Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989675
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$180,000.00
Summary
Interface-specific facility for quantifying adsorption and structures at particulate interfaces. The facility will be used by the collaborating universities to investigate adsorption and interface properties with great precision, and to develop new and improved technologies for coal and mineral processing, saline water utilisation, water desalination, energy production and environment protection. In particular, the project will investigate innovative ways of using ion-interface interactions in ....Interface-specific facility for quantifying adsorption and structures at particulate interfaces. The facility will be used by the collaborating universities to investigate adsorption and interface properties with great precision, and to develop new and improved technologies for coal and mineral processing, saline water utilisation, water desalination, energy production and environment protection. In particular, the project will investigate innovative ways of using ion-interface interactions in saline water for cleaning coal and recovering value minerals by flotation, and for improving dissolved air flotation used in water treatment and desalination to produce drinking water. The project will further investigate novel ways of capturing CO2, storing natural gases and hydrogen, and tailoring nutrient nano-crystals for foliar delivery.Read moreRead less
A Machine Learning driven flow modelling of fragmented rocks in cave mining. The project aims to develop an integrated method that uses micro scale and macro scale information to predict block scale behaviour so that a better cave mining design can be established. The role of various mineral composition on the energy storage and fracture properties of rocks will be investigated to examine rock fragmentation for block cave mining. Later Machine Learning based models will be developed to establis ....A Machine Learning driven flow modelling of fragmented rocks in cave mining. The project aims to develop an integrated method that uses micro scale and macro scale information to predict block scale behaviour so that a better cave mining design can be established. The role of various mineral composition on the energy storage and fracture properties of rocks will be investigated to examine rock fragmentation for block cave mining. Later Machine Learning based models will be developed to establish various predictive models for Block Scale rock mass behaviour and caveability of ore deposit. Finally, we will develop a new constitutive model based on a dual damage concept that will capture the rock fragmentation and simulate the cave propagation in a large scale mine layout using Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics.Read moreRead less
A new damage model for rock burst in hard rocks during deep mining. This project seeks to develop a new model to predict incipient rock burst in deep mines. Violent sudden energy released during dynamic brittle failure of rocks can kill people and cause serious damages to mining infrastructures. The project aims to investigate formation of micro-fractures on the brittle shear zones during dynamic brittle failure of pristine rocks with a unique experimental methodology under high-pressure-tempera ....A new damage model for rock burst in hard rocks during deep mining. This project seeks to develop a new model to predict incipient rock burst in deep mines. Violent sudden energy released during dynamic brittle failure of rocks can kill people and cause serious damages to mining infrastructures. The project aims to investigate formation of micro-fractures on the brittle shear zones during dynamic brittle failure of pristine rocks with a unique experimental methodology under high-pressure-temperature condition. It is anticipated that a new micromechanics-based damage model for brittle rocks will be developed from this. Implementation of the new coupled thermo-mechanical damage model into a finite element should result in realistic simulation of deep mining operations to identify rock-burst prone areas and allow mining managers to avoid potential hazards.Read moreRead less
A multi-scale theory for solid-granular transition due to fragmentation. The prediction of rock fragmentation and fragment sizes during its phase transition from solid (rock mass) to granular (ore fragments) is the most crucial problem in a cave mining operation. Current practice relies on empirical tools without fundamentals of fracture, and hence cannot reliably predict the fragmentation process and fragment sizes. This can lead to huge economic loss due to damage to extraction points, hold-up ....A multi-scale theory for solid-granular transition due to fragmentation. The prediction of rock fragmentation and fragment sizes during its phase transition from solid (rock mass) to granular (ore fragments) is the most crucial problem in a cave mining operation. Current practice relies on empirical tools without fundamentals of fracture, and hence cannot reliably predict the fragmentation process and fragment sizes. This can lead to huge economic loss due to damage to extraction points, hold-ups for safety precautions, and mine closures. The project will develop a new theory and models to describe this solid-granular transition, and computational tools for simulations of cave mining operations. The expected benefits and outcomes include safer operations, and better control of production schedule and budgeting.Read moreRead less
Critical metals from complex copper ores. The aims of this project address the critical mineral resource potential of complex copper ores. The research will generate new knowledge on the concentration, distribution, physical form and chemical speciation of critical minerals, including tellurium, cobalt and rare earth elements, in ores and processing streams using innovative approaches and utilising state-of-the-art analytical techniques. Expected outcomes include integrated models for critical e ....Critical metals from complex copper ores. The aims of this project address the critical mineral resource potential of complex copper ores. The research will generate new knowledge on the concentration, distribution, physical form and chemical speciation of critical minerals, including tellurium, cobalt and rare earth elements, in ores and processing streams using innovative approaches and utilising state-of-the-art analytical techniques. Expected outcomes include integrated models for critical element endowments in Australia's largest copper resource, Olympic Dam (S.A.). Future recovery of these elements would add significant value to existing operations, providing long-term economic and commercial benefits and would also contribute to Australia's transition to a low-carbon future.Read moreRead less
Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical ap ....Multi-phase modelling and characterisation of mudrush hazard in cave mining. A mudrush is a sudden, uncontrolled flow of wet fine particles (mud) into an underground mine that damages equipment, infrastructure, and can even cause fatalities. This project aims to develop cost-effective management and monitoring of mudrush hazards within the at-risk Carrapateena cave mine operated by OZ Minerals. Building on recent technological and numerical advances, a novel experimental–theoretical–numerical approach will be used to simulate mudrush risk based on moisture content, particle sizes, compaction, geological conditions, and seismic energy. Outputs will include a practical framework to boost the safety, productivity, and profitability of caving operations to benefit miners and the broader resources industry.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
Supporting families: Horizontal and vertical equity in the Australian tax-benefit system in historical and comparative perspectives. Tax benefit reform and equity between different groups are key policy concerns currently and for the foreseeable future. The tax-benefit system is under review, and the Global Financial Crisis has prompted debate on how tax-benefit policy can stimulate the economy while maintaining equity and promoting social inclusion. This project will put debate about tax-benef ....Supporting families: Horizontal and vertical equity in the Australian tax-benefit system in historical and comparative perspectives. Tax benefit reform and equity between different groups are key policy concerns currently and for the foreseeable future. The tax-benefit system is under review, and the Global Financial Crisis has prompted debate on how tax-benefit policy can stimulate the economy while maintaining equity and promoting social inclusion. This project will put debate about tax-benefit reforms and deficit reduction strategies in historical and an international comparative context. Results generated will provide a rich and comprehensive framework for assessing current and future policy options in areas that are closely aligned with the designated national research priority goals of a healthy start to life and strengthening Australia's economic and social fabric.Read moreRead less
SOCIAL CAPITAL AND PUBLIC POLICY: HOW SOCIAL CAPITAL CAN INFORM PUBLIC POLICY INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND REDUCE INEQUITIES. This project examines the ways in which social capital affects policy outcomes in Australia. The research aims to examine the processes underpinning the development and implementation of public sector initiatives designed to promote social capital and to identify the role that social capital may play in implementing policy designed to reduce economic and health in ....SOCIAL CAPITAL AND PUBLIC POLICY: HOW SOCIAL CAPITAL CAN INFORM PUBLIC POLICY INTERVENTIONS TO IMPROVE HEALTH AND REDUCE INEQUITIES. This project examines the ways in which social capital affects policy outcomes in Australia. The research aims to examine the processes underpinning the development and implementation of public sector initiatives designed to promote social capital and to identify the role that social capital may play in implementing policy designed to reduce economic and health inequities between different groups in the population. The research will lead to a number of outcomes, including an increased understanding of the value of social capital to policy makers and evidence based recommendations for policies and interventions designed to improve health and reduce inequities.Read moreRead less
Dispersal and gene flow in habitat-forming algae. The temperate coast of Australia has a unique and diverse algal flora. Many of these algae play a central role in subtidal ecology by providing habitat to an astonishing diversity of taxa. Despite this, we have no understanding of levels of gene flow within and among populations of habitat forming algae or how such populations persist in nature. By addressing this lack of knowledge, my research will contribute information that is critical for the ....Dispersal and gene flow in habitat-forming algae. The temperate coast of Australia has a unique and diverse algal flora. Many of these algae play a central role in subtidal ecology by providing habitat to an astonishing diversity of taxa. Despite this, we have no understanding of levels of gene flow within and among populations of habitat forming algae or how such populations persist in nature. By addressing this lack of knowledge, my research will contribute information that is critical for the conservation and management of algal habitats. This is particularly pertinent because anthropogentic stressors are beginning to precipitate significant changes in algal forests along Australia's coastline. Read moreRead less