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Issue 25: January 2022

Science for impact

Welcome back 

Happy New Year from CSIRO, Australia's national science agency.

In 2022 we look forward to sharing more stories from our mineral resources researchers and R&D industry partners.

We are always happy to hear your feedback and help you find more information on any stories or topics we feature.

We hope you enjoy this issue!

Leader's comment

Team CSIRO delivering impact for the minerals industry

The Australian resources sector is well positioned to support the push to 'build back better' out of the pandemic world and to help drive major global megatrends such as the energy transition and ongoing disruption from technological advances where minerals are critical. ROB HOUGH writes

Water security

How science is boosting Australia's water security

Scientists and researchers from across CSIRO are developing innovative projects to bank water for future needs. JANE NICHOLLS reports

Mineralogy

Minerals that matter

Behind all successful mining operations is a deep understanding of a deposit's mineralogy — not only the valuable minerals, but also the valueless or 'gangue' minerals. One of the main reasons that new mining projects fail is geometallurgical problems and therefore ongoing mineral characterisation is critical during life-of-mine, writes IAIN COPP

Carbon capture and storage

Developing best practice monitoring methods for offshore carbon sequestration

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) in rocks of the offshore continental margins is an exciting and rapidly expanding area of opportunity. A recent CSIRO project focused on developing robust measurement and monitoring approaches to provide assurance of subsurface CO2 storage. RUTH DAWKINS reports

You might have missed...

CSIRO's moon-in-a-room

Director of CSIRO's Space Program, Dr Kimberley Clayfield (who may have Australia's coolest job) says that this month's launch of CSIRO's moon-regolith testbed marks a welcome expansion to our national space facilities. FRAN MOLLOY explores

Robots to the rescue

There's been a leak of radioactive gas inside a nuclear power plant, a rockfall that has trapped cavers exploring a new complex, a flood which has cut off workers in a subway system – who are you going to send? TIM THWAITES writes

New CSIRO team looks beyond the horizon of sensors

Autonomous sensors are the bridge that connects the physical and digital worlds. A new team of CSIRO researchers are working on the next generation of sensor technologies needed to unlock digital innovations that allow us to rapidly understand and predict the world around us. TIMOTHY CONNELL reports

Using microbes to mine metals from e-waste

Whether it’s rare earths used in new renewable power and energy storage technologies, certain metals are critical in the transition to a high-tech, low carbon economy. Biomining could help Australia reclaim some of these. MARY-LOU CONSIDINE explores

Upcoming international conference

Call for abstracts

Word Mining Congress 2023

For the first time in its history, the World Mining Congress is coming to Australia. Mark your calendars for destination Brisbane in 2023. Submit an abstract and showcase your work before 1 March 2022 deadline.

WMC 2023