From rare earths to real-world impact: Rory’s journey through MinEx CRC

For Rory Carter, the path into geology wasn’t sparked by a single moment but by a steady and growing interest in understanding how mineral systems form and where valuable resources can be found.

That curiosity led him through undergraduate studies at the University of New South Wales, where he completed an Honours degree focused on ore deposit geology, before taking the next step into research.

“I’ve always been particularly interested in ore deposit-related geoscience,” said Rory. “Honours gave me the chance to really focus on that, and from there I wanted to keep going.”

Today, as a PhD student with MinEx CRC, Rory is contributing to a deeper understanding of how critical minerals form and where they can be found.

 

Caption: Rory logging drill core during vacation work at the Renison tin mine in Tasmania.

 

From study to industry relevance

Rory’s pathway into MinEx CRC has been largely academic, but not without industry exposure.

Between his undergraduate studies and Honours, he spent time as a vacation student with Bluestone Mines at the Renison tin mine in Tasmania.

“It was an amazing opportunity to get hands-on experience in a working mine and see how geology translates into production,” he said.

While he valued that experience, it reinforced his desire to continue studying and exploring the scientific side of mineral systems in more depth.

That decision ultimately led him to MinEx CRC, where research is closely connected to real-world application.

 

A collaborative model that connects research to outcomes

Rory joined MinEx CRC at the start of his PhD in early 2024, and one of the aspects that stood out immediately was the collaborative nature of the program.

“Engaging with industry and government involved as co-supervisors has been a really enriching opportunity,” said Rory. “That connection means the research isn’t happening in isolation. It’s guided by real challenges and has practical outcomes in mind.”

He also highlights the strength of the postgraduate cohort across Australia.

“It’s been great to meet and learn from other MinEx CRC students. Everyone is working on different aspects of exploration, but there’s a shared purpose.”

That shared purpose, bringing together research, industry and government, sits at the heart of MinEx CRC’s approach.

 

Understanding rare earth element enrichment

Rory’s research sits within MinEx CRC’s Program 3 and focuses on rare earth element (REE) enrichment in clay-hosted systems.

Specifically, he is studying a novel case where critical minerals are concentrated within weathered, regolith material.

“My work is really about understanding how rare earth elements become enriched in these near-surface environments,” said Rory.

While much of MinEx CRC’s work focuses on discovering resources beneath cover, Rory’s research takes a slightly different angle.

“I’m technically looking at finding resources in the cover itself.”

This distinction is important. As exploration moves into more complex and less obvious environments, understanding how mineralisation behaves in weathered materials becomes increasingly valuable.

By building a detailed mineralogical and geochemical dataset, Rory’s work helps provide new insights into how these deposits form and how they might be identified elsewhere.

 

Caption: Rory out in the field during exploration work, embracing the challenging outdoor environments.

 

Contributing to discovery under cover

Rory’s work directly supports one of MinEx CRC’s core objectives: improving the ability to discover resources in areas that are harder to explore.

“With the increasing focus on critical minerals like rare earth elements, understanding these systems is really important,” said Rory.

His research is providing one of the first comprehensive datasets on REE enrichment in a skarn regolith setting, with potential applications across Australia.

“This kind of detailed case study can help inform how we identify and understand similar systems in other regions.”

In doing so, it contributes to a broader effort to make exploration more effective, particularly in environments where traditional methods are less effective.

 

The value of collaboration

One of the defining features of Rory’s experience with MinEx CRC has been the ability to work across industry, government and research.

“Working across these areas brings together knowledge from people with very different backgrounds and experiences,” said Rory. “It also means the research is designed with practical outcomes in mind.”

This alignment between research and application is a key strength of the MinEx CRC model.

“It allows us to work on projects that can genuinely make a difference to the industry.”

 

People who make the difference

Throughout his time with MinEx CRC, Rory has been influenced by the people around him, particularly those supporting the student cohort.

“Caroline Tiddy has been a huge influence,” said Rory. “Through her role coordinating students, she’s created a lot of opportunities for us to learn, connect and hear from different speakers across the industry.

That sense of community and shared learning is something Rory sees as a defining feature of MinEx CRC.

 

Building a strong cohort of researchers

For Rory, the long-term impact of his work is about contributing to a better understanding of critical mineral systems and supporting future discovery. But he also sees a broader legacy for MinEx CRC.

“One of the most important outcomes of MinEx CRC will be the people it develops,” said Rory. “As someone who’s spent a number of years studying geoscience, I’ve seen a decline in how it’s valued in some areas.”

“In that context, MinEx CRC is helping build a strong cohort of researchers with the skills and experience needed to support the future of mineral exploration.”

 

Caption: Rory loving life at a Swan’s AFL game (left) and enjoying a fishing trip with family in Tasmania (right)

 

Beyond research

Outside of his PhD, Rory enjoys staying active and following sport. He plays tennis and keeps a close eye on both the NRL (Roosters) and AFL (Swans).

He’s also picked up an unexpected skill along the way.

“I can juggle,” said Rory. “That’s thanks to lockdown.”

And like many in research, he carries a simple piece of advice that continues to guide him… “Be open to every opportunity. You never know where it might lead.”