MIWATCH research projects
The projects of the Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH)research group span characterisation for revalorization and reprocessing; decision-making tools, and environmental responsibility.
Core research activities
- Fieldwork, sampling, and characterisation of mine wastes and low-grade materials.
- Pyrite resources in mine wastes for sulphuric acid production.
- Resource estimation modelling for tailings storage facilities.
- Geochemical modelling of acid mine drainage.
- Mineral carbonation for CO₂
- Mineral processing pathways for reprocessing mine wastes, including pre-treatment via physical separation, hydrometallurgy, and bioleaching approaches.
- Mobility, biogeochemical cycling and transformation of metals in mine waste systems and surrounding environments.
- Synchrotron-based techniques for unlocking critical metals in mine wastes.
Bioleaching approaches for strategic and critical metal extraction from mine wastes
Working alongside the School of Civil Engineering, this project explores the viability of using microorganisms to extract critical metals from copper-rich supergene-derived mine waste, with a key focus on indium and bismuth.
Mineral carbonation of mine tailings for CO₂ sequestration and heavy metal immobilization
In collaboration with MRIWA, this project proposes an innovative solution for carbon sequestration by converting weathered tailings into inert carbonate minerals using an alkaline lixiviant derived from industrial alkaline by-products.
Low-grade copper oxide and sulphide leaching from Northparkes mine ore for critical metal extraction
This project evaluates an innovative, low-energy protonated brine lixiviant leaching technology to efficiently extract copper from stockpiled low-grade oxide and transition oxide-sulphide ores.
Optimised reprocessing and pre-treatment strategies to maximise critical and precious metal recovery from tailings
This project aims to develop a sustainable process for recovering critical resources from legacy mine wastes, while reducing the environmental liabilities associated with historical tailings deposits.
Chalcopyrite as an alternative indium source: New insights into structural incorporation
This project investigates the mechanisms of indium incorporation in chalcopyrite, positioning this abundant copper mineral as a promising alternative source of indium.
AMD upcycling
This project aims to use acid mine drainage (AMD) as a precursor for the synthesis of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a class of porous materials with applications in carbon capture, water treatment, and critical metal recovery.
Synchrotron-based techniques for unlocking critical metals in mine wastes
Critical minerals are often locked within fine-grained and weathered particles in mine wastes, trapped in mineral phases that conventional analytical techniques alone cannot resolve. X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy (XFM) and Micro-Computed Tomography (MCT) via synchrorton radiation enables the spatial mapping of critical minerals down to the micron scale, revealing their distribution, helping to answer how critical minerals can be recovered and how they behave under environmental conditions.
Pyrite resources in mine wastes for sulphuric acid production
This project leverages the extensive MIWATCH mine waste database to identify and rank legacy mine waste sites with elevated pyrite potential across the state. By combining existing mineralogical and geochemical data with targeted field assessments, the project aims to produce first-pass pyrite resource estimates and a techno-economic evaluation of sulphuric acid production potential.
Forecasting geoenvironmental properties of non-ore material in northern Chile
This PhD study aims to develop a 'predictive environmental reactivity assessment toolkit’ incorporating the measurement of mineralogical properties in detail using drill core materials from the Quebrada Blanca porphyry Cu-Mo hypogene deposit, located in northern Chile. The research aims to evaluate the mineralogy of samples across different lithologies and alteration zones, including their acid rock drainage (ARD)/metal leaching potential forecasting, utilising hyperspectral mineralogy results from Corescanand classic/novel mineralogical and geochemical analyses to predict the properties of future non-ore materials.
Environmental geophysics characterisation toolkit for Queensland's mine waste (2022-2024)
Contamination of surface and ground waters from mine waste can pose environmental hazards. Whilst drilling and sampling of mine waste provides critical information on the characteristics of the material, it does not facilitate a whole-of-site understanding. There are a growing number of academic publications focused on the integration of geochemical and geophysical datasets when characterising tailings storage facilities, however, this type of approach has yet to be established in Queensland.
Exploration of new economy metals in Queensland's mine waste (2020 - 2024)
This project focuses on secondary prospectivity. This is defined as the examination of previously unconsidered mining opportunities in existing and abandoned mines, with this pursuit in keeping with circular economy principles. The project will examine mine waste at a number of sites across the state (operational and abandoned) to determine their new economy mineral endowment, and will also investigate the mining technologies and techniques required to recover these metals as part of an economic rehabilitation approach.
In Queensland, there is estimated to be at least 3,000 Mt of waste rock, and at least 1,250 million m3 of stored tailings. Indium has been recognised in mine waste located in Queensland’s North East mineral province. Whilst identified, the understanding of how indium is mineralogically hosted and geochemically cycles in these potential secondary deposits (e.g., waste rock, tailings, slags, mine waters) is poorly documented.
Understanding cycling of indium in Queensland's mine waste
In Queensland, there is estimated to be at least 3,000 Mt of waste rock, and at least 1,250 million m3 of stored tailings. Indium has been recognised in mine waste located in Queensland’s North East mineral province. Whilst identified, the understanding of how indium is mineralogically hosted and geochemically cycles in these potential secondary deposits (e.g., waste rock, tailings, slags, mine waters) is poorly documented.
Mine waste sampling and analysis nodule exploring for the future program (2021-2024)
Tailings dams and other mine wastes are not only potential environmental hazards but also potential sources of the critical minerals that are becoming essential for the modern ‘green economy’. Cobalt, for example, has historically been recovered from Mount Isa copper ores, but in recent years it has gone to mine waste. It may be possible to ameliorate the environmental hazard of mine waste by re treating it, and at the same time recover valuable metals.
Other past projects
- Integrated characterisation of legacy waste, Hercules Mine, Tasmania, 2021 - 2022
- 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