[3] Rare earths are contained in secondary phosphates and aluminophosphates, presumably derived from weathering of the Proterozoic Mount Weld carbonatite.

[4] The primary commercial interest at the site is targeted towards oxides as well as further niobium and tantalum deposits within the intrusive pipe of the Mount Weld carbonatite, which is approximately three kilometers (1.9 mi) in diameter.

[5] The main deposits are hosted within the soil and regolith horizon that blankets the entire carbonatite and form shallow lenses within 60 m (200 ft) of the surface.

[citation needed] The Mount Weld deposit is owned by ASX-listed Lynas Corporation,[6] which raised A$450 million equity from J. P. Morgan in 2009[7] to fund the development of a mine and also a processing plant in Kuantan, Malaysia.

Once operational, the Mount Weld mine is expected to be the largest source of rare-earth elements outside of China.