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Media Release

April 6, 2005

Australia’s first mini pilot plant for minerals processing research

Minerals processing at South Australia's biggest minerals production site, WMC Resources' Olympic Dam

Research in Australia’s minerals processing industry is set to take on a new level of sophistication with a unique state-of-the-art mini pilot plant being established at the University of South Australia.

A joint initiative led by UniSA’s Ian Wark Research Institute, the $1 million plant is being funded by the University, industry and the Premier’s Science and Research Fund.

The mini pilot plant will provide The Wark™ with an exceptional research tool to be used by the minerals processing industry, as well as a broad range of other industry sectors including energy, soil remediation, plastics recycling and food and pharmaceutical processing, according to Professor John Ralston, Director of The Wark™.

“It will enable The Wark™ to more efficiently test and evaluate new separation processes on a wide range of mineral ore types at significantly lower cost than a full-scale pilot plant, with less energy use and with very small sample sizes.

“A unique development for Australia, due to its extremely small scale, the plant will allow a degree of control and flexibility that is impossible to achieve with conventional pilot plants,” Professor Ralston said.

The concentration of minerals by flotation is a key technology in minerals processing and The Wark™ is a recognised world leader in mineral flotation research and technology. Industry partners in the project, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton and WMC Resources, have all identified flotation as central to their business and have been actively involved with The Wark™ in mineral flotation research. The South Australian Chamber of Mines and Energy is also supporting the project.

The pilot plant will have the potential to not only monitor but, most significantly, to closely control the chemical and physical conditions in flotation to effect optimal separations on a continuous basis. Mining companies will be able to assess potential processing options at the pre-feasibility stage of a mine site development, minimising the risks of expensive metallurgical errors and wasted energy as the mine develops, and therefore also minimising environmental impacts.

Having the mini pilot plant at The Wark™ will place South Australia at the forefront of flotation research in the nation, increasing the likelihood of breakthrough technology in the mineral processing industry.

“We will have the opportunity to play a leading role in the growth of value-added and export orientated processing of minerals utilising world-best facilities, equipment and people within Australia,” Professor Ralston said.

And in a further boost to The Wark™, Professor Ralston, who is Professor of Physical Chemistry and Minerals Processing, has been named as one of 16 of Australia’s leading scientists to be elected to the Australian Academy of Science. Election to the Academy recognises a career that has significantly advanced and continues to advance the world’s scientific knowledge.

Professor Ralston’s scientific contributions cover specialty areas of physical chemistry, colloid and surface chemistry including mineral flotation processes, surface chemistry of metal sulphides and the static and dynamic wetting behaviour of solid surfaces. He established the Ian Wark Research Institute, which is now known worldwide for its fundamental research in interfaces.

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