Geometallurgy integrates aspects of mining geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, structural geology/geotechnical engineering, geo/petrophysics and geological modelling directly with the physical and chemical parameters involved in the beneficiation and recovery of a range of commodities, including critical metals.
Evaluating the relationship between geological variables and metallurgical/process responses determined through robust testing underpins geometallurgical modelling and requires close collaboration between geoscientists, geotechnical/mining engineers, metallurgists and data scientists.
Geometallurgy has broad applications across the mine life-cycle from exploration, resource development, mining/production and tailings/waste rock disposal.
The WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC) and the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) bring an unparalleled combination of expertise to the facets of this fundamental linkage, including specialists and students in geology, geochemistry, geophysics, metallurgy, mineralogy, mineral processing, data analysis and engineering.
Geometallurgy-related research and consulting services are carried out across SMI through the BRC, JKMRC and JKTech.
BRC
- Mineral deposit systems analysis
- Geology, geochemistry, mineralogy
- Ore and waste characterisation
- Deep mining and geotechnics
- Multiscale-characterisation technologies
- Geological and mineral resource modelling
JKMRC
- Sampling statistics
- Novel beneficiation methods
- Numerical modelling
- Comminution
- Separation (inc. flotation)
- Novel breakage tests
- Energy modelling
- Flowsheet design
JKTech
- Consulting and commercial test work services
- Mine to mill modelling
- Statistics and geometallurgical model development
- Optimisation and simulation
- Commercialisation success (products, tests and software)
Contact us
Get in touch to learn more about our research.
Associate Professor Liza Forbes
Dr Nathan Fox
Geometallurgy is a collaborative research grouping within the WH Bryan Mining Geology Research Centre (BRC) and the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC).