strategies. The outcome will be an enabling dataset that de-risks investment, accelerates feasibility, and supports critical minerals processing innovation.
