UQ’s second ARC ITTC PhD student: Lexi Kng
I am very excited to share that I started my PhD as an ARC ITTC Critical Resources for the Future (ITTC CRFF) PhD candidate ~3 months ago. My research will focus on transforming pyrite to pyrrhotite using pyrometallurgy and extract the valuable elements using hydrometallurgy.
I believe this research will be a key part of the solution when it comes to sulphuric acid demand in Australia where we are looking at a supply interruption due to the changes at Mt. Isa and Kalgoorlie where sulphuric acid had been produced for phosphate fertilisers. Additionally, pyrite is the main mineral responsible for acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) at most mine sites. If pyrite-rich mine waste can be reprocessed and critical metals extracted, there lies the opportunity for less sites with AMD risks, a win-win situation for the mining industry, government and local communities.
I hold a bachelor’s degree in Science, majoring in Geology and Geography and Environmental Science from the University of Tasmania (UTAS) in 2018. Then, I pursued for a one-year honours degree at UTAS focussing on the environmental geochemistry and mineralogy of mine waste (tailings) at Bobadil Dam, Western Tasmania. As my research topic was relevant to the environmental wellbeing of Tasmania, I was the awarded for the Tasmanian Governor’s Environmental Award 2019.
Upon finishing my honours’ degree, I moved to Brisbane in 2020 and worked as a graduate geochemist at RGS Environmental Consultants for three years. I honed my laboratory, AMD predicting experiments and consulting experience here and made long lasting friendship with my ex-colleagues. In order to explore the economic part of mine waste, I went to work for MIWATCH, SMI from 2023 to 2025.
Throughout this exciting career as a research assistant/technician, I had the honour to attend various conferences and delivered oral and poster presentations at workshops and an international conference including the AuScope Geochemistry Network Workshop 2024 and 9th International Slag Valorisation Symposium 2025. Thanks to the support of SMI, Trailblazer and my direct supervisor, Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox, I also completed a 6-week industry placement at MMG Rosebery, Tasmania where I learned about the daily tasks of exploration and mine geologists, and metallurgists. I also experienced the 8:6 fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workstyle, which is commonly opted by the geologists in the mining industry.
I am very happy to remain part of the MIWATCH group. This PhD programme is funded by the ITTC CRFF and supervised by a group of experts from various fields, that are Anita Parbhakar-Fox (SMI), Olivia Mejias Gonzalex (SMI), Xiaodong Ma (SMI) and industry supervisors Helen Degeling (Mining3) and Andrew Tong (Cobalt Blue). Like other PhD candidates, I experienced imposter syndrome, feeling lost and occasional struggles in my PhD journey. However, by having support of my supervisory team and knowing that these are part of my PhD journey in making me a stronger, more resilient and better critical thinker, I am excited to take on these challenges and explore the wonders of pyrite and pyrrhotite as well as the mineral processing methods! I can’t wait to share my next reflection with you after one year of PhD.
P.S. Getting involved in education and community outreach is my personal interest, so pictures below are some snapshots of my activities in the past few months.
