Overview
Background
Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox is a Principal Research Fellow in Mine Waste Geoscience at the W.H Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre within the Sustainable Minerals Institute. She is the founding leader of Australia's premier secondary prospectivity research group- Mine Waste Transformation through Characterisation (MIWATCH). Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox is also a deputy director in the Critical Resources for the Future ARC ITTC (collaborating with UWA, ANU and UoA).
Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox's research is focussed on mine waste characterisation to improve mine planning and waste management practices. , Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox has worked with mining industry, METS sector and government stakeholders. Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox has developed new tests and protocols for improving waste characterisation and has led projects looking for innovative solutions to remediate abandoned/ historical mine sites. Most recently, Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox has led major government and industry funded projects characterising a range of mine waste materials to evaluate their economic potential in the context of critical metals.
Before completing her PhD in 2012 at the Centre for Ore Deposit and Earth Sciences (CODES), Anita obtained a 1st class MSc (Hons) degree from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College (University of London) in Environmental Geology (2005). Professionally, she has worked as an environmental consultant (2005-06) and as a research assistant for the AMIRA P843 geometallurgy project (2006-07). She worked part-time as a Junior Research Fellow for the Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction (CRC ORE; 2011-2012) and then went on to become a postdoctoral research fellow in the Environmental Indicators program (2012-2015). Next, Anita was appointed as a postdoctoral research fellow for the ARC TMVC Research Hub (2015-2019) where she serves as the deputy leader of Theme 3 (minimising geoenvironmental risks) and the leader (2016-2018) of Program 2 (Geometallurgy, Geoenvironment and Mining) at CODES.
Availability
- Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Tasmania
Research interests
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Geometallurgy
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Environmental Geochemistry
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Mineralogy
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Solid waste management
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Tailings and slag characterisation
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Drill core characterisation
Research impacts
Industry, Government and Service
Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox has regular contact with mineral companies, state government and geoenvironmental consultancies to develop and undertake research projects focussed on improving mine waste characterisation. She has also served as a member of the Victorian Government Technical Review Board for Mine Rehabilitation and the Tasmanian Acid Mine Drainage Guidelines Steering Committee. Between 2017-2019, Anita was also an Assistant Editor of Minerals Engineering. Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox is currently editing a new Springer Book on Mine Waste (due for publication in early 2025) and has co-chaired many international conference sessions in sustainable mining/geometallurgy and next will be involved in Goldschmidt 2025. Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox also regularly delivers keynote and plenary lectures (2024- includes IAGS- Adelaide, Process Mineralogy- South Africa, Planning for Closure- Chile).
Collaborations
Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox is an Adjunct Senior Researcher at the University of Tasmania (2019-2022) and in this role continues to co-supervise honours and PhD students. Anita is also the co-chief investigator on a QUEX funded project (making tailings safe) with researchers based at the University of Exeter.
Teaching and Outreach
Associate Professor Parbhakar-Fox has extensive honours and PhD research supervision and lecturing experience having been unit co-ordinator of Geometallurgy and Environmental Geology units at the University of Tasmania. She welcomes interested PhD and MSc students in the area of mine waste to contact her to discuss project opportunities. Dr Parbhakar-Fox has also participated in a number of media outreach activities on TV, local radio and at public events (e.g., 'Mining: Dinosaur or Deliverer?' 2017; 'Pint of Science' 2018).
Key Publications
Parbhakar-Fox A, Edraki M, Walters S, Bradshaw D, 'Development of a textural index for the prediction of acid rock drainage', Minerals Engineering, 24, (12) pp. 1277-1287. ISSN 0892-6875 (2011) DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2011.04.019
Parbhakar-Fox A, Lottermoser BG, 'A critical review of acid rock drainage prediction methods and practices', Minerals Engineering, 82 pp. 107-124. ISSN 0892-6875 (2015) DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2015.03.015
Parbhakar-Fox A, Glen J, Raimondo R, 'A geometallurgical approach to tailings management: an example from the Savage River Fe-ore mine, Western Tasmania', Minerals, 8 Article 454. ISSN 2075-163X (2018) DOI: 10.3390/min8100454
Cracknell MJ, Parbhakar-Fox A, Jackson L, Savinova E, 'Automated acid rock drainage indexing from drill core imagery', Minerals, 8, (12) Article 571. ISSN 2075-163X (2018) DOI: 10.3390/min8120571
Dominy SC, O'Connor L, Parbhakar-Fox A, Glass HJ, Purevgerel S, 'Geometallurgy - A Route to More Resilient Mine Operations', Minerals, 8, (12) Article 560. ISSN 2075-163X (2018) DOI: 10.3390/min8120560
Funding
Anita is leading research projects funded by several state governments and Geoscience Australia. Additionly she works with,mining companies ( Regeneration Enterprises. Glencore, Grange Resources). Previously, she has been involved in CRC ORE's Environmental Indicators program (2011-2015) and the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Transforming the Mining Value Chain (TMVC; 2015-2019).
Works
Search Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox’s works on UQ eSpace
2018
Conference Publication
Automated environmental analysis: multiple size fraction analysis of kinetic tests and implications for adjusted NNP and NPR values
Brough, C., Parbhakar-Fox, A., Garner, C., Fletcher, J., Barnes, A., Griffiths, R., Strongman, J., Bowell, R. and Becker, M. (2018). Automated environmental analysis: multiple size fraction analysis of kinetic tests and implications for adjusted NNP and NPR values. Process Mineralogy '18, Cape Town, South Africa, 19-21 November 2018. IMWA.
2018
Book Chapter
Assessing geo-environmental risk using intact materials for early life-of-mine planning - a review of established techniques and emerging tools
Jackson, L. M., Parbhakar-Fox, A., Fox, N., Cooke, D. R., Harris, A. C., Meffre, S., Danyushevsky, L., Goemann, K., Rodemann, T., Gloy, G. and Savinova, E. (2018). Assessing geo-environmental risk using intact materials for early life-of-mine planning - a review of established techniques and emerging tools. From start to finish – a life-of-mine perspective. (pp. 9-26) edited by Cherie McCullough, Bruce Harvey, Corinne Unger, Jan Coetzee and Stuart Winchester. Carlton, VIC Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2018
Conference Publication
A geoenvironmental characterisation tool for the coreshed during early life-of-mine assessments
Cornelius, R., Parbhakar-Fox, A. and Cooke, D. R. (2018). A geoenvironmental characterisation tool for the coreshed during early life-of-mine assessments. Ninth Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage, Burnie, Tasmania, 20-23 November 2017. St Lucia, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland.
2018
Conference Publication
Dissection of the NAG pH Test: Tracking Efficacy Through Examining Reaction Products
Parbhakar-Fox, Anita, Fox, Nathan, Maynard, Ben, Ferguson, Tony and Hill, Roger (2018). Dissection of the NAG pH Test: Tracking Efficacy Through Examining Reaction Products. International Conference for Acid Rock Drainage, Pretoria, South Africa , 10-14 September 2018. Pretoria, South Africa: IMWA/ICARD.
2017
Journal Article
Applications of hyperspectral mineralogy for geoenvironmental characterisation
Fox, N., Parbhakar-Fox, A., Moltzen, J., Feig, S., Goemann, K. and Huntington, J. (2017). Applications of hyperspectral mineralogy for geoenvironmental characterisation. Minerals Engineering, 107, 63-77. doi: 10.1016/j.mineng.2016.11.008
2017
Book Chapter
Prediction of acid rock drainage using field-based testing tools
Parbhakar-Fox, Anita, Aalders, John, Jackson, Laura and Lottermoser, Bernd (2017). Prediction of acid rock drainage using field-based testing tools. Environmental indicators in metal mining. (pp. 115-138) edited by Bernd Lottermoser. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42731-7_7
2017
Conference Publication
Sampling and blending in geoenvironmental campaigns – current practice and future opportunities
Parbhakar-Fox, A and Dominy, SC (2017). Sampling and blending in geoenvironmental campaigns – current practice and future opportunities. 8th World Conference on Sampling and Blending, Perth, Australia, 9-11 May 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Microanalytical techniques for characterising critical metal deportment in mine materials
Fox, N., Parbhakar-Fox, A. and Somers, A. (2017). Microanalytical techniques for characterising critical metal deportment in mine materials. Process Mineralogy ‘17, Cape Town, South Africa, 20-22 March 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Evaluating applications of bed and fly ash for controlling acid and metalliferous drainage - examples from Tasmanian mine sites
Parbhakar-Fox, A., Clifton, R. and Fox, N. (2017). Evaluating applications of bed and fly ash for controlling acid and metalliferous drainage - examples from Tasmanian mine sites. Ninth Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage, Burnie, TAS Australia, 20-23 November 2017. St Lucia, QLD Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute.
2017
Conference Publication
Intrinsic neutralisation potential from automated drillcore logging for improved geoenvironmental domaining
Jackson, L., Parbhakar-Fox, A., Fox, N., Cooke, D.R., Harris, A.C. and Savinova, E. (2017). Intrinsic neutralisation potential from automated drillcore logging for improved geoenvironmental domaining. Ninth Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage, Burnie, Tasmania, Australia, 20-23 November 2017. St Lucia, QLD, Australia: Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland.
2017
Book Chapter
Mineral dust emissions at metalliferous mine sites
Noble, Taryn L., Parbhakar-Fox, Anita, Berry, Ron F. and Lottermoser, Bernd (2017). Mineral dust emissions at metalliferous mine sites. Environmental indicators in metal mining. (pp. 281-306) edited by Bernd Lottermoser. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42731-7_16
2017
Book Chapter
Predictive waste classification using field-based and environmental geometallurgy indicators, Mount Lyell, Tasmania
Parbhakar-Fox, Anita and Lottermoser, Bernd (2017). Predictive waste classification using field-based and environmental geometallurgy indicators, Mount Lyell, Tasmania. Environmental indicators in metal mining. (pp. 157-177) edited by Bernd Lottermoser. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42731-7_9
2017
Conference Publication
Physicochemical properties of iron oxides opportunities for useful AMD products?
Mooney, B., Paull, B., Lewis, T. and Parbhakar-Fox, A. (2017). Physicochemical properties of iron oxides opportunities for useful AMD products?. Ninth Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage,, Burnie, Tasmania, 20-23 November 2017.
2017
Book Chapter
Prediction of metal mobility from sulfidic waste rocks using micro-analytical tools, Spray, Tasmania
Fox, Nathan, Parbhakar-Fox, Anita and Lottermoser, Bernd (2017). Prediction of metal mobility from sulfidic waste rocks using micro-analytical tools, Spray, Tasmania. Environmental indicators in metal mining. (pp. 263-277) edited by Bernd Lottermoser. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42731-7_15
2017
Book Chapter
Prediction of acid rock drainage from automated mineralogy
Parbhakar-Fox, Anita, Lottermoser, Bernd, Hartner, Richard, Berry, Ron F. and Noble, Taryn L. (2017). Prediction of acid rock drainage from automated mineralogy. Environmental indicators in metal mining. (pp. 139-156) edited by Bernd Lottermoser. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42731-7_8
2017
Conference Publication
Geoenvironmental characterisation of the abandoned Scotia Mine, northeast Tasmania: implications for management practices
Parbhakar-Fox, A., Lewis, T., Hamill, P., Wakefield, A., Botrill, R. and Parnell, J. (2017). Geoenvironmental characterisation of the abandoned Scotia Mine, northeast Tasmania: implications for management practices. Ninth Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage,, Burnie, Tasmania, 20-23 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Determining bioaccessibility risks at the historic Aberfoyle tailings site, northeast Tasmania opportunities for effective rehabilitation
McLaine, R., Parbhakar-Fox, A., Fox, N. and Reid, M. (2017). Determining bioaccessibility risks at the historic Aberfoyle tailings site, northeast Tasmania opportunities for effective rehabilitation. Ninth Australian Workshop on Acid and Metalliferous Drainage, Burnie, Tasmania, 20-23 November 2017.
2017
Book Chapter
Principles of sulfide oxidation and acid rock drainage
Parbhakar-Fox, Anita and Lottermoser, Bernd (2017). Principles of sulfide oxidation and acid rock drainage. Environmental indicators in metal mining. (pp. 15-34) edited by Bernd Lottermoser. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42731-7_2
2017
Conference Publication
Effectively linking mining geology with waste management - a case study from western Tasmania
Parbhakar-Fox, A. and Lottermoser, B.G. (2017). Effectively linking mining geology with waste management - a case study from western Tasmania. Tenth International Mining Geology Conference, Hobart, Tasmania, 20-22 September 2017. Carlton, VIC, Australia: The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
2017
Book Chapter
Predicting waste properties using the geochemistry-mineralogy-texture-geometallurgy approach
Parbhakar-Fox, Anita (2017). Predicting waste properties using the geochemistry-mineralogy-texture-geometallurgy approach. Environmental indicators in metal mining. (pp. 73-96) edited by Bernd Lottermoser. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-42731-7_5
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Anita Parbhakar-Fox is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Geometallurgy of mine waste
The process of mining is not only concerned with commodity extraction but also moving and managing waste. Globally, up to 30 Gt of waste material per annum is removed, handled and placed into final repositories or landforms, based on engineering design criteria informed by geochemical parameters, where it remains indefinitely unless another use for it is identified. If inadequately managed, waste materials can pose a range of physical (i.e., dam failures) and chemical (i.e., acid and metalliferous drainage; AMD) geoenvironmental risks. The challenge remains for the mining industry to identify the mechanisms by which to cost effectively forecast and manage these potential risks at the earliest possible stage in a mine’s life. If adequately performed, then appropriate funding and environmental management strategies can be developed and embedded into the mine plan to enable better closure outcomes. Whilst the industry is cognisant of this, another major challenge is finding the right toolbox to facilitate early stage waste characterisation. For example, chemical (i.e., static and kinetic) tests have dominated how AMD properties have been measured since the late 1970s, but with AMD remaining an ongoing global issue (even at young mines), there is a necessity for innovation. With an explosion of new tools and technologies for ore characterisation, there has never been a more opportunistic time to follow a geoenvironmental matrix approach whereby the ‘environmental geometallurgy’ toolkit is used for waste characterisation. The toolkit includes application of hyperspectral technologies to derive geoenvironmental domaining index values, improved used of handheld tools and chemical tests, data mining, and developing applications for µCT and 3D XRF drill core scanners. As we approach the next decade, the industry has the unique opportunity to embed the environmental geometallurgy toolkit into their operations and improve the management of geoenvironmental risk.
I am seeking students to work with me in projects in this area.
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Geometallurgy of existing/abandoned mine wastes
Never before have the challenges of mine waste management been so important to ensure ongoing progress and development of mining operations with licence to operate now ranked as the number 1 business risk facing the mining and metals industry (Ernest Young, 2019). Societal expectations increasingly demand the sector to commit and contribute to community, government, employees and environment needs beyond the life-of-mine. This includes realistic planning for the ongoing management of mine waste storage facilities and their eventual closure. Too few global examples of successful mine closure exist for a myriad of reasons, the most important of which is the poor approach to the chemical and physical characterisation of mine waste (e.g., waste rock, tailings, slag and spent heap leach materials). Ultimately, these data inform the engineering design for the long-term storage of these waste materials. If they are not well designed then there is strong potential to induce acid and metalliferous drainage (AMD) whereby sulphides contained in mine waste oxidise (Dold, 2017) or catastrophic structural failures can occur as demonstrated at the Brumadinho Dam, Brazil in January 2019. AMD is characterised by low pH, high sulphate and metals which negatively impact on the water quality of the receiving environment (Dold, 2017; Naidu et al, 2019). Once AMD generation has started, stopping and managing it is technically challenging, costing mining operations and government bodies many millions of dollars to actively manage (Naidu et al., 2019). For example, the mining industry in Tasmania was established in the late 1800s with activities focussed in the west and north east of the state with a range of commodities sought including gold, copper, lead, zinc, silver and tin (Walshe and Heithersay, 1995). Today, hundreds of historic mine waste features remaining on the land surface many of which require ongoing management. But, maps of historic mine locations should not be viewed as only conveying the distribution of acid forming materials, they also provide the location of concentrated outcrops of, often fine grained, sulphides. When considering the advances made in metallurgical processing technologies since the deposition of historical (ie late 1800s) waste and the changing thirst for commodities (ie increased demands for cobalt, lithium and REEs; Grandell et al, 2016) there is strength in the business case for processing mining waste. By adopting a geometallurgical characterisation approach to assessing mine waste its commodity potential can be defined.
I am seeking experienced students to work with me in projects in this area.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Geometallurgical studies aimed at managing mining waste
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Rick Valenta, Dr Laura Jackson
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Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation of the environmental reactivity of porphyry copper ore and gangue before and after mining and processing
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gordon Forbes, Dr Nathan Fox
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Doctor Philosophy
Integrated characterisation, reprocessing and recycling of mine waste materials for improved socio-economic and geoenvironmental outcomes in Australian mine sites
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Rick Valenta
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Doctor Philosophy
Developing Orebody Knowledge of VHMS Systems in the Rosebery Mineral Field, Tasmania
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Rick Valenta, Dr Nathan Fox
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Master Philosophy
Rosebery mine- Au geometallurgy study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Rick Valenta
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Doctor Philosophy
Flotation properties of base metal sulphides in composite particles, as a function of their mineral chemistry.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Gordon Forbes, Associate Professor Liza Forbes
Media
Enquiries
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