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Research at Murdoch University has already saved the mining industry millions of dollars in ore processing costs. And that amount is set to increase.
 Now, more Murdoch research will enable gold miners to use a simple spectrometer to monitor the amount of arsenic they need to use in extracting gold -- thereby saving significant costs in this effective, but expensive, gold refining process.
Recently-appointed Murdoch BankWest Fellow, Dr Kathryn Hindmarsh, is developing the online technique which provides an accurate reading of the amount of free cyanide available in the extraction process.
"A quick reading of the spectrometer will enable operators to monitor the amount of cyanide needed at any time, and prevent waste," she said.
"It works by reacting solution from the leach tanks with colloidal gold, and the amount of reaction which occurs is related to the cyanide concentration.
"It's simple to use and will provide a very cost-effective way of controlling the use of this very expensive ingredient."
Dr Hindmarsh was appointed to the Fellowship position under the BankWest Research Fellowship project to assist in furthering research into hydrometallurgy in Western Australia.
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| "The current challenges facing the gold industry make it imperative for minerals processing to be as efficient as possible." |
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Her practical, applied research focuses on new methods to control the cyanidation process for extracting gold. Success in this work could bring significant savings to the WA gold industry in terms of reduced operating costs.
Dr Hindmarsh is conducting her research under the tutelage of Murdoch's world-renowned Professor of Mineral Science, Dr Mike Nicol. Their work provides a strong boost to the University's excellent credentials in minerals processing and confirms Murdoch's national leadership in the quest to extract minerals more cheaply from their ores.
Murdoch has been assisted in this work through a most productive partnership with BankWest, which has sponsored the project through the 1997 BankWest Centenary Grant to enable this research to be undertaken.
"The current challenges facing the gold industry make it imperative for minerals processing to be as efficient as possible," Dr Hindmarsh said.
"Murdoch already makes a significant contribution through its association with the AJ Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Hydrometallurgy, whose directorate is based at the University, and our work in mineral science."
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