Mining and Geology

Geology, industry experience and the Global Change Scholars Program – a conversation with Rocío Vargas Soto

Published on: 28 September 2020

Technical expertise and academic rigour will be key to developing sustainable solutions to the minerals industry’s challenges and at the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) we have found both those things in PhD Student Rocío Vargas Soto.

Metallurgy, Geometallurgy and artisanal small-scale mining - a conversation with Dr Kate Tungpalan

Published on: 5 June 2020

In 2017 Dr Kate Tungpalan was selected as the Minerals Engineering Journal Editor’s “Rising Star” and it isn’t difficult to understand why. We sat down with Kate, who is now a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the BRC, to talk through the details of her dynamic career.

SMI Professional Development goes international with new online courses

Published on: 11 May 2020

Mining industry professionals from around the world will now have access to a range of online professional development courses developed and delivered by subject matter experts at The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI).

Geology, sustainability and academia - a conversation with Jennifer Gunter

Published on: 21 April 2020

Earlier this year, Jennifer Gunter joined the Sustainable Minerals Institute’s (SMI) WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC) as a Senior Research Fellow, the latest position in a mining-heavy career which has taken her around the world. With a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Geology from UQ, a Masters in Environmental Engineering Management (University of Technology, Sydney) and hands-on experience from grassroots bush camps to large complex mining operations, Jennifer’s career certainly reflects SMI’s commitment to applied, multidisciplinary research.

The XX Effect: Securing Australia’s health and economy

Seminar

The University of Queensland is hosting an International Women’s Day 2020 breakfast featuring our inspiring UQ staff and alumnae who are leading the charge to ensure a diverse collective of voices shape the future of health and environmental sciences globally.

SMI researchers help unlock Queensland’s rare earth elements

Published on: 10 February 2020

What do wind turbines, electric cars, mobile phones, night vision goggles, and the fantastic sound of your tiny portable speaker all have in common? They all rely on rare earth elements (REE) in their manufacture.

Coral discovery equips researchers with new environmental monitoring method

Published on: 21 October 2019

A rare element discovered in Great Barrier Reef coral skeletons will help scientists understand the environmental history of nearby regions.

UQ study shows global supply of metals won’t meet demand without industry change

Published on: 4 October 2019

University of Queensland researchers have highlighted the effects environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks will have on the global supply of metals without major innovations in the mining industry.

Dealing with mine waste – a conversation with Dr Anita Parbhakar-Fox

Published on: 7 May 2019

Geoscientist Dr Anita Parbhakar-Fox joined the team at SMI’s W.H Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre (BRC) in February 2019. We asked Anita what she thought were some of the key issues for the mining industry in dealing with mine waste and how the work of SMI could help find solutions.

Advancing cave mining to meet future needs

Published on: 8 March 2019

The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) and Mining3 have joined forces with Newcrest Mining, Vale, OZ Minerals, BHP Billiton and PT Merdeka Copper Gold to develop Cave Mining 2040.
The international consortium will collaborate on projects aimed at developing new and improved cave mining methods that could help meet future demand for minerals.