News

New mining institute opens at Oyu Tolgoi to tackle global skills shortage

Published on: 12 January 2026

In 2026, SGUMMI will open its programs to all mining professionals, providing global access to world-class training and technology.
New UQ project to help farmers access fertilisers, boost food security

Published on: 2 December 2025

A researcher from The University of Queensland has secured more than $500,000 in funding to improve food security in sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands by boosting local mineral security (as an alternative to imported fertilisers).
Looking up, digging down: the story of Australia’s first Indigenous bauxite mining company

Published on: 20 November 2025

The Dhupuma Plateau in Northern Australia – a sprawling escarpment of red dirt and stringybark trees – is steeped in history. It’s where legendary Yolngu ancestor Ganbulapula looked up into the treetops, in search of native honeybees. It’s where Europeans built a space tracking station, where many prime ministers have visited, and where the Garma Festival is held. And it’s where the world’s first Indigenous bauxite mining company was born.
Indium is key to Australia’s future solar industry: how can we secure this critical mineral?

Published on: 19 November 2025

Mining waste could be a key source of indium for Australia’s future home-grown solar panel manufacturing industry, now a new study led by The University of Queensland has investigated indium host minerals at various scales – from centimetres to the nanoscale – helping to find economic ways to extract it and better understand its environmental impact.
ANALYSIS: How the rush for critical minerals is neglecting human needs

Published on: 14 November 2025

GCMS director Daniel Franks and colleagues, in a piece for Nature, explained that critical minerals haven't taken a national security turn, that's always been their meaning.
Workshop Showcases New Ideas in AMD Management and Mine Rehabilitation

Published on: 31 October 2025
Seismic shake-up: digitising 90 years of Queensland’s earthquake history

Published on: 28 October 2025

A landmark project is digitising almost a century of Queensland’s seismic records to help scientists and emergency services better understand the state’s earthquake risk.
UQ partners with Evolution Mining to advance sustainable mining research

Published on: 22 October 2025

A new $1.25 million partnership between Evolution Mining and The University of Queensland will establish the Jim Askew Evolution Mining Fellowship, a five-year initiative focused on unlocking unrealised potential in orebodies to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability in mining.
ANALYSIS: The most important mineral for clean energy isn’t what you think

Published on: 10 October 2025

Sand, gravel and limestone are necessary for the construction of foundations for wind turbines and solar panels, as well as the walls of hydroelectric dams and pumped hydro facilities.
Meet the winners of the Sustainable Minerals Institute Memorial Awards

Published on: 6 October 2025

On 2 October 2025, dozens of staff, students and families of donor families gathered that the Indooroopilly Mine site for the SMI Memorial Awards, a full-day program which included presentations from the award recipients, student poster displays, an industry led panel discussion and a keynote address.

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