Research Focus

Understanding ore. Improving processing decisions.

Geometallurgy | Advanced Ore Characterization | Breakage | Predictive Modelling | Decision Support

My research focuses on understanding how the mineralogical, textural and mechanical characteristics of ores influence their behaviour during mineral processing, and how this knowledge can support more efficient and sustainable resource utilisation.

My work combines experimental characterisation, quantitative analysis and predictive modelling to investigate ore variability across scales, from intact rock and individual particles to processing systems.

Research Expertise

Scientific Foundations

Ore characterisation and process mineralogy: Quantifying mineralogy, texture and rock properties using multiscale imaging and analytical methods.

Comminution and particle behaviour: Investigating relationships between ore characteristics, strength, fracture and breakage behaviour.

Quantitative methods and predictive tools: Developing and applying image analysis, XCT, statistical methods and machine learning to characterise ores and predict relevant material responses.

Current Research Direction

Decision-Centred Geometallurgy

My current research builds on these foundations by integrating geometallurgical information into mining and processing decisions. Through the Jim Askew Evolution Industry Research Fellowship at The University of Queensland, I am investigating how ore characteristics and processing responses can be connected across scales, how uncertainty influences prediction, and how geometallurgical information can be used and evaluated in operational contexts.

Key research questions

What information is needed to characterise and predict processing responses at the scale required for a particular decision?
How can predictions and uncertainties be translated across blocks, parcels, blends and processing feed?
How can predictions be reconciled with operational observations and their decision value evaluated?

Selected Research Projects as PI

Guide to sustainable technologies for mineral processing (2025-2026)

A collaborative initiative to identify and assess emerging technologies for sustainable mineral processing in Chile. The project examines technological trends, innovation opportunities and knowledge gaps, aiming to support the dissemination and adoption of technologies that improve sustainability and resource efficiency in the Chilean mining industry.

Automated Short Impact Load Cell @ University of Chile

Fondecyt 11220631: Linking geotechnical and geological properties at the microscale to characterise the comminution potential of ore (2022-2025)

Research investigating the influence of mineralogical, textural and mechanical characteristics on particle breakage behaviour. The project combined advanced ore characterisation, small-scale mechanical testing and numerical approaches to explore relationships between rock properties, particle strength, fracture behaviour and energy requirements for breakage, contributing to the development of mineralogical and textural proxies for comminution.

Liberation & Breakage

UI-013/21: Use of advanced characterisation information for fracture modelling at microscale (2022-2024)

Research investigating the use of advanced mineralogical and textural characterisation to understand mineral liberation during comminution. The project contributed evidence supporting the relationship between ore characteristics, particle breakage and liberation behaviour, extending the application of quantitative characterisation methods towards liberation modelling.

EXCITE: 3D particle tracking for liberation modelling (2024)

A collaborative research project exploring image-based particle reconstruction and tracking approaches to investigate the relationships between ore texture, particle generation and mineral liberation. The research examined computational methods for representing particle populations and their mineralogical characteristics, with potential applications in liberation modelling and comminution studies.

New Testing Conditions & Equipment

Semi-quantitative estimation of optimal operational conditions for plant operation at small-scale mining (2023)

Applied research investigating approaches to improve the efficiency of small-scale mineral processing operations. The project explored the use of laboratory grinding tests and pulp chemistry measurements to characterise processing conditions and identify operational parameters relevant to resource utilisation and process performance.

Rolls crusher development at JKMRC (2020-2021)

Contributed to the experimental design, testing methodology, validation and data analysis of a rolls crusher device developed for rapid single-particle breakage characterisation. The project investigated opportunities for reducing sample mass and testing requirements compared with conventional comminution characterisation methods.

Other Research Experience:

Additional experience includes geometallurgical sampling and testing, geometallurgical domaining, comminution and flotation surveys, throughput modelling and digital transformation initiatives for the mining industry. Selected contributions include the Prominent Hill throughput model update and geometallurgical campaign proposal (Project Leader, 2019), Mount Isa comminution and flotation survey (2018), and geometallurgical data integration and domaining studies (2015–2016).

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