Episode 6: Metals for the Future

Join us for system-scale thinking in geoscience and a view of a more sustainable world from magmatic -sulfide sources of PGEs and Ni to innovative mineral processing work and technology metals.

Steve Barnes (CSIRO) has spent a career working on magmatic sulfide deposits, leading him to some big thinking over multiple length and time scales.  He talks about how his ideas were formed by key individuals and circumstances and where the multi-scale system thinking might lead us in studying other geological processes.  We also talk to Steve about the supply of PGEs and what might affect the market in the future, from the impact of lower grade deposits to co-production of other base metals.

Our second story centres on the one hundred-year old process used to extract metals from sulfides – froth flotation.  Kathryn Hadler from Imperial College London introduces the key concepts and then poses some important questions about what the next steps are in mineral processing.  How can we address the issues of what mineral processing needs to look like in 30 or 40 years, and not just the immediate challenges? 

Thinking about the future leads to a wide ranging discussion with Frances Wall, Professor at the Cambourne School of Mines - from the definition of critical metals to the more descriptive technology metals, sourcing REEs from carbonatites, life cycle assessment and how it all can come together in the circular economy, if geoscientists are involved.

For Steve Barnes lecture - check out the Ore Deposits Hub:  oredepositshub.com

Technology Metals for a Green Future can be found on:  futurelearn.com

Theme music is Confluence by East Winds. www.eastwindsmusic.com