Unlocking Critical Metals from Australian Sediments and Ores

Highly-weathered soils (i.e., laterites) of Australia contain economic quantities of nickel (Ni) but current technologies to extract this metal are inefficient, leaving this vital resource underdeveloped. This proposal aims to explore the recrystallisation of Ni-bearing minerals in laterites to understand how Ni may be extracted from stable mineral phases under ambient conditions. Stable isotope tracers and 3D atomic-scale tomography will be used to resolve the recrystallisation mechanisms, determine the role of these processes in natural environments and their applicability to natural ores. Expected outcomes include new strategies to process Ni-rich laterites, which is of high interest to industry and society in Australia and abroad.