Partnership targets HPA recovery from mine waste

A new Queensland partnership is targeting eco-friendly ways to recover High Purity Alumina (HPA) from mine waste. The State Government has joined with Lava Blue, the Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland for the three-year initiative. HPA is used in the production of sapphire glass for LEDs and in lithium-ion batteries – critical components for energy efficiency and in renewable energy systems. The partnership will allow Lava Blue and research partner Queensland University of Technology to access the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute’s database of mine waste sites and work with the Geological Survey of Queensland on ways to recover HPA from waste. Lava Blue and QUT will test their mineral processing methods at their jointly operated Centre for Predictive Research into Specialty Materials demonstration plant in Redlands. Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the work would help grow Queensland’s critical minerals sector and contribute to the renewable energy transition. Resources Minister Scott Stewart with Lava Blue managing director Michael McCann and Capalaba MP Don Brown. “Demand for critical minerals like High Purity Alumina is increasing exponentially as the world moves towards decarbonisation,” Mr Stewart said. “Together our Queensland Critical Minerals Strategy and the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan will work hand in glove with the Energy and Jobs Plan to help get these minerals out of the ground to build the solar panels, wind farms, electric vehicles and batteries we need for the future.” Lava Blue managing director Michael McCann said the initiative confirmed the value of the company's investments in science and in the development of its lab in Redlands. "Building on the extensive research already completed by the Sustainable Minerals Institute, we will work with the Queensland Government to create targeted test work programs on mine waste sources," he said. “The agreement with the Queensland Government is an important step for Lava Blue as it continues to develop sustainable mineral recovery solutions and move towards substantial investments in value adding to Queensland minerals before they leave our shores.” The project is part of the government’s Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan. This encourages new exploration, re-investigation of old mines and probing the geological information government holds already to foster new discoveries, projects and jobs.

Partnership targets HPA recovery from mine waste

Industry Queensland

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