Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100042
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,000.00
Summary
UV to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry, and laser materials characterisation. Ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry and laser materials characterisation: This project will provide equipment with a vast capability to collect ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence with high temporal measurement accuracy, and highly flexible excitation (spectral and temporal). This will enhance ....UV to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry, and laser materials characterisation. Ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence spectrometer for use in mineral analysis, radiation dosimetry and laser materials characterisation: This project will provide equipment with a vast capability to collect ultraviolet to mid-infrared fluorescence with high temporal measurement accuracy, and highly flexible excitation (spectral and temporal). This will enhance active research into new glasses and laser crystals, probing of defect states resulting from ionising radiation absorption in environmental and medical dosimetry materials, investigation of novel fluorescence techniques for mineral identification, through to improving chemical detection capability (for example, detection of explosives). The instrument comprises modules that enable excitation in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared from a tunable laser system, and high-efficiency collection and processing of fluorescence spectra.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100220
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A study of the bulk and surface responses of ores to high voltage pulses applied using a selFrag Lab. Minerals account for 40% of Australia's exports and mining is a major Australian employer. The health of the industry is integral to Australia's prosperity. Recent events have shown that mining cannot rely on high commodity prices but must continually seek efficiency improvements. This will be even more critical as production depends increasingly on low-grade ore deposits. Using selFrag Lab, ....A study of the bulk and surface responses of ores to high voltage pulses applied using a selFrag Lab. Minerals account for 40% of Australia's exports and mining is a major Australian employer. The health of the industry is integral to Australia's prosperity. Recent events have shown that mining cannot rely on high commodity prices but must continually seek efficiency improvements. This will be even more critical as production depends increasingly on low-grade ore deposits. Using selFrag Lab, the response of different ores to high voltage pulses will be studied to identify processes that liberate a greater percentage of valuable minerals while using less energy and less water and keeping toxic elements bound in larger waste particles. SelFrag-based research will therefore deliver major economic and environmental benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Long-term acid rock and tailings drainage mitigation through source control. Effective long-term management of acid rock drainage (ARD) from sulfidic mine wastes in current, exhausted and legacy mine sites is of critical importance to communities and for sustainable mining. An optimised geochemical and microbial multi-barrier approach to long-term reduction of ARD to environmentally acceptable rates will be developed by this project.
Engineered clay-polysaccharide composites for efficient nutrient delivery. Nitrogen (N) nutrient use efficiency of most arable crops in Australian soils is low, leading to excessive application of this nutrient. The low N use efficiency is attributed to its loss through leaching and gaseous emission, which contributes to both economic burden of the farming community and also results in environmental degradation. This project aims to work with clay industries to develop fertiliser products with c ....Engineered clay-polysaccharide composites for efficient nutrient delivery. Nitrogen (N) nutrient use efficiency of most arable crops in Australian soils is low, leading to excessive application of this nutrient. The low N use efficiency is attributed to its loss through leaching and gaseous emission, which contributes to both economic burden of the farming community and also results in environmental degradation. This project aims to work with clay industries to develop fertiliser products with controlled release characteristics to increase N use efficiency and farm productivity. It will also create new market opportunities for the mining industry for the use of clays and create novel materials for delivery of nutrients and moisture for the agrochemical industry resulting in the creation of marketing opportunities.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals. The aim of the Centre is to progress scientific knowledge to establish transformational improvement in minerals beneficiation, essential for meeting global demand for metals. The research aims to achieve more selective, faster, and efficient separations, combining major advances in separation technologies with increased functionality of new reagents. The Centre outcomes will also ensure the sustainability of the miner ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals. The aim of the Centre is to progress scientific knowledge to establish transformational improvement in minerals beneficiation, essential for meeting global demand for metals. The research aims to achieve more selective, faster, and efficient separations, combining major advances in separation technologies with increased functionality of new reagents. The Centre outcomes will also ensure the sustainability of the minerals industry in Australia, through a significant reduction in cost, environmental impact, and through lower energy and water usage. The Centre also seeks to establish a new generation of scientists and research leaders in minerals beneficiation to support the innovation needed into the future by this major Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100208
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
An advanced computational facility based on a graphic processing unit for particulate research. The graphic processing unit (GPU) is becoming an engine for the next generation of supercomputers for scientific research. The technology at this new facility will be exploited to perform large-scale, real time simulations of complex particulate material processing which is critical to Australia’s mineral/metallurgical/material industries.
Reducing the deleterious impacts of clay particle interactions with valuable minerals in copper and gold processing. This project seeks to understand the rheological behaviour of clay minerals and the effect of the viscosity caused by clay minerals on gas dispersion, the transport of network structures and the locking of the structures in the froth in mineral flotation. Novel methods will be developed to improve flotation separation by reducing the viscosity.
Regrinding chemistry and particle breakage mechanisms in increased surface hydrophobicity on fine and ultra-fine particles in mineral flotation. This project will study the effect of regrinding chemistry and particle breakage mechanisms on the redistribution of flotation collectors and the evolution of the metal oxidation species on mineral surfaces. New technologies will be developed to increase mineral surface hydrophobicity and therefore increase fine and ultra-fine particle flotation.