The path towards a viable critical minerals industry sector is being laid in Townsville today.

The Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer, a collaboration between James Cook University, the University of Queensland and Curtin University, is presenting a showcase and stakeholder forum.

Main image: Tailings Storage Facility, Mount Isa Mines

It’ll include presentations from government, peak industry bodies and industry professionals including Cobalt Blue Holdings acquisition manager Dr Helen Degeling.

Dr Degeling will address the process of releasing sulphur from mine waste. Cobalt Blue’s process refines sulphur into an inert prill format from pyrite feedstock.

Related: Industrial waste project yields vanadium success

Queensland operations used 1.23Mt of sulphuric acid last year with 1Mt coming from the Mount Isa copper smelter via the Incitec Pivot acid plant, 450kt from the Sun Metals refinery in Townsville and 330kt imported from Canada.

Dr Degeling’s presentation shows demand from all operating, probable and possible projects is north of 4Mt/yr.

Additional demand would come from new phosphate and vanadium mines, among others, Dr Degeling said.

There were multiple pyrite feedstocks in North West Queensland, she said.

The Trailblazer is part of the Australian Government’s Department of Education Trailblazer Universities Program.

The Trailblazer Universities Program aims to build new research capabilities and commercialisation opportunities in the resources and critical minerals sector across Australia.

It’s designed to build new research capabilities and commercialisation opportunities in the resources and critical minerals sector.

The event is being held at Rydges Southbank.