Multi-scale modelling of particle breakage in grinding process. The minerals industry is the largest exporter in Australia, contributing approximately 40% of Australia's total exports. Grinding is one of basic operations in mineral processing to liberate valuables from the host rock. Grinding process, however, has very low efficiency and may account for 50% of the direct operating cost of a mineral processing plant. This project is to develop a novel, multi-scale model to investigate grinding at ....Multi-scale modelling of particle breakage in grinding process. The minerals industry is the largest exporter in Australia, contributing approximately 40% of Australia's total exports. Grinding is one of basic operations in mineral processing to liberate valuables from the host rock. Grinding process, however, has very low efficiency and may account for 50% of the direct operating cost of a mineral processing plant. This project is to develop a novel, multi-scale model to investigate grinding at both process and individual particle levels and to provide a more accurate prediction of grinding performance. This will result in improved control and design of grinding process with reduced energy consumption and mineral waste, which will be of immense economic and environmental benefit to Australia.Read moreRead less
Nickel iron sulphide mineralogy: the link between mineral transformations and microstructure and magnetic properties. This project is about measuring the rate at which minerals transform or react and how metal diffusion controls these reactions. Metal diffusion in sulphides is much more rapid that in silicates and is still very significant at low temperatures (< 300 C). In this project, we are trying to measure the rate at which the principal ore of nickel, pentlandite, transforms to violarite ....Nickel iron sulphide mineralogy: the link between mineral transformations and microstructure and magnetic properties. This project is about measuring the rate at which minerals transform or react and how metal diffusion controls these reactions. Metal diffusion in sulphides is much more rapid that in silicates and is still very significant at low temperatures (< 300 C). In this project, we are trying to measure the rate at which the principal ore of nickel, pentlandite, transforms to violarite, another important nickel rich sulphide that forms from it in the upper parts of ore bodies. The arrangement of the metal atoms in these minerals is sensitive to temperature, so it may be used as a geothermometer.Read moreRead less
Biological Leaching of Low Grade Nickel Laterite Ores. Harnessing the capability of fungi to dissolve large quantities of nickel and cobalt from laterite ores will create a step change in the technology for processing nickel laterites and other oxide minerals. Using microorganisms and their metabolic products promises to be effective, energy saving, easily controlled and environmentally safe. The mechanistic investigation proposed in this study will generate fundamental innovations and technolo ....Biological Leaching of Low Grade Nickel Laterite Ores. Harnessing the capability of fungi to dissolve large quantities of nickel and cobalt from laterite ores will create a step change in the technology for processing nickel laterites and other oxide minerals. Using microorganisms and their metabolic products promises to be effective, energy saving, easily controlled and environmentally safe. The mechanistic investigation proposed in this study will generate fundamental innovations and technological advancement in bio-leaching of laterite ores. Such technologies can secure the sustainability of nickel production and provide unique ecological reform to the mineral extraction industry.Read moreRead less