From exploration to mining: new geological strategies for sustaining high levels of copper production from the Mount Isa district. Mineral production at the Mount Isa copper and Ernest Henry copper-gold mines is worth more than $ 1 billion per year and this has underpinned the northern Queensland economy for a number of years. These resources are being depleted at a high rate, and no significant new discoveries have been made in over a decade. This project will provide some of the tools to defin ....From exploration to mining: new geological strategies for sustaining high levels of copper production from the Mount Isa district. Mineral production at the Mount Isa copper and Ernest Henry copper-gold mines is worth more than $ 1 billion per year and this has underpinned the northern Queensland economy for a number of years. These resources are being depleted at a high rate, and no significant new discoveries have been made in over a decade. This project will provide some of the tools to define new resources for the next generation, ensuring the prosperity of the region and bolstering the Australian economy. The timing is critical given the long lead time between discovery and production (in the order of 5 to 10 years). If successful the research may have major financial impacts at local, regional and national scales. It may also improve mine safety.Read moreRead less
Fundamental experimental and modelling studies of slag/matte/metal/gas systems in support of sustainable copper smelting and converting technologies. Australia is in the midst of a sustained increase in demand for its mineral resources that is leading to expansion in production and major capital investments across the industry sector. Most of the primary production of copper metal in Australia takes place through the use of high temperature smelting technologies. New technologies and significant ....Fundamental experimental and modelling studies of slag/matte/metal/gas systems in support of sustainable copper smelting and converting technologies. Australia is in the midst of a sustained increase in demand for its mineral resources that is leading to expansion in production and major capital investments across the industry sector. Most of the primary production of copper metal in Australia takes place through the use of high temperature smelting technologies. New technologies and significant changes to existing smelting technologies are currently underway; driven by the need to improve both productivity and environmental performance. This research partnership will provide important fundamental information about the complex chemistries of these high temperature processes. This project will assist these process improvements and will provide competitive advantage to Australian industry.Read moreRead less
Improvements in the pyrometallurgical processing of nickel oxide and laterite ores at QNI Yabulu, North Queensland. The QNI Yabulu operation in Queensland is an important supplier of nickel and cobalt metals to the export market. The company is planning to expand the scale of the operations but is faced with two important sustainability issues. One is the recent changes to the European regulations that require very low levels of residual nickel oxide in the nickel metal product. The second issue ....Improvements in the pyrometallurgical processing of nickel oxide and laterite ores at QNI Yabulu, North Queensland. The QNI Yabulu operation in Queensland is an important supplier of nickel and cobalt metals to the export market. The company is planning to expand the scale of the operations but is faced with two important sustainability issues. One is the recent changes to the European regulations that require very low levels of residual nickel oxide in the nickel metal product. The second issue relates to ensuring the supply and improved recovery of nickel and cobalt from oxide-based ores. Further fundamental scientific information is required to provide improved understanding of the complex chemical reactions occurring during the high temperature treatment of these materials, and to guide improvements in product quality, recovery and process efficiencyRead moreRead less
ADVANCED THERMODYNAMIC AND PROCESS MODELS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE METAL SMELTING TECHNOLOGIES - A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM IN PYROMETALLURGY. This 5-year ARC Linkage project developed by the Pyrometallurgy Research Centre, UQ brings together several consortia of major mineral companies in a genuinely collaborative way to address a range of complex technical problems associated with the high temperature chemical processing of minerals and metals.
The UQ research team brings new state-of-the- ....ADVANCED THERMODYNAMIC AND PROCESS MODELS FOR HIGH TEMPERATURE METAL SMELTING TECHNOLOGIES - A COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM IN PYROMETALLURGY. This 5-year ARC Linkage project developed by the Pyrometallurgy Research Centre, UQ brings together several consortia of major mineral companies in a genuinely collaborative way to address a range of complex technical problems associated with the high temperature chemical processing of minerals and metals.
The UQ research team brings new state-of-the-art research methodologies, and experimental and computer modelling techniques to provide scientifically important research outcomes which can be used by the industry. The research program will provide fundamental thermodynamic and physical property information on the complex chemical systems encountered in industrial processes, powerful computer models, and applied research outputs for industry. The project will also importantly provide research training in the field pyrometallurgy, deliver competitive advantage to the Australian mineral industry and bring economic benefits particularly to regional Australia.
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Development of a new stochastic short-term production scheduling optimisation approach for open pit metal mines. Stochastic short-term production scheduling (STPS) in open pit mines provides a new framework allowing production schedules to manage risk robustly despite uncertainties in geological and mining conditions. STPS depends on both mining (stockpiling process, multiple ore types and processors, waste production, equipment mobility, feasible sequencing) and geological (in-situ ore variabil ....Development of a new stochastic short-term production scheduling optimisation approach for open pit metal mines. Stochastic short-term production scheduling (STPS) in open pit mines provides a new framework allowing production schedules to manage risk robustly despite uncertainties in geological and mining conditions. STPS depends on both mining (stockpiling process, multiple ore types and processors, waste production, equipment mobility, feasible sequencing) and geological (in-situ ore variability, geological uncertainty, simulated 'future' grade control data) factors. Formulations require development of innovative stochastic goal programming techniques and high-order spatial stochastic simulations. STPS has a major impact on multi-million dollar mining cash flows and affects environmental sustainability. This project represents a strategic priority for some of Australia's largest mining companies.Read moreRead less
Sensory strategies for protecting endangered sawfishes. The Gulf of Carpentaria is the last habitat worldwide containing sustainable populations of sawfish. Easily entangled in nets, the saw has reduced population numbers dramatically in Australia with all species now protected under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This study will provide basic biological information on feeding ....Sensory strategies for protecting endangered sawfishes. The Gulf of Carpentaria is the last habitat worldwide containing sustainable populations of sawfish. Easily entangled in nets, the saw has reduced population numbers dramatically in Australia with all species now protected under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This study will provide basic biological information on feeding, prey manipulation and the role of critical senses in the only captive population of sawfishes in Australia. Such knowledge will underpin the development and use of visual, chemical and/or magnetic repellents by fisherman that are still responsible for the loss of large numbers of sawfish as by-catch.Read moreRead less
Investigation of Demand Diversity and Appropriate New Generation Entry into Electricity Market Simulation Tools. The power industry is currently facing a great challenge in providing
better market operation and management following recent devastating blackouts in North America, UK and Italy. This project aims at investigating major mechanisms of market simulation techniques including impacts from load diversity and approaches to defining appropriate new generation entry into the market. From th ....Investigation of Demand Diversity and Appropriate New Generation Entry into Electricity Market Simulation Tools. The power industry is currently facing a great challenge in providing
better market operation and management following recent devastating blackouts in North America, UK and Italy. This project aims at investigating major mechanisms of market simulation techniques including impacts from load diversity and approaches to defining appropriate new generation entry into the market. From the outcome of this project the National Electricity Market will be able to manage the uncertainties of load diversity (one of the most common blackout causes), and efficiently minimise risk associated with decisions on new generation entry to enhance electricity supply infrastructure.
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POWER DELIVERY IN A DEREGULATED ENVIRONMENT. The recent deregulation of the power industry has opened up new technical challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure fair and equitable market operation. Significant among these is the availability of alternative routes for the delivery of power, between and across different ownerships. In this scenario, a major challenge is to determine the minimum cost contractual arrangement for the delivery of required power. To achieve this, new techniq ....POWER DELIVERY IN A DEREGULATED ENVIRONMENT. The recent deregulation of the power industry has opened up new technical challenges that must be addressed in order to ensure fair and equitable market operation. Significant among these is the availability of alternative routes for the delivery of power, between and across different ownerships. In this scenario, a major challenge is to determine the minimum cost contractual arrangement for the delivery of required power. To achieve this, new techniques for the analysis of power systems are required. This proposal aims to provide solutions to these analysis problems and hence to provide software to assist with market operation.Read moreRead less
Stability Analysis and Control for Large Scale Power Systems Incorporating FACTS Devices. Power system stability analysis and control is one of the most important issues in power systems. The problem becomes more serious in power systems with long transmission lines, such as the transmission systems in Australia. The ability of a power system to maintain stability depends to a large extent on the controls available on the system. Consequently, the study and design of power system controls are ve ....Stability Analysis and Control for Large Scale Power Systems Incorporating FACTS Devices. Power system stability analysis and control is one of the most important issues in power systems. The problem becomes more serious in power systems with long transmission lines, such as the transmission systems in Australia. The ability of a power system to maintain stability depends to a large extent on the controls available on the system. Consequently, the study and design of power system controls are very important for expanding systems. This project aims at investigating into stability assessment and control of large scale interconnected power systems incorporating FACTS (Flexible AC Transmission System) devices in a deregulated electricity market.Read moreRead less
Mining venture risk: novel econometric methods to integrate joint financial and geological uncertainty into dynamic risk forecasting measures. The mining industry is nationally important: it contributed $33,927M to Australia's GDP in 2002-3. This project's outcomes - sophisticated statistical and econometric tools - will significantly improve capability for forecasting overall risk to mining projects requiring vast upfront, irreversible investments, and contribute to its efficiency and internati ....Mining venture risk: novel econometric methods to integrate joint financial and geological uncertainty into dynamic risk forecasting measures. The mining industry is nationally important: it contributed $33,927M to Australia's GDP in 2002-3. This project's outcomes - sophisticated statistical and econometric tools - will significantly improve capability for forecasting overall risk to mining projects requiring vast upfront, irreversible investments, and contribute to its efficiency and international competitiveness. Innovative methods driven by data from complex financial and geological systems will integrate price volatility risk and orebody uncertainty in a real options framework, providing holistic, rigorous measurement of mining venture risk. Xstrata Queensland Ltd will strongly support and participate in research training of an identified candidate to deliver discoveries to the wider industry.Read moreRead less