How to work with us
Our team combines expertise in mineral systems analysis, indicator minerals, fertility indicators, ore system characterization, prospectivity analysis and more. Here are a few examples of ways to engage with us and project types. The best way to learn about funding and research opportunities, is to contact us!
Some examples of how to work with us:
- One-on-one projects (research/consulting)
- Long term industry focused projects
- Large multi-sponsor projects
- Secondments
- Long Term academic collaborations
One-on-one projects (research/consulting)
One-on-one project are easy to set-up and can vary in size and length in function of the research question that is being addressed.
There are also a number of co-funding opportunities available for medium to small companies:
Available co-funding opportunities:
- CSIRO Kick-Start is an initiative for innovative Australian start-ups and small small and medium-sized enterprises, providing funding support and access to CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.
- Example of a recent project using this funding scheme: A recent project carried out by Margaux Le Vaillant and Steve Barnes assisted Moho Resources to improve their exploration methods for komatiite-hosted nickel sulfide and allowed a better prospectivity analysis of their Silver Swan North site. The project aimed to investigate the prospectivity of the Silver Swan North site for magmatic nickel mineralisation by understanding and comparing the stratigraphy of the Silver Swan North location with the nearby Silver Swan and Black Swan, where large amounts of disseminated sulphides had already been discovered. Further, the project allowed for testing of portable X-ray florescence (XRF) technology as an initial tool for lithogeochemical classification and prospectivity analysis. The information garnered by the collaborative work between CSIRO and Moho Resources allowed a better understanding of the geology of the system and its prospectivity. It also provided Moho Resources with appropriate exploration tools and prospectivity indicators to use in their exploration campaigns. Finally, a very strong correlation between portable XRF and lab-assayed results for most of the major elements and selected traces was demonstrated, and real time data collection with pXRF will be further applied in guiding nickel sulphide exploration on Moho Resources’ adjacent tenements and adapted to their exploration further afield.
“Moho was very impressed by the professionalism and expertise of the researchers and technological advantages of partnering with CSIRO. The Company strongly believes in the benefits of utilising advancements in technology and R & D research to augment existing skills to assist in boosting our business’ success.” Adrian Larking, Director, Moho Resources.
Long term industry focused projects
Example: A Study of the Nova-Bollinger Ni-Cu-Co deposit
A three year project, funded by IGO, employing a full time postdoctoral fellow (Valentina Taranovic) was completed in early 2020, investigating the petrology, geochemistry, mineralogy and emplacement history of the Nova-Bollinger Ni-Cu-Co deposit in the Albany Fraser Orogen. Some of the findings are discussed in the following video-
Large multi-sponsor projects
Many large multi-sponsored projects are facilitated by Minerals Research Institute Of Western Australia (MRIWA) or organisations such as Amira
Secondments
The CSIRO Switch Program is our new secondment and mobility program. This program provides a critical pathway to supporting and improving engagement and collaboration between CSIRO and local/international industry, government and research partners. It helps:
- Build strategic collaborative relationships
- Create new business and project leads
- Assist with developing a deeper understanding of customer and industry needs
- Help improve collaboration readiness of industry
Secondments can go both ways, with either one of CSIRO’s staff being seconded into the industry or someone from the industry being secondment within CSIRO.
If you are interested in secondments, please contact us.
A recent example is Margaux Le Vaillant’s secondment within BHP’s Technical Centre of Excellence and Legacy Assets.
“Margaux was our first secondment from CSIRO in the centre and she integrated very well with the teams. Commodity experience was an essential part of her input and specifically her very high calibre knowledge of the processes which form a nickel sulphide system. Her prior experience in applied academic research in a variety of nickel deposits allowed her to frame and articulate a solution to the work she was asked to complete for us. Her work definitely impacted our thinking and we would certainly consider taking advantage of the SWITCH program again for the right individual.” Campbell McCuaig – Head of Geoscience Excellence at BHP Technical Centre of Excellence and Legacy Assets.
Long Term academic collaborations
Steve Barnes and Margaux Le Vaillant hold adjunct positions with the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) at the University of Western Australia (UWA) and are involved in supervising graduate student projects (PhD and MSc).
Ongoing international collaborations with academic colleagues in Australia and overseas include work on the Bushveld Complex, the Munali Ni deposit Zambia and the Albany Fraser Orogen.
An example of a successful long-term academic collaboration is the study of the largest Ni-Cu-PGE resources in the world which is summarised in the video below: