Rehabilitation strategies for metalliferous mine wastes using native metallophytes from Pb-Zn-Ag gossans, northwest Queensland. The global area covered with mine waste is in the order of 100 million hectares containing several 100,000 million tonnes of mine wastes. The long-term sustainable rehabilitation of metal mine sites is inhibited by our lack of knowledge of metal resistance and uptake by Australian native plants. This project will evaluate metallophytes naturally growing on metal-rich so ....Rehabilitation strategies for metalliferous mine wastes using native metallophytes from Pb-Zn-Ag gossans, northwest Queensland. The global area covered with mine waste is in the order of 100 million hectares containing several 100,000 million tonnes of mine wastes. The long-term sustainable rehabilitation of metal mine sites is inhibited by our lack of knowledge of metal resistance and uptake by Australian native plants. This project will evaluate metallophytes naturally growing on metal-rich soils, northwest Queensland, for their capabilities and revegetation potential when grown in mine wastes of the Cannington Ag-Pb-Zn mine. Outcomes will include practical, innovative methods of mine site rehabilitation that are low-cost and environmentally-friendly.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in estuaries. The aim of this project is to understand and quantify the factors controlling the emission of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from estuaries. Coastal systems play a disproportionately large role in the global emissions of greenhouse gases, but this is poorly quantified. The project plans to use a combination of continuous concentration and stable isotope measurements, process measurements and advanced numerical modelling ....Unravelling the drivers of greenhouse gas emissions in estuaries. The aim of this project is to understand and quantify the factors controlling the emission of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide from estuaries. Coastal systems play a disproportionately large role in the global emissions of greenhouse gases, but this is poorly quantified. The project plans to use a combination of continuous concentration and stable isotope measurements, process measurements and advanced numerical modelling across a range of undisturbed to disturbed systems. It is intended that this project will provide information for conceptualising, calibrating and verifying models, including green-house gas production. Good models, and the data that support them, such as that provided by this study, are critical for the efficient allocation of management resources in Australian coastal systems, including by our partners. The findings from this project will have direct implications to the management, rehabilitation and protection of waterways (including biodiversity) in Australia.Read moreRead less
The importance of sediment denitrification in the nitrogen budget of the inshore wet tropics section of the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a World Heritage Area that has significant ecological, economical and social values for the Australian (world) community. Nutrient over-enrichment (eutrophication) associated with runoff from adjacent catchments is a major threat to the GBR. This study will quantify what proportion of the terrestrial nitrogen load delivered to the ....The importance of sediment denitrification in the nitrogen budget of the inshore wet tropics section of the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is a World Heritage Area that has significant ecological, economical and social values for the Australian (world) community. Nutrient over-enrichment (eutrophication) associated with runoff from adjacent catchments is a major threat to the GBR. This study will quantify what proportion of the terrestrial nitrogen load delivered to the inshore wet tropics section of the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon is removed through sediment denitrification. Critical information for understanding the process of eutrophication in the GBR Lagoon that will be used by our Industry Partner in the management, rehabilitation and protection of the GBR.Read moreRead less
Environmental controls over Fe availability and transport in a forested coastal catchment. Iron is one of a number of elements that are mobilised in catchments, have recognised detrimental impacts to marine settings and are known to be nutrients for toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Knowledge of controls over distribution of Fe is important in catchment management and for sustainable forestry. The total catchment approach will result in an understanding of release and transport of Fe, and other heav ....Environmental controls over Fe availability and transport in a forested coastal catchment. Iron is one of a number of elements that are mobilised in catchments, have recognised detrimental impacts to marine settings and are known to be nutrients for toxic cyanobacteria blooms. Knowledge of controls over distribution of Fe is important in catchment management and for sustainable forestry. The total catchment approach will result in an understanding of release and transport of Fe, and other heavy metals. The outcomes of the study will enable useful comparison to coastal plantations elsewhere in Australia, and overseas. Determination of the relationship to rainfall and hydrological processes will enhance these comparisons plus consideration of climatic change.
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Bioleaching of copper in tropical systems. This project is focussed on bioleaching of chalcopyrite, to recover copper from currently sub-economic low-grade ore. Conventional mining processes are too energy intensive to economically extract copper from low-grade ores. However, these waste ores are still subject to natural, bacterial leaching causing environmental harm. Enhancing this natural process by removing key limitations in bacterial colonisation of metal sulfides aims to enhance bioleachin ....Bioleaching of copper in tropical systems. This project is focussed on bioleaching of chalcopyrite, to recover copper from currently sub-economic low-grade ore. Conventional mining processes are too energy intensive to economically extract copper from low-grade ores. However, these waste ores are still subject to natural, bacterial leaching causing environmental harm. Enhancing this natural process by removing key limitations in bacterial colonisation of metal sulfides aims to enhance bioleaching of low-grade ores creating a win-win scenario, reducing environmental harm while extracting value from these currently uneconomic materials.Read moreRead less
Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten t ....Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. Eco-engineering soil from mine tailings for native plant rehabilitation. This project aims to develop integrated and low-cost eco-engineering technology to purposefully accelerate in-situ formation of soil from tailings for sustainable native plant community rehabilitation at metal mines. Soil shortages at mines cost the Australian mining industry billions of dollars in sustainable rehabilitation of tailings, and threaten the industry’s ecological and commercial sustainability. Building on recent findings of critical processes in soil formation from copper/lead–zinc tailings, this research will use key biogeochemical and rhizosphere processes in the tailing-soil to create a functional 'technosol'. This technology is intended to be used in Australian metal mines to offset the soil needed to rehabilitate tailings landforms with native plant communities.Read moreRead less
Mineral Physics and Crystal Chemistry of Ni-Co-Laterite Deposits. Ni-Co laterite deposits host more than 50% of the mineable Ni-Co resources on the planet. Australia and Australian mining companies have been major producers of Ni and Co in the past. To continue to play a significant role in the exploration, production, and environmentally sound remediation of Ni-Co laterite mining sites, Australian mining companies must increase their understanding of the mineralogy of Ni-Co-deposits. This res ....Mineral Physics and Crystal Chemistry of Ni-Co-Laterite Deposits. Ni-Co laterite deposits host more than 50% of the mineable Ni-Co resources on the planet. Australia and Australian mining companies have been major producers of Ni and Co in the past. To continue to play a significant role in the exploration, production, and environmentally sound remediation of Ni-Co laterite mining sites, Australian mining companies must increase their understanding of the mineralogy of Ni-Co-deposits. This research program proposes strategic micro-analytical and synchrotron-based research on the fundamental physical properties and crystal chemistry of Ni-Co-laterite minerals from selected deposits in Australia and around the globe.Read moreRead less
Towards Next Generation Anthelmintics. The agricultural industry is in urgent need of new, safe and cost effective treatments for parasite infections in commercial livestock (sheep, cattle, goats). The current multi billion dollar agrochemical industry provides only three classes of antiparasitic drug, all of which are >25 yrs old and are largely ineffective due to the widespread resistance. This project will advance the development of a new class of antiparasitic treatment, improving outcomes f ....Towards Next Generation Anthelmintics. The agricultural industry is in urgent need of new, safe and cost effective treatments for parasite infections in commercial livestock (sheep, cattle, goats). The current multi billion dollar agrochemical industry provides only three classes of antiparasitic drug, all of which are >25 yrs old and are largely ineffective due to the widespread resistance. This project will advance the development of a new class of antiparasitic treatment, improving outcomes for Australian farmers by reducing reliance on expensive ineffective agrochemical imports, reducing chemical load on the environment, improving pastures and increasing yields. In short, improved livestock health will lead to more sustainable and productive farming, and a stronger economy.Read moreRead less
Polymetallic phytoextraction applied to mine waste. Phytoextraction involves the use of hyperaccumulator plants to grow and concentrate a metal. Subsequently, the crop is harvested and the metal extracted. The aim of this research is to investigate the uptake and chemically induced uptake of heavy metals (Ni, Co, Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Pt, Pd, Cr) by plants grown on mine tailings and mine waste materials. Outcomes will include practical methods of metal extraction that are cheap to employ where met ....Polymetallic phytoextraction applied to mine waste. Phytoextraction involves the use of hyperaccumulator plants to grow and concentrate a metal. Subsequently, the crop is harvested and the metal extracted. The aim of this research is to investigate the uptake and chemically induced uptake of heavy metals (Ni, Co, Au, Ag, Cu, Pb, Zn, Pt, Pd, Cr) by plants grown on mine tailings and mine waste materials. Outcomes will include practical methods of metal extraction that are cheap to employ where metal concentrations are subeconomic and of potential environmental impact during mining and after mine closure.Read moreRead less
Development of Effective Bentonite Adsorbents for Colour Removal from Wastewater and Process Streams. This project aims to develop cost-effective adsorbents from natural bentonite clay for the removal of colour organics in water and other process streams. A new method for modifying the clays will be developed and investigated systematically. Adsorption of various dyes onto clay-based adsorbents will be examined to obtain a better understanding of the adsorption equilibrium and kinetics. The proj ....Development of Effective Bentonite Adsorbents for Colour Removal from Wastewater and Process Streams. This project aims to develop cost-effective adsorbents from natural bentonite clay for the removal of colour organics in water and other process streams. A new method for modifying the clays will be developed and investigated systematically. Adsorption of various dyes onto clay-based adsorbents will be examined to obtain a better understanding of the adsorption equilibrium and kinetics. The project will study the effects of various parameters to optimise the processing conditions for maximum removal efficiency. The project contributes to the mineral industry in value-adding and will also lead to cost-effective processes for water pollution control.Read moreRead less