Dr Cathy Evans specialises in understanding how ores respond in mineral processing circuits based on knowledge of how the minerals behave in breakage, liberation and separation processes.
Cathy’s current research is in her main area of interest - applying her knowledge of processes and ore mineralogy to develop practical methods for optimising mineral processing operations. Specifically Cathy’s research focuses on developing models of mineral liberation and separation to allow concentrator throughput, recovery and environmental impact to be optimised as an integrated system.
Cathy is a metallurgist who brings over 30 years of experience in mineral processing to her research work at JKMRC. Since graduating in Mineral Technology from Imperial College, London, Cathy has worked as a metallurgist in a variety of roles at mines in South America and Australia. During her career at JKMRC Cathy has specialised in applying process mineralogy to solve industry problems, working as a consultant in JKTech’s MLA Group and as a mineral processing researcher at JKMRC. Cathy expanded her skill set by completing a PhD as part of the P843 geometallurgical modelling project before rejoining the AMIRA P9 mineral processing research project at JKMRC to lead the Mineral Characterisation research theme. Cathy is passionate about developing the next generation of mineral processing engineers and enjoys teaching applied mineralogy to undergraduate students and graduate engineers and supervising the PhD research programs of her postgraduate students.
Industry Engagement
Through her activities as a researcher in the AMIRA P9 project Cathy has been engaged in industry-focussed research for the major international mining companies throughout her career. Technology transfer has been an important aspect of her industry engagement and has seen Cathy provide training courses in process mineralogy to industry partners through face-to-face workshops and an interactive, online course.
Key Publications
Process Mineralogy - JKMRC Monograph No. 6, Becker, M., Wightman, E.M. and Evans, C.L. (editors), 2016. Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre.
| Featured projects | Duration |
|---|---|
| Geometallurgical technologies for mine waste |
Publications
Book Chapters
Bradshaw, Dee, Wilkie, Greg, Becker, Megan, Evans, Cathy and Lotter, Norman O. (2019). Ore liberation analysis. SME mineral processing and extractive metallurgy handbook. (pp. 69-88) edited by Robert C. Dunne, S. Komar Kawatra and Courtney A. Young. Englewood, CO, United States: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration.
Wightman, E. M., Evans, C.L., Becker, M. and Gu, Y. (2016). Automated scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry. Process mineralogy. (pp. 97-107) edited by Megan Becker, Elaine Wightman and Cathy Evans. Brisbane, Australia: Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre.
Evans, C. L. and Morrison, R. D. (2016). Mineral liberation. Process mineralogy. (pp. 219-233) edited by Megan Becker, Elaine Wightman and Cathy Evans. Brisbane, Australia: Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre.
Evans, Cathy (2015). Mineral liberation. Comminution handbook. (pp. 11-23) edited by Professor Alban J. Lynch. Carlton, Victoria: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Weedon, D.M., Napier-Munn, T. J. and Evans, C. L. (1990). Studies of mineral liberation performance in sulphide comminution circuits.. Sulphide deposits—their origin and processing. (pp. 135-154) edited by P. M. J. Gray, G. J. Bowyer, J. F. Castle, D. J. Vaughan and N. A. Warner. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. doi: 10.1007/978-94-009-0809-3_9
Journal Articles
John, Joseph, Evans, Cathy and Johnson, Bill (2023). Nitric acid treatment of a pyrite rougher concentrate to oxidise differentially the pyrite types and modify the Au:S ratio in a resulting cleaner concentrate. Minerals Engineering, 202 108270, 1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108270
Jefferson, Mayra, Yenial-Arslan, Unzile, Evans, Catherine, Curtis-Morar, Catherine, O'Donnell, Roxanne, Parbhakar-Fox, Anita and Forbes, Elizaveta (2023). Effect of pyrite textures and composition on flotation performance: a review. Minerals Engineering, 201 108234, 108234. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108234
Lois-Morales, Pia, Evans, Catherine and Weatherley, Dion (2023). Quantifying the relationship between particles' strength and their mineralogical and textural characteristics. Minerals Engineering, 199 108113, 1-17. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108113
Savinova, E., Evans, C., Lèbre, É., Stringer, M., Azadi, M. and Valenta, R.K. (2023). Will global cobalt supply meet demand? The geological, mineral processing, production and geographic risk profile of cobalt. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 190 106855, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106855
Morales, Pia Lois, Evans, Catherine and Weatherley, Dion (2022). Methodology for quantitative rock characterisation using multiple imaging systems and random particles generation. MethodsX, 9 101807, 1-15. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2022.101807
Lois-Morales, Pia, Evans, Catherine and Weatherley, Dion (2022). Analysis of the size–dependency of relevant mineralogical and textural characteristics to particles strength. Minerals Engineering, 184 107572, 107572. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107572
Nguyen, Anh, Tungpalan, Kate, Evans, Cathy, Manlapig, Emmy, Jackson, John, Nguyen, Khoi and Valenta, Rick (2021). A method for rapid estimation of processing behaviour based on ore texture. Minerals Engineering, 171 107111, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107111
Lois-Morales, Pia, Evans, Catherine and Weatherley, Dion (2021). Characterising tensile strength and elastic moduli of altered igneous rocks at comminution scale using the Short Impact Load Cell. Powder Technology, 388, 343-356. doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2021.04.091
Frausto, J.J., Ballantyne, G.R., Runge, K., Powell, M.S., Wightman, E.M., Evans, C.L., Gonzalez, P. and Gomez, S. (2021). The effect of screen versus cyclone classification on the mineral liberation properties of a polymetallic ore. Minerals Engineering, 169 106930, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2021.106930
John, Joseph, Evans, Cathy and Johnson, N. W. (2020). The influence of lime and sodium hydroxide conditioning on sulfide sulfur behaviour in pyrite flotation. Minerals Engineering, 151 106304, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106304
Lois-Morales, Pia, Evans, Catherine, Bonfils, Benjamin and Weatherley, Dion (2020). The impact load cell as a tool to link comminution properties to geomechanical properties of rocks. Minerals Engineering, 148 106210, 106210. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106210
Mariano, R. A. and Evans, C. L. (2018). The effect of breakage energies on the mineral liberation properties of ores. Minerals Engineering, 126, 184-193. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2018.06.029
Mariano, R. A., Evans, C. L. and Manlapig, E. (2016). Definition of random and non-random breakage in mineral liberation - a review. Minerals Engineering, 94, 51-60. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2016.05.005
Parker, Tamsyn, Shi, Feng N., Evans, Catherine L. and Powell, Malcolm (2015). The effects of electrical comminution on the mineral liberation and surface chemistry of a porphyry copper ore. Minerals Engineering, 82 4620, 101-106. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.03.019
Evans, C. L., Wightman, E. M. and Yuan, X. (2015). Quantifying mineral grain size distributions for process modelling using X-ray micro-tomography. Minerals Engineering, 82 4627, 78-83. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.03.026
Yildirim, Baris G., Bradshaw, Dee, Powell, Malcolm, Evans, Cathy and Clark, Alice (2014). Development of an effective and practical Process Alteration Index (PAI) for predicting metallurgical responses of Cu porphyries. Minerals Engineering, 69, 91-96. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2014.07.009
Mariano, Riza and Evans, Catherine L. (2014). Error analysis in ore particle composition distribution measurements. Minerals Engineering, 82 4668, 36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.06.001
Wightman, E. M. and Evans, C. L. (2013). Representing and interpreting the liberation spectrum in a processing context. Minerals Engineering, 61, 121-125. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2013.12.012
Evans, C. L. and Napier-Munn, T. J. (2013). Estimating error in measurements of mineral grain size distribution. Minerals Engineering, 52, 198-203. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2013.09.005
Evans, C. L., Wightman, E. M., Manlapig, E. V. and Coulter, B. L. (2011). Application of process mineralogy as a tool for sustainable processing. Minerals Engineering, 24 (12), 1242-1248. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2011.03.017
Conference Papers
Jefferson Montoya, Mayra, Yenial Arslan, Unzile, Evans, Cathy, Prabhakar-Fox, Anita, O’Donnell, Roxanne, Curtis-Morar, Catherine and Forbes, Liza (2023). Effect of Pyrite Textures and Composition on Flotation Performance. Flotation 2023 • V International Conference on Minerals Flotation, Lima, Peru, 6 - 8 Sep 2023.
Reyes, F., Barbosa, K., Evans, C., Jokovic, V. and Wilkie, G. (2022). Towards grade engineering using X-ray microtomography. IMPC Asia Pacific 2022, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-24 August 2022. Carlton, VIC Australia: Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Evans, Cathy and O'Donnell, Roxanne (2021). Back to basics – a practical approach to troubleshooting plant recovery/grade issues in the Mt Isa Copper Concentrator. Mill Operators Conference 2021, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 23-25 June 2021. Carlton, VIC, Australia: Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Avelar, E., Evans, C., Dunne, R., Runge, K. and Manlapig, E. (2021). The effect of pH and collector dosage on the flotation performance of arsenopyrite and pyrite. World Gold Hybrid Conference 2021, Muldersdrift, South Africa and Online, 16-17 August 2021. Johannesburg, South Africa: South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Lois-Morales, Pia, Barbosa, Karina, Evans, Catherine and Yahyaei, Mohsen (2020). A geometallurgical approach to comminution using primary breakage properties of ores. Procemin - GEOMET 2020, Santiago, Chile, 23-27 November 2020. Santiago, Chile: GECAMIN.
Demir, Konuray, Whiten, W. J., Morrison, Angus, Runge, Kym, Evans, Cathy and Kohmuench, J. (2019). Developing a semi-empirical model of the HydroFloat™ Cell: part 1: a hindered settling classification model. Flotation 2019, Cape Town, South Africa, 11-14 November 2019.
Tungpalan, Kate, Wightman, Elaine and Evans, Cathy (2019). Key ore textures influencing separation behaviour of ores. 15th SGA Biennial Meeting on Life with Ore Deposits on Earth, Glasgow, Scotland, 27-30 August 2019. Geneva, Switzerland: Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits (SGA).
Lotter, N. O., Evans, C. L. and Engstrom, K. (2018). Sampling - A key tool in modern process mineralogy. MEI Process Mineralogy Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, Mar, 2017. Oxford, United Kingdom: Pergamon Press. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2017.07.013
Wightman, E. M. and Evans, C. L. (2016). Developing and sustaining capability in process mineralogy. 28th International Mineral Processing Congress, IMPC 2016, Quebec City, Canada, 11-15 September 2016. Westmount, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
Andrusiewicz, M., Evans, C. L., Mariano, R., Morrison, R. D. and Wightman, E. M. (2016). A texture-based model of mineral liberation. IMPC 2016 - 28th International Mineral Processing Congress, Québec City, Canada, 11-15 September 2016. Québec City, Canada: Canadian Institute Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
Wightman, E. M. and Evans, C. L. (2016). Assessing mineralogical indicators for ore hardness. IMPC 2016 - 28th International Mineral Processing Congress, Quebec City, Canada, 11-15 September 2016. Quebec City, Canada: Canadian Institute Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
Wightman, Elaine M., Evans, Catherine L. and Tungpalan, Djoan (2014). Measurement and interpretation of textural features at meso-scale. 3rd International Symposium on Process Mineralogy (Process Mineralogy '14), Cape Town, South Africa, 17-19 November 2014. Minerals Engineering International.
Evans, Catherine L., Wightman, Elaine M. and Yuan, Xiaoli (2014). Quantifying mineral grain size distributions for process modelling. 3rd International Symposium on Process Mineralogy (Process Mineralogy '14), Cape Town, South Africa, 17-19 November 2014. Oxford, United Kingdom: Minerals Engineering International.
Edraki, M., Huynh, T., Baumgartl, T., Huang, L., Andrusiewicz, M., Tungpalan, K., Tayebi-Khorami, M., Wightman, E., Palaniandy, S., Manlapig, E., Evans, C., Farrokhpay, S., Bradshaw, D. and Vink, S. (2014). Designer tailings – an integrated model for tailings management. Life-of-Mine 2014, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 16-18 July 2014. Carlton, VIC, Australia: AUSIMM.
Edraki, Mansour, Huynh, Trang, Baumgartl, Thomas, Huang, Longbin, Andrusiewicz, Michal, Tungpalan, Kate, Tayebi-Khorami, Maedeh, Wightman, Elaine, Palaniandy, Sam, Manlapig, Emmanuel, Evans, Cathy, Farrokhpay, Saeed, Bradshaw, Dee and Vink, Sue (2014). Designer tailings: improving the management of tailings through collaborative research. AMD14: The Triennial 8th Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 29 April–2 May, 2014. Indooroopilly, QLD, Australia: JKTech.
Resabal, Vannie J., Manlapig, Emmanuel, Evans, Catherine L. and Wightman, Elaine M. (2014). A method using 2-D images of particles obtained from SEM-based image analysis system to model mineral liberation in regrind stirred mills. 3rd International Symposium on Process Mineralogy (Process Mineralogy '14), Cape Town, South Africa, 17-19 November 2014. Minerals Engineering International.
Evans, Catherine L., Andrusiewicz, Michal M., Wightman, Elaine M., Brennan, Matthew S., Morrison, Robert D. and Manlapig, Emmanuel (2013). Simulating concentrators from feed to final products using a multi-component methodology. 2013 SME Annual Meeting & Exhibit (SME 2013) and CMA 115th National Western Mining Conference, Denver, CO, United States, 24-27 February 2013. Littleton, CO, United States: Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.
Edraki, Mansour, Huynh, Trang, Baumgartl, Thomas, Huang, Longbin, Andrusiewicz, Michal, Tungpalan, Kate, Tayebi-Khorami, Maedeh, Wightman, Elaine, Palaniandy, Sam, Manlapig, Emmanuel, Evans, Cathy, Farrokhpay, Saeed, Bradshaw, Dee and Vink, Sue (2013). Designing mine tailings through collaborative research. enviromine2013: 3rd International Seminar on Environmental Issues in Mining, Santiago, Chile, 4-6 December, 2013. Santiago, Chile: Gecamin.
Bradshaw, D. J., Wightman, E. M., Evans, C. L. and Triffett, B. (2012). Characterising the reasons for the difference in performance of two ore blends in early processing at OZ Minerals Prominent Hill operation. 11th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2012, Hobart, Tasmania, 29-31 October 2012. Carlton, Victoria: AusIMM: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Evans, Catherine L., Wightman, Elaine M. and Yuan, Xiaoli (2012). Characterising ore micro-texture using x-ray micro-tomography. 44th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors, Ottawa, Canada, 17-19 January 2012. Montreal, Canada: Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum.
Evans, Catherine L. and Napier-Munn, Timothy J. (2012). Estimsting error in measurements of mineral grain size distribution. Process Mineralogy '12, Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 November 2012. Minerals Engineering International.
Wightman, Elaine M. and Evans, Catherine L. (2012). Representing and interpreting the liberation spectrum in a processing context. Process Mineralogy '12, Cape Town, South Africa, 7-9 November 2012. Minerals Engineering International.
Wightman, Elaine M., Evans, Catherine L. and Bradshaw, Dee J. (2011). Investigating the behaviour of secondary copper sulphide minerals at plant scale.. Flotation '11, Cape Town, S. A., November 14-17, 2011.
Wightman, Elaine M., Evans, Catherine L., Bradshaw, Dee J. and Manlapig, Emmanuel (2010). Predicting flotation response from liberation information. International Mineral Processing Congress 2010, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, 6-10 September, 2010. Carlton, VIC, Australia: Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
Evans, C. L., Coulter, B. L., Wightman, E. M. and Burrows, A. S. (2009). Improving energy efficiency across mineral processing and smelting operations - A new approach.. SDIMI 2009, Gold Coast, QLD, 6-8 July, 2009. Carlton, VIC: AusIMM.
Evans, C. L. and Wightman, E. M. (2009). Modelling liberation of comminuted particles. Preprint 09-088.. SME Annual Meeting, Denver, Colorado, 22-25 February 2009. Littleton, Colorado: SME.
Hunt, J. A., Berry, R., Walters, S., Bonnici, N., Kamenetsky, M., Nguyen, K. and Evans, C. L. (2008). A new look at mineral maps and the potential relationships of extracted data to mineral processing behaviours. ICAM Australia 2008, Brisbane, QLD, 8-10 September, 2008. Carlton, VIC: AusIMM.
Wightman, E.M., Evans, C. L., Vizcarra, T. and Sandoval, G. (2008). Process mineralogy as a tool in modelling mineral processing operations.. ICAM Australia 2008, Brisbane, QLD, 8-10 September, 2008. Carlton, VIC: AusIMM.
Creative Work
Savinova, Katerina and Evans, Cathy (2022). Hyperspectral Imaging Technology for Geological and Mining Applications: from mineral identification to texture analysis using hyperspectral imagery. The University of Queensland: SGA.
Research Report
Thesis
Catherine Evans (2010). Development of a methodology to estimate flotation separability from ore microtexture. PhD Thesis, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.