
Minerals for our Future
ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals
COEMinerals is making mineral recovery more efficient, more effective and as a result much more sustainable
The world needs new, more efficient ways to recover minerals. That’s where we come in.
The ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals (COEMinerals) ensures Australian research strengths address some the world’s most challenging and significant research problems, as well as the development of potentially transformational new technologies and innovation supporting a competitive and environmentally sustainable future for Australia and its minerals sector.
The Centre’s scientific research is discovering inventive new ways to separate minerals and metals — including rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals — using less water, less energy and with less waste.
- Our Mission is to develop deep scientific knowledge that enables the establishment of new, transformational technologies in minerals beneficiation, to deliver a sustainable future for Australia’s minerals industry
- Our Vision is to double energy and water productivity in the mining sector by 2030, maintaining the drive towards the ‘zero-emission mine’ and reduce losses of high value metals during processing by 90%
- Our Strategy is to work in partnership with the minerals industry, Mining & Equipment Technology Services (METS), the community and other stakeholders to provide advice, thought leadership, research, education, people and transformational innovations
We’re striving to transform the sector by:
- Reducing energy and water use during minerals processing (beneficiation): Our stretch goal is to double energy and water productivity in the mining sector by 2030, maintaining the drive towards the ‘zero- emission mine’
- Increasing mineral recovery during minerals processing: Our stretch goal is to reduce loss of high value metals during minerals processing by 90%, increasing the concentration of recovered products used in metals refining
- Training a New Generation: Our goal is to deliver exceptional educational experiences that enable, up-skill and empower a new generation of research, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and minerals sector leaders
Learn more about us here.
Our Research
Our research is focussed on delivering change in three key areas (‘Thematic Objectives’) supporting achievement of Centre goals:
Reduce Energy and Water Use (increase energy & water efficiency)
Increase Mineral Recovery / Reduce loss of metals
Train a new generation of research and sector leaders

Our Team
Our team is led by Laureate Professor Kevin Galvin.
COEMinerals taps into the skills and expertise of some of Australia – and the world’s — most eminent scientists, engineers and researchers representing diverse scientific discipline representing nine Australian universities.
- The Centre’s PhD and early and mid-career researchers (ECRs/MCRs) represent the next generation of research and sector leaders.
- Collectively COEMinerals members are developing technologies, inventing world-first scientific techniques and enabling new capabilities for minerals recovery during minerals processing (beneficiation).
- Members collaborate closely with academic, industry, community and sustainability experts.
- Collectively, COEMinerals members work on a wide spectrum of projects from blue-sky, to proof of concept and the pathway from invention to patent and commercialisation.
- The Centre has multiple committees that help guide our focus and activity.
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Research Candidates
Want to be part of our research team or learn more about our work?
Contact us here