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Short- and long-term mitigation strategies for acid and metalliferous drainage control from iron ore mine wastes. Acid and metalliferous drainage from mine wastes, caused by oxidation of sulfide minerals, particularly pyrite, are a critical environmental issue worldwide. Although options to retard sulfide oxidation exist, including encapsulation methods, chemical additives and inhibition of iron-oxidising bacteria, these suffer from long-term instability. The project aims to investigate mechanis ....Short- and long-term mitigation strategies for acid and metalliferous drainage control from iron ore mine wastes. Acid and metalliferous drainage from mine wastes, caused by oxidation of sulfide minerals, particularly pyrite, are a critical environmental issue worldwide. Although options to retard sulfide oxidation exist, including encapsulation methods, chemical additives and inhibition of iron-oxidising bacteria, these suffer from long-term instability. The project aims to investigate mechanistic approaches, using readily available mineralogical materials, to provide passivating conditions resulting in slowed oxidation rates. The project’s focus is on treatments for wastes from iron ore deposits which are of high economic significance to Australia. The outcome aims to be a treatment ‘pathway’ enabling practical waste rock treatment over the acid forming time-profile.Read moreRead less
Long-term acid rock and tailings drainage mitigation through source control. Effective long-term management of acid rock drainage (ARD) from sulfidic mine wastes in current, exhausted and legacy mine sites is of critical importance to communities and for sustainable mining. An optimised geochemical and microbial multi-barrier approach to long-term reduction of ARD to environmentally acceptable rates will be developed by this project.
Enhanced recovery and concentration of cenospheres from fly ash. The purpose of this project is to investigate the recovery of valuable particles, referred to as cenospheres, from the fly ash waste of coal fired power stations. An understanding of the complex gravitational settling behaviour of fly ash suspensions in inclined channels will lead to a new technology for recovering and concentrating the particles.
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
In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemi ....In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. In situ remediation in mine site rehabilitation. By enhancing and guiding abiotic and biotic processes of soil development, this project aims to accelerate the in situ remediation of bauxite residue (alumina refining tailings). Over 7 gigatonnes of tailings are produced globally every year, comprising complex mineral assemblages at extremes of pH and salinity with minimal biological activity. This project will build detailed knowledge on the chemical, physical, and biological properties of bauxite residue and apply this to develop field-scale in situ remediation strategies. This research will also advance understanding of soil development and primary succession of microbial communities in extreme, anthropogenic environments such as those presented by tailings.Read moreRead less
Micromechanic modelling and analysis of the dynamics of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This project aims to develop advanced theories and mathematical models to describe the packing and flow of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This will be achieved through a combined theoretical and experimental program, involving the use of advanced discrete particle simulation and detailed analysis of packing/flow structures, particle-particle and particle-fluid interactions a ....Micromechanic modelling and analysis of the dynamics of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This project aims to develop advanced theories and mathematical models to describe the packing and flow of non-spherical particles coupled with fluid flow. This will be achieved through a combined theoretical and experimental program, involving the use of advanced discrete particle simulation and detailed analysis of packing/flow structures, particle-particle and particle-fluid interactions at a particle scale. Research outcomes including theories, computer models and simulation techniques will be applied to representative industrial operations of importance to Australia's economic and technological future.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania. A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania:
This proposal aims to replace an existing 12-year old conventional electron microprobe with a state-of-the art field emission electron microprobe instrument capable of in-situ, low-level, quantitative non-destructive chemical analysis, and mapping of element distribution and texture at sub-micron resolution. This would establish new research strengths in the fi ....A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania. A state-of-the-art field emission electron microprobe for Tasmania:
This proposal aims to replace an existing 12-year old conventional electron microprobe with a state-of-the art field emission electron microprobe instrument capable of in-situ, low-level, quantitative non-destructive chemical analysis, and mapping of element distribution and texture at sub-micron resolution. This would establish new research strengths in the field of earth and materials science. In particular, it may improve efficiencies of discovery and recovery of ore deposits and develop environmentally friendly processes for waste disposal. Read moreRead less
Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently a ....Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently are not commercially viable due to their high impurity levels and low iron contents. The project aims to help expand the mining potential of the currently unviable iron ore deposits and enable industry to maintain the economic benefits from iron ore production in the years to come.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.