RESEARCH THEME

Circular economy and waste

Research programs and groups

Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH): research group in the WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre

Resourcing Decarbonisation: Strategic Program focused on addressing supply issues and what innovations can be used responsibly.

Global Centre for Mineral Security: research, education, technical assistance, and capacity building on the sufficient and affordable access by all people to the minerals necessary for human development.

Complex Orebodies: research program addressing the complex challenges of modern sustainable mining - this program of work finished in 2022 when Resourcing Decarbonisation was established

Ecological Engineering of Mine Wastes: research group in the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation

Ecosystem Assessment, Restoration and Resilience: research group in the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation

Highlight Projects

Finding alternative sources of sand – mine tailings: Investigating whether unused mining residues can be transformed into a viable and sustainable substitute aggregate material for the construction industry.

Geometallurgical technologies for mine waste: Improving methodologies for predicting the behaviour of future mine wastes.

See news and impact

How Ore-sand might be used as an alternative construction material

Published on: 3 October 2024

Sand is one of the most mined materials on the planet and a critical part of most modern construction. Research underway at UQ is investigating whether a new type of sand made from unused materials at mine sites could be a more sustainable alternative

But what if we could use a new type of sand made from unused materials at mining sites to create a more sustainable alternative?
University alliance to help build a sustainable critical minerals industry for Queensland

Published on: 20 September 2024

A new partnership between the Queensland Government and UQ's Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) will help unlock the potential of the state’s burgeoning critical minerals industry.
Researchers drill down on mine waste monitoring using drones and sensors

Published on: 11 September 2024

University of Queensland researchers are developing new ways to monitor mine waste using drones and ground sensors to improve safety and land rehabilitation across mine sites.
Prestigious fellowship to help researchers improve the resilience of rehabilitated ecosystems

Published on: 7 May 2024

Sustainable Minerals Institute researcher Dr Fang You will use super-powered microbes to overcome a fundamental hurdle facing mine waste rehabilitation after being awarded a 2023 Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship.
The future of mine waste management envisioned at inaugural symposium

Published on: 15 February 2024

Professionals and researchers from around Australia considered a future with ‘net zero’ mine waste during the inaugural Australian Mine Waste Symposium at The University of Queensland.
Tackling the challenges of mine waste

Published on: 1 December 2023

University of Queensland (UQ) researchers have been awarded over $500,000 in government funding to develop eco-engineering technology capable of creating useful soil from the tailings derived from a range of minerals.