Unlocking the value in critical minerals resources
As the world moves to renewable energy and electrified transport, demand for critical metals is ever increasing.
For over 50 years, ANSTO has delivered innovative technologies and expertise to the critical and strategic minerals industry.
Our team of engineers, metallurgists, mineralogists, chemists and scientists, have a proven track record in Australia and internationally of providing practical solutions that deliver measurable financial and environmental benefits for our clients.
What are critical minerals?
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Australia’s critical mineral opportunity
We need critical minerals to make the critical technologies modern economies rely on. Australia is home to some of the largest recoverable critical minerals deposits on earth. This includes:
- high-quality cobalt
- lithium
- manganese
- rare earth elements
- tungsten
- vanadium.
Our ethically sourced and high-quality critical minerals are helping the world modernise and decarbonise.
How could ANSTO help?
Accelerate project success and reduce risk
ANSTO offers a comprehensive range of process development services, including pilot and demonstration plant construction and operation, consultancy services and technical reviews. We lead the world in expertise for processing critical and strategic metals such as uranium, rare earths, scandium, lithium, zirconium, niobium and hafnium.
Our specialist services includes:
Process development support
Pilot and demonstration plant design
Construction and operation
Consultancy services and technical review
How we add value
Capabilities
- Process development - laboratory to continuous piloting
- 24/7 continuous pilot plant operation
- Desktop assessment - new and existing processes
- Operational support - and on-site improvement programs
Expertise
Processing of critical and strategic minerals including:
- uranium, rare earths, lithium, vanadium, zirconium/hafnium/niobium, nickel/cobalt, graphite
Controlling and managing radioactivity in pyro- and hydrometallurgical circuits
The design and development of novel flowsheets for challenging ores and multi-commodity resources with complex mineralogy
Transferal of process development outcomes to operations
Facilities
- Mineralogy – QEMSCAN / XRD / TEM
- XRF, ICP, LECO, ISE, TGA-DSC, DNA and NAA
- α, β and γ spectrometry
- Autoclave, column and cyanide leaching
- IX, RIP and multi-stage SX equipment
- Nanofiltration / membrane equipment – lab and pilot scale
- Directly and indirectly heated rotary kilns – up to 100 kg/h
- Multi-tank circuits, thickeners and filters (pressure and vacuum)
- Process modelling including IX and SX design / operation models
- ARPANSA and ASNO licensed to handle radioactive materials
Trusted technology developer
By integrating seamlessly with your operations, we ensure that the innovative solutions developed by our team are rapidly and effectively implemented. We directly support critical and strategic minerals project developers in Australia and internationally, through all stages of exploration to bankable feasibility. We continually strive to accelerate our client’s project development, reduce risk and unlock greater value
Benefits of working with ANSTO
Trusted and independent government expertise
Government and industry connections
Access to world-class science and research infrastructure
We provide practical solutions and innovative technologies in ways that deliver financial and environmental benefits,
no matter what stage of the journey you’re at.
