Funded Projects

Dr Yang Liu, Associate Professor Ioan Sanislav

Anglo American Exploration (Australia) Pty Limited
Mount ISa MInes Limited, South32 Group Operations Pty Ltd

This project will enable the mineral industry to have access to fast and efficient mineral chemistry acquisition for usage in exploration on a commercially competitive basis. This service will be provided through the Advanced Analytical Centre housed at James Cook University.

The aim of this project is to automate mineral chemistry acquisition by EPMA and LA-ICPMS in order to reduce instrument time and cost.

Dr Thaneshan Sapanathan

JFE Steel

This project aims to develop a first of its kind mini flow loop and demonstrate its value as a corrosion testing platform to enable further applied research in the field of carbon capture and storage/transportation supported by industry funding from JFE Steel.

Steel that has been tested under more realistic conditions offers enhanced protection against corrosion. This novel platform technology would offer steel companies a superior method of testing their steel to protect their clients from corrosion impact.

Associate Professor Elsayed Oraby

Draslovka’s Mining and Process Solutions

Traditional copper extraction uses energy-intensive smelting and acid leaching, causing pollution and high costs. Glycine leaching offers a safer, sustainable alternative.

Investigate oxidation and leaching kinetics of copper in glycine solutions. Optimise recovery, reduce reagent use, and evaluate the economic and environmental impacts versus conventional methods.

Associate Professor Masood Mostofi

DARC develops automated drilling tech, including smart fluids and systems to monitor and control fluid properties. The team automates drill control, reporting, and remote monitoring.

Automation of exploration drilling processes will improve – safety through hazardous work elimination, ESG performance through reduced land impact, and overall efficiency and productivity of operations.

Associate Professor Tejas Bhatelia, Biao Sun, Milin Shah, Vendi Yadri

Woodside Energy

This project aims to develop high-capacity thermal energy storage (TES) System using 3D printed triply periodic minimal surface shapes and phase change material tested by laboratory experiments for its thermal energy storage capacity.

An efficient, compact, and scalable TES system for high-temperature applications.

Dr Roohollah Shirani Faradonbeh, Professor Erkan Topal, Masoud Samaei

Flanders Electric

Development of a drill rig path optimisation system for autonomous mine production drilling, continuously optimising routes in real-time based on defined constraints and dynamic conditions.

Increased autonomy in drilling operations, reduced travel time, and fewer human intervention requirements.

Associate Professor Tejas Bhatelia, Milin Shah, Mohammad Shakir

Woodside Energy

Reforming is a catalytic process that can convert CO2, CH4 and H2O into synthesis gas (a mixture of CO and H2). Conventional reactors require great amounts of energy to produce the high temperatures required for this process. This project aims to develop an e-reactor with a newly developed catalyst formulation to replace the current industrial standard.

The developed technology has the potential to overcome the shortcomings of conventional fired heat reactors, reducing the capital and operational costs required. Paving a way for the use of renewable energy in the production of synthesis gas can be easily upgraded to other value-added hydrocarbons, with the potential for the process to be full carbon neutral.

Dr. Alex McCoy-West, Dr. Bithin Data, Dr. Mahmood Sadat, Dr. Helen McCoy-West, Associate Professor Ioan Sanislav

Anglo American Exploration, Mount Isa Mines Limited

Recently there has been a surge in interest in the utilisation of groundwater to undertake exploration for the unique isotopic fingerprint of weathering ore bodies, especially for Cu a critical element for the green energy transition, as it presents a sustainable and cheaper alternative to extensive underground drilling campaigns.

The outcome of this project will be a set of methodologies and instrumental techniques for ground water analyses for mineral exploration.

Professor Craig Buckley, Associate Professor Mark Paskevicius, Dr Mauricio Di Lorenzo, Dr Terry Humphries, Dr Jacob Martin

Cadoux Limited

Looking at candidate materials for manufacturing hydrogen barriers for pipelines and storage tank transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Potential for new hydrogen storage and transport technologies, supporting investment in Australian hydrogen capabilities.

Professor Jacques Eksteen, Dr Jane Beh, Associate Professor Richard Alorro

RSC, MRIWA, Narryer Metals Limited, Dreadnought Resources Ltd, Terrain Minerals LTD and Pluto Resources.

Currently no economically viable methods of extracting rare earth elements (REEs) from non-ionic, clay-hosted REE deposits exist. This project aims to develop new methods of extracting REEs from these deposits with ESG considerations at the forefront.

To develop a pathway to market for the development of environmentally sustainable REE extraction techniques and provide an understanding of the long-term production potential to secure a reliable supply of REEs in WA.

Associate Professor Laurence Dyer

Capacity-building project to develop a future-facing high-temperature metallurgy research facility at Kalgoorlie.

Development of sustainable methods for downstream critical mineral extraction and metal production. The project will also help grow a skilled workforce in these areas.

Professor Elsayed Oraby

Draslovka’s Mining Process Solutions

Establishing an Australian-first research team consisting of Draslovka’s MPS engineers, a lead professor, research staff, and students to address technical challenges for industrial adoption of glycine leaching technology.

Establishing a dedicated research team to co-develop technologies that will revolutionise the metal extraction process whilst building on the long-term collaborative relationship between Curtin and MPS.

Taryn Scharf, Professor Chris Kirkland

Timescales of Mineral Systems Group

Further the development of a method to extract geological information from the physical properties of mineral grains. The project has been developed as a software solution with a well-designed front-end and advanced Machine Learning techniques.

The new solution is anticipated to improve minerals tracing and reduce uncertainty in geological interpretations. AnalyZr is an on-going research project that holds potential for minerals exploration.

Professor Ernesto Villaescusa
Dr Nadia Bustos

IGO, Goldfields, Evolution Mining, Geobrugg,
Mining3, Ambrose Mining

Investigation of Aluminium Silicate Non-Expanding Clay (KalClay) as a partial substitute for cement in several mining applications.

A reduction in cement costs and CO2 emissions ranging from 25 to 40%. The project aims to develop industrial applications with intellectual property on mix formulation optimisation.

Amelia Corzo-Remigio, Mandana Shaygan, Mansour Edraki

Evolution Mining

The aim is to develop a novel time- and cost-effective process for scaling up the rehabilitation of tailings and mine waste, using a combination of a novel hybrid soil cover system and resilient species of plants referred to herein as ‘superplants.’

All mine residue, across the globe, requires the reestablishment of soil and vegetation covers. Some sites have adopted a preferred cover design based on models that are not always validated by field trials. Our scale-up approach aims to minimise the risk of cover failures by incorporating superplants into a live cover system, therefore de-risking the progressive rehabilitation and closure plans.

Dr Jiayi Tang, Professor Zongping Shao

Woodside Energy

Continued optimisation and scaling of novel green hydrogen electrolysis method using vapour to produce 99.999% pure hydrogen at improved electrical efficiency and performance over current technologies. The method also co-produces pure water and opportunities for critical mineral recovery from seawater.

Helping to create the future of Australia’s energy industry through cost competitive green hydrogen.

Professor Mohsen Yahyaei

JK Tech

This project commercialises UQ’s small-scale (~200 kg/h) processing circuit, enabling mining companies to prototype innovative flowsheets for new economy minerals. It supports low-energy, low-emission extraction methods and helps de-risk processes critical to the energy transition, filling a gap in industry testing capabilities.

As rising metal demand and declining grades drive up energy use, emissions, and tailings, this innovation supports profitability while enhancing ESG performance. Mining companies can test flowsheets faster and earlier in project development, reducing processing footprints and improving sustainability.

Associate Professor Bogale Tadesse, Dr Lisha Dong, Dr Brad Schwehr

Critica Limited

Development of a novel hydrometallurgical flowsheet for extracting tin, boron, and other critical metals from borates. The plan includes mineral characterisation, bench, and pilot-scale testing to facilitate industrial adoption.

Increasing value and reducing waste in multi-commodity critical mineral deposits.

Dr.Lauren Waszek, Dr. Helen McCoy-West, Dr. Alex McCoy-West, Associate Professor Ioan Sanislav

Anglo American Exploration, Mount Isa Mines Limited

Currently, there is limited knowledge on the specific geophysical responses of mineralised ore bodies. By combining geological and petrophysical data, we can work on creating a model for the geophysical response of ore bodies. This will develop advanced geophysical tools that can help exploration companies distinguish between barren and mineralised anomalies, enhancing the accuracy of mineral discovery.

The outcome of this project will be a database of petrophysical properties and a series of algorithms and methodologies to model the geophysical response of ore bodies.

Associate Professor James Vaughan; Dr Hong Peng; Dr Ummul Sultana

This project aims to demonstrate novel percrystallisation technology in a scaled-up pilot reactor which can be operated continuously for extended periods of time, derisking technology commercialisation.

The demonstration of percrystallisation is a step towards commercialisation of this new processing technology which is significantly more productive than conventional evaporative crystallisation. There are exciting opportunities to deploy the technology for zero-liquid discharge applications and in production of metal salts, relevant to the processing of critical minerals into valuable metal products.

Professor Elsayed Oraby, Dr Arash Arami-Niya, Dr Nirmala Ilankoon; Prof Jacques Eksteen

Sakura Ferroalloy, CPC Engineering

Innovative methods for sustainable production of manganese from primary and secondary sources. Manganese is a key component of lithium-ion and alkaline batteries.

Streamlining manganese production to create battery-grade chemicals with reduced energy consumption. Pilot plant to convert waste into materials essential for the electric vehicle and battery industries.

Dr Hong Peng, Professor John Zhu

Gallium Qld, K2HPA Pty Ltd

Test a new method of making high purity alumina (needed in advanced electronics and batteries) using cheap and abundant clay minerals rather than rarer aluminium ores.

The project aims to develop the means to produce HPA from abundant and easily mined kaolin as opposed to rarer and more valuable bauxite.

Dr Jason Fogg, Dr Jacob Martin, Associate Professor Nigel Marks

RapidGraphite technology offers cost-effective, low-carbon synthetic graphite production using overlooked feedstocks for the battery industry. One of Curtin’s new protoventures being developed by the Curtin Venture Studio.

Cost-competitive synthetic graphite production in Australia, supporting the green energy transition.

Professor Katy Evans, Associate Professor Bogale Tadesse

Critica Limited

Achieving economic concentration of rare earth elements from previously unexploited mineralogies and optimising downstream recovery.

Increasing Australia’s sovereign supply of rare-earth elements to fuel growth of the green energy sector.

Associate Professor Nigel Marks; Professor Paolo Raiteri; Professor Julian Gale; Associate Professor Ian Davieas

Sandvik Coromant

Developing computational tools to design cobalt-free alternatives for tungsten carbide-cobalt composites, predicting properties for industrial use.

Creation of a digital design framework for alloy composites that can be commercialised across industries.

Professor Brett Harris 

IGO, EMIT, Moombarriga Geoscience

Augmentation and development of subsurface sensing technologies to accelerate mineral discovery and improved mining efficiency.

Subsurface properties recovered from electromagnetic and seismic data demonstrate upgrades in efficiencies may be achieved through new co-acquisition systems. Analysis demonstrates pathways to new commercial outcomes for the critical minerals sector.

Professor Katy Evans, Dr Louisa Stokes

Empire Metals

Study of the distribution and morphology of titanium-bearing phases and the relationship between Ti-grade and host lithology.

Improved predictive exploration models to enhance ore targeting and mitigate risk.

Professor Charlie Ironside, Professor Mervyn Lynch, Professor Craig Buckley, Dr Jacob Martin, Andrew Lockwood, Associate Professor Mark Paskevicius, Dr Mauricio Di Lorenzo

Xcalibur Smart Mapping

Developing an optical instrument for wide area scanning to detect natural and fugitive hydrogen emissions that is capable of rapid response to very low concentrations of hydrogen at long-range and operated from an airborne platform.

Enabling the future hydrogen industry through enhanced exploration techniques and protection of infrastructure through instant detection of leaks.

Associate Professor Tejas Bhatelia, Dr Biao Sun

SpiroPak is a novel 3D-printed structured packing which can be used in chemical processing industries including carbon capture and hydrocarbon processing offering increased process efficiency and reduced energy use, allowing smaller, less energy-intensive processing plants, or the ability to easily de-bottleneck plants which are running at capacity. 

An operating pilot facility in India, generating data which can support SpiroPak’s business case.
A detailed and validated business plan which will facilitate external investment into a SpiroPak company.

CoRE Learning Foundation

Collaborating with industry and schools to develop STEM educational pathways from primary to tertiary levels in the Pilbara, supporting local workforce development.

Expanded STEM education opportunities for Pilbara students, fostering a skilled local workforce for the resource sector.

Associate Professor James Vaughan, Dr Hong Peng, James Gudgeon, Albert Mueller

QEM

A process for recycling vanadium from spent sulphuric acid plant catalyst was developed and piloted at laboratory scale. 100g of high purity V205 was produced from the spent catalyst. The next stage of the project will be to further optimise the process, test different catalyst feed, and demonstrate all steps at a larger scale.

This will inform technical-economic analysis and design of a pilot plant. With Australia categorising Vanadium as a Critical Mineral and currently not having any domestic production yet, this project could be the first to domestically produce Vanadium until the larger mines are in production. This early source of Vanadium would help establish a battery manufacturing industry and attract foreign companies to bring their technology to Australia.

Associate Professor Elsayed Oraby

Draslovka’s Mining and Process Solutions

Gold extraction via traditional cyanidation faces increasing scrutiny due to environmental concerns. The use of glycine in conjunction with cyanide is a promising alternative to reduce cyanide consumption while maintaining high gold recoveries.

Gold tailings samples will be tested by the GlyCatTM process to provide key parameters to maximize gold recovery and minimize reagent use.