Unlocking critical metals from Australian sediments and ores

该项目旨在探索红土中含镍矿物的重结晶，以便在环境条件下从稳定的矿物相中提取镍。高度风化的澳大利亚土壤含有经济数量的镍，但提取这种金属的技术效率低下，使这种至关重要的资源得不到开发。该项目将使用稳定的同位素示踪剂和三维原子尺度断层扫描来解析重结晶机制，并确定它们在自然环境中的作用以及它们对天然矿石的适用性。预期结果包括加工富镍红土的战略，这是澳大利亚和海外行业和社会高度关注的。该项目将证明需要推广新的解决方案，以降低加工自然资源的财务和环境成本。

This project aims to explore the recrystallization of nickel-bearing minerals in laterites to extract nickel from stable mineral phases under ambient conditions. Highly-weathered Australian soils contain economic quantities of nickel but technologies to extract this metal are inefficient, leaving this vital resource underdeveloped. This project will use stable isotope tracers and three-dimensional atomic-scale tomography to resolve the recrystallization mechanisms, and determine their role in natural environments and their applicability to natural ores. Expected outcomes include strategies to process nickel-rich laterites, of high interest to industry and society in Australia and abroad.This project will exemplify the need to promote novel solutions to reduce the financial and environmental cost of processing natural resources.