Electrifying mining fleets slashes emissions, cuts costs and unlocks safer, high‑performance operations—driving Australia’s next wave of mining competitiveness.
Recently-completed project M10412 provides new insights into the fundamental controls on high-grade gold ore systems.
The Challenge As Australia and the world work towards a net zero emissions future, the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy will require an extraordinary amount of critical minerals.…
The CTMTDS operated from 2019 to 2025 as a collaborative initiative between Curtin University, the University of Western Australia, and key industry and research partners – including MRIWA.
Algae-based technologies may deliver sustainable post‑mining futures through mine water treatment, carbon sequestration, rehabilitation, and circular bioeconomy opportunities.
The Challenge There is a lack of mineralogical composition data for mine tailings in Western Australia. Proposed Solution This project aims to classify mine tailings based on mineralogical composition and…
The Challenge Western Australia’s mining industry faces two major challenges in pursuing rare earth element (REE)-rich and niobium (Nb)-rich carbonatites: a lack of effective, industry-ready characterisation workflows and limited understanding…
The Challenge For every tonne of lithium carbonate produced, approximately 9–10 tonnes of residue, delithiated beta spodumene (DBS), are generated posing significant environmental challenges. Recent studies have shown that DBS contains amorphous aluminosilicate phases and can therefore be…
The Challenge Mining generates Australia’s largest waste stream (~620 Mt/yr), dominated by tailings that pose long‑term environmental, social and cost burdens. Lithium production adds ~9–10 t slag per tonne of lithium carbonate,…
The Challenge Western Australia’s critical minerals offer major economic opportunity, but unconventional rare earth element (REE) deposits and knowledge gaps around rare earth mobility and mineral hosts threaten exploration success.…
The project part‑funded by MRIWA, advanced new electrolyte chemistries and production pathways for vanadium redox flow batteries.
The project delivered energy‑efficient, cost‑effective lithium processing innovations that improve yields, reduce environmental impact and strengthen Australia’s battery‑grade lithium capability.
