December 2024 newsletter
Welcome to our final newsletter for 2024.
The year started with the announcement of the Hub’s second tranche of funding for research projects being conducted by Hub partners, CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and ANSTO. All seven research projects are now well established and making excellent progress against the Hub’s quest to deliver step change and technical innovation needed to build Australia’s critical minerals industry and secure supply chains. This newsletter provides some updates on the great work being done by our Hub scientists on lithium metallisation, mineral by-products potential, high purity alumina and quartz. More information on all our projects is available on our website.
International engagement has been a particular focus over the past few months. In June the Hub received a $2.5 million grant to promote R&D cooperation with Australia’s strategic partners. That has allowed us to provide essential technical advice to support government-to-government engagement, with the Hub and science agencies joining Australia’s delegations to official dialogue meetings held in the margins of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney in October and EU Raw Materials Week in Brussels in December.
We have some exciting reports and initiatives planned to help promote international R&D cooperation, so please keep an eye out for details on our webpage and follow us on LinkedIn.
Lucy O’Connor
Manager, Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub
News
EU Raw Materials Week
The Hub’s International Engagement Manager Carla Gonzalez Zlatar and Hub partner Geoscience Australia’s Director Mineral Resources Advice and Promotion Allison Britt were at EU Raw Materials Week in December. They met with delegations from France and The Netherlands and participated in the Australia-EU inaugural strategic dialogue in Brussels under the Australia-EU partnership agreement signed in May.
Australian attitudes toward mining 2024
Hub partner CSIRO recently released one of the largest national surveys examining Australian attitudes to mining provides crucial insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and communities.
Engaging over 6,400 participants, the survey included a focus on critical and energy transition minerals to measure community sentiment regarding the mining industry’s role in renewable energy efforts.
Learn more.
ANSTO webinar
ANSTO’s Innovation Series webinar recently focused on Critical Minerals – Australia’s Path to a Sustainable Future with speakers:
• Dr Karin Soldenhoff, Principal Consultant, ANSTO
• Lucy O’Connor, Manager, Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub
• Wayne Dicinoski, General Manager – Technical, Australian Strategic Materials.
A recording of the webinar is available on our website.
Resources
Critical Mineral By-Product Potential
Researchers working on the Hub’s by-products project visited Nyrstar’s multi-metal smelter in Port Pirie, South Australia. By-products are strategically important and essential to a range of modern technologies but with small markets. The Hub’s research is helping to address these challenges and will provide insights into Australia’s supply chain potential.
Learn more.
Downstream with lithium
The Hub is developing the intellectual property and knowhow needed to help downstream industries produce high purity metals and materials. One of those metals is lithium.
Learn more.
High Purity Alumina
The Hub is investigating new pathways to produce High Purity Alumina. Using alternative feedstocks, researchers are developing new, lower-energy techniques with a reduced environmental impact.
Learn more.
About the Hub
We have a new presentation pack that steps out our vision and strategy, our partnership and priorities.
The presentation is available on our website.
Features
Quiet achievers: Ga and Ge
Among Australia’s unsung critical minerals are gallium and germanium. While small in volume, Australia’s hidden treasures hold big potential for the global critical minerals market.
Learn more.
Quartz: A mineral with hidden potential
Quartz, known for its beautiful crystal appearance, might seem be best known as a gemstone or decorative item. But did you know that it is actually one of the most versatile minerals we use?
Learn more.
