Mining and critical minerals
Efficient extraction of minerals is key to the mining industry’s future, and we’re exploring how to maximise our mineral resources towards a low-carbon tomorrow.
Areas of focus
- Critical mineral processing
- Hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy
- Process modelling and simulation
- Effective treatment and management of water resources
- Zero-waste processing methods
- Environmental impact of mining and social licence to operate
Impacts and outcomes
- Invention of patent family leading to commercialised outcomes and industrial uptake
- Construction and operation of Australia’s first NCM (nickel, cobalt, manganese) cathode precursor pilot plant
- Innovations in process sensors, alkaline pre-oxidation, and benign leach and metal recovery for precious and base metals, platinum group metals and critical minerals
- Consideration of alternate perspectives on water, waste and energy by partner organisations
Research groups, facilities and institutes
![Metallurgical Engineering Team](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/mjrh-mteng-masthead-aspect-ratio-1-1-3.jpg)
Metallurgical Engineering Team
![Critical Minerals, Metals & Materials in the Energy Transition (C3MET)](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/mjrp-minen-masthead-aspect-ratio-1-1.jpg)
Critical Minerals, Metals & Materials in the Energy Transition (C3MET)
Collaborations and partnerships
![ARC Centre for Excellence for the Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/ARC_COE_logo.jpg)
ARC Centre for Excellence for the Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
![City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/CKB-Logo-Thumbnail-e1694147237539.jpg)
City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
![Copper for Tomorrow CRC flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/COPPER_LOGO_HORZ_V1-e1693898943692.jpg)
Copper for Tomorrow CRC
![Critical Minerals and Resources Technology Trailblazer flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/Moving-beyond-mining-e1694142005208.jpg)
Critical Minerals and Resources Technology Trailblazer
![Future Battery Industries CRC flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/Logo-Resizing-1-e1694142057208.png)
Future Battery Industries CRC
![Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/GEDC_logo.jpg)
Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission
![Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition (HILT) CRC flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/HILT_CRC_Logo_OG-e1693892707390.png)
Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition (HILT) CRC
![High Value-Added Manufacturing from Polymetallic Critical Minerals (CRC-P) flag](https://s37430.pcdn.co/ciet/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2023/09/funding-1.png)