MIWATCH research themes

The process of mining is not only concerned with commodity extraction but also moving and managing waste, with up to 30 gigatonnes of waste material per annum removed, handled and placed into final repositories or landforms. If inadequately managed, waste materials can pose a range of physical (i.e., dam failures) and chemical (i.e., acid and metalliferous drainage; AMD) geoenvironmental risks. The challenge remains for the mining industry to identify the mechanisms by which to cost effectively forecast and manage these potential risks at the earliest possible stage in a mine’s life.

This theme is investigating how to optimize a range of datasets, including hyperspectral data, for early life-of-mine characterisation.

With an explosion of new tools and technologies for ore characterisation, there has never been a more opportunistic time to follow a geoenvironmental matrix approach whereby the ‘environmental geometallurgy’ toolkit is used for waste characterisation. The toolkit includes application of hyperspectral technologies to derive geoenvironmental domaining index values, improved used of handheld tools and chemical tests, data mining, and developing applications for µCT and 3D XRF drill core scanners.

Projects

Forecasting geoenvironmental properties of non-ore material in northern Chile

Tracking and managing the placement of waste material at an operational site is crucial to establish if geoenvironmental risks have been suitably minimized. This theme employs established and emerging tools for investigating the geochemical and geotechnical properties of mine waste.

Our geoenvironmental laboratories can undertake a range of bespoke static and kinetic testing to determine the acid forming properties of future and existing mine wastes.

We are also exploring the application of environmental geophysics for characterizing Queensland’s mine waste and in 2024, we will be using drone-based technologies to further understand these challenging sites and new technologies for waste sorting.

Projects

Environmental geophysics characterisation toolkit for Queensland's mine waste

Past Projects

Integrated characterisation of legacy waste, Hercules Mine, Tasmania, 2021 - 2022

Mining has a critical role in providing essential mineral commodities for the transition to low emission energy generation, transmission and storage required to meet emission reduction targets and minimise global warming. However, there is increasing global focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks in mining; adoption of circular economy principles; and waste reduction across all industries. Motivated by this, a new business opportunity to perform ‘secondary prospectivity’ analysis on mine waste is gaining momentum. In Europe, Chile, Canada, Australia and the United States alone, significant efforts by both Government organisations and the mining industry are underway to characterize and determine valorisation options for mine waste.

New research activities to continue exploration in these ‘next-gen ore deposits’ is underway across Australia, with significant funding from State and Federal Government agencies forming the foundation of this theme. Using an integrated chemistry-mineralogy-mineral-geobiology approach, we are exploring Australia’s existing mine waste to find new resources of several critical metals (e.g., cobalt, rare earth elements and indium) and working with teams across SMI and UQ to research reprocessing and metal extraction options where significant resources have been identified.

This theme aims to breathe new life into old mines to identify resources for the low carbon future.

Projects

Exploration of new economy metals in Queensland's mine waste

Understanding cycling of indium in Queensland's mine waste

Mine waste sampling and analysis module exploring for the future program

Past projects

• Secondary prospectivity of South Australia's mine waste, 2021 - 2023
• Northern Territory secondary prospectivity of mine waste, 2021 - 2023
• New South Wales cricial minerals mine waste project, 2022 - 2023
• Geometallurgical characterisation of the Old Tailings Dam for the recovery of cobalt, 2021 - 2023
• Geometallurgical characterisation of the Bobadil tailings, 2022 - 2023
• Unlocking the value of mining wastes at abandoned mines of Queensland - Wolfram Camp, 2020 - 2022
• Assessing recommercialisation potential at the Mary Kathleen mine Queensland, 2020 - 2022