Applications of solid state chemistry to minerals and mineral processing

Throughout his career, a consistent aim of the candidate's research has been to apply the methods of solid state chemistry to solve metallurgical and mineral processing problems, while maintaining and developing his disciplinary skills and techniques. The work has thus involved parallel inputs to fundamental research and to applied research for mining and manufacturing companies. The candidate's scientific specialisation is in crystallography and phase equilibria. In crystallography he has worked on the determination of the structures of complex minerals and synthetic materials and the elucidation of structural principles relating different structure types. The structures are often complicated by problems such as microdomain formation, pseudosymmetry, metamictisation and diffuse diffraction effects due to short range order and the candidate has developed expertise in solving and refining such structures, where conventional methods cannot be applied. In phase equilibria studies he has specialised in the determination of high temperature solid/gas phase relations in systems involving elements in different oxidation states. He has developed appropriate experimental procedures involving controlled gaseous atmospheres and microbalance techniques and has applied these techniques to reactions of industrial importance. The attached list of publications reflects the candidate's specialised expertise in the fields of crystallography and phase equilibria. The publications can be grouped into three main categories: 1. Postgraduate and postdoctoral research (and ongoing collaboration). 2. Structure systematics in mineral and synthetic systems. 3. Fundamental support for mineral processing projects.