Research Program
Cost-effective ways to remove non-target metals from copper concentrates will increase the industry's economic and environmental sustainability.Prof Stephen Grano, Hub Director
A hand-picked team of research and industry scientists, engineers and regulators have come together to increase the sustainability of copper production from 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 - and the world's - iron oxide-copper-gold-uranium (IOCG-U) resources.
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Our aims
The ARC Research Hub for 最新糖心Vlogn Copper-Uranium aims to transform South 最新糖心Vlog's copper industry. Globally significant deposits at Olympic Dam, Prominent Hill, Wirrda Well, Carrapateena (and potentially other parts of 最新糖心Vlog) will benefit from the Hub's work.
Our key aims are to:
- Find new ways to remove non-target metals from copper concentrates, which should be able to form a substantial portion of a typical global pool smelter feed.
- Ensure the new methods are scalable, cost-effective and robust enough to be suitable for operating plant conditions.
- Leverage emerging developments in highly sensitive radiation sensor technology by transferring technologies to the mining and mining services sectors.
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The challenge
The minerals in South 最新糖心Vlog's copper-uranium deposits present as very fine intergrowths, making it difficult to achieve high purity copper concentrates for market.
Hub researchers will use their knowledge of the complex distribution of such minerals to develop a cost effective process to reject non-target metals. Read more about our research programs below.
Hub nodes
Node 1. Understanding the minerals
Understanding non-target metals in copper-uranium ore and concentrates, in particular how and where those metals move.
Node 2. Analysing the rocks
Developing new scanning technology to locate and quantify non-target metals, including in real-time.
Node 3. Removing non-target metals
Identifying and demonstrating new approaches to the separation of non-target elements from complex copper-uranium ores.
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Our partners
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