Controlling density, viscosity and crystallisation in emulsion explosives to enhance safety and efficiency of blasting operations. The performance of emulsion explosives used throughout the mining industry can be severely compromised by the effects of shear arising from pumping and detonation shock waves. Understanding how shear affects droplet coalescence and crystallisation is critical in differential energy blasting, where emulsion density and composition vary widely along the bore hole. This ....Controlling density, viscosity and crystallisation in emulsion explosives to enhance safety and efficiency of blasting operations. The performance of emulsion explosives used throughout the mining industry can be severely compromised by the effects of shear arising from pumping and detonation shock waves. Understanding how shear affects droplet coalescence and crystallisation is critical in differential energy blasting, where emulsion density and composition vary widely along the bore hole. This project aims to contribute to the understanding of the effects of shear, and develop new methods and additives to stabilise droplets and bubbles over a wide range of compositions and conditions. The goal of this project is to improve the efficiency and safety of rock-blasting operations, reduce environmental impact, and reduce operating costs, giving the Australian mining industry a competitive edge.Read moreRead less
Inhibition of Spontaneous Detonations of Explosive Emulsions in Hot and Reactive grounds. Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific is a major supplier of explosive services to the coal, iron ore and gold-mining industries. Many mines in Australia and overseas are in hot and reactive ground, where eliminating the risk of spontaneous detonation is a considerable addition to operating costs. The Company and the University will collaborate to significantly improve our capacity to evaluate ground for reactivity and t ....Inhibition of Spontaneous Detonations of Explosive Emulsions in Hot and Reactive grounds. Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific is a major supplier of explosive services to the coal, iron ore and gold-mining industries. Many mines in Australia and overseas are in hot and reactive ground, where eliminating the risk of spontaneous detonation is a considerable addition to operating costs. The Company and the University will collaborate to significantly improve our capacity to evaluate ground for reactivity and to formulate new inhibited emulsion explosives for use in hot and reactive ground. This will lead to much more flexible, cost-effective mining operations, by understanding the key parameters for the safe ‘sleep time’ of on-site explosives. This should result in greater export competitiveness and rural employment opportunities. Read moreRead less
Solution and surface speciation evolution during chalcopyrite leaching. This project will contribute to the development of a more effective industrial leach process for chalcopyrite, the source of more than 50 per cent of the world's copper, and will lead to substantially reduced processing costs and environmental impact, due to removal of the existing smelting step. In addition, the processing of currently uneconomic low grade ores would become economic.
Particle-stabilised bubble and droplet interfaces. Small particles may replace or supplement detergents in a broad range of applications. This project will provide the fundamental knowledge to optimise the use of particles to stabilise foams and emulsions in a controlled manner. This will transform economically important processes in the mining, food science or personal care industries.
Collection of coarse, composite particles by bubbles in flotation. The minerals industry is of great importance to the Australian economy and flotation is an essential process for the separation of base metals, non-sulphide minerals, and coal. Community benefits will come through lower energy and water consumption in mineral processing. The industry partners will benefit also through increased process efficiencies including increased recovery and lower costs, as well as an exposure to unique m ....Collection of coarse, composite particles by bubbles in flotation. The minerals industry is of great importance to the Australian economy and flotation is an essential process for the separation of base metals, non-sulphide minerals, and coal. Community benefits will come through lower energy and water consumption in mineral processing. The industry partners will benefit also through increased process efficiencies including increased recovery and lower costs, as well as an exposure to unique methodologies that will maintain their technological edge, and the potential to significantly increase their profitability by optimising their mineral processing operations. This project will contribute to the maintenance of a critical mass of research infrastructure at the partner organisations.Read moreRead less
Improving the processing of low quality iron ores by the modification of particle interactions. This project is aimed at modifying particle interactions to selectively stabilise or destabilise minerals during grinding and subsequent separation of low quality iron ores. The project will lead to improving grinding energy efficiency, increasing iron mineral production and reducing the impact of iron ore tailings on health and environment.
The microbe factory: a novel approach to benign minerals processing. The purpose of this project is to reduce the environmental impact of current mining practices. The anticipated outcome of this project is the replacement of toxic chemicals used in the separation of minerals with the novel use of environmentally benign microbes.
Emulsion explosives for rock blasting in extreme geothermal environments. This project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms behind the physical and chemical breakdown of ammonium nitrate based emulsion explosives used for mining in geothermally active regions. It will apply this knowledge to develop a new class of high temperature- and pressure- resistant emulsion explosives. The resulting technology will be used in the safe and efficient mining of precious mineral deposits, such as gold ....Emulsion explosives for rock blasting in extreme geothermal environments. This project aims to understand the underlying mechanisms behind the physical and chemical breakdown of ammonium nitrate based emulsion explosives used for mining in geothermally active regions. It will apply this knowledge to develop a new class of high temperature- and pressure- resistant emulsion explosives. The resulting technology will be used in the safe and efficient mining of precious mineral deposits, such as gold, in geothermally active regions worldwide. The project will benefit the Australian mining industry by allowing mining of resources at deep levels, creating more jobs and increasing Australia's export earnings.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Scanning auger microscope facility for elemental imaging and characterisation of surfaces and interfaces. This project will establish a scanning auger microprobe facility as part of the Australian microscopy and microanalysis research facility. It will provide advanced characterisation and ultra-high resolution imaging of elemental species on surfaces, for researchers working in the areas of nano- and green technologies, and minerals processing.
Engineering the sulphidising reactions for flotation of low quality ores. Engineering the sulphidising reactions for flotation of low quality ores. This project aims to engineer sulphidisation reactions to enhance the flotation of low quality ores for the minerals industry. Sulphidisation uses flotation to enrich base metal and precious minerals from low quality ores containing oxides and oxidised sulphides before expensive leaching or smelting. However, the current sulphidisation method is neit ....Engineering the sulphidising reactions for flotation of low quality ores. Engineering the sulphidising reactions for flotation of low quality ores. This project aims to engineer sulphidisation reactions to enhance the flotation of low quality ores for the minerals industry. Sulphidisation uses flotation to enrich base metal and precious minerals from low quality ores containing oxides and oxidised sulphides before expensive leaching or smelting. However, the current sulphidisation method is neither efficient nor widely used. This project will tailor sulphidisation reactions to generate desirable surface products that are not sensitive to flotation conditions. The intended outcome of this project is to provide a step change value in processing low quality resources while minimising the environmental effects of stockpiles.Read moreRead less