Minerals Research Leaders: Xingjie Chen

Unveiling the minds behind breakthroughs: A Glimpse into Our Research Community.

At MRIWA we seek to support visionary minerals research projects creating economic, environmental and social benefit for Western Australia. In today’s article in the Lead Investigator Interview Series, we get to know MRIWA project lead researcher Xingjie Chen and delve into the behind the scenes of what it is like to be championing impactful research.

Meet Xingjie Chen, lead researcher for project titled: Investigating the utilisation of mine tailings and waste rock in the shotcrete for underground support.

As part of the MRIWA Scholarship program - holding an Odwyn Jones PhD Scholarship - Xingjie is working on converting mine tailings and crushed waste rock into a safe, strong, flexible construction material to be used in underground mine support. In addition to reducing engineering and safety costs in Western Australian mines, this technique could offer environmental benefits by reducing the volume of mine tailings and waste rock created by mining activities and stabilising it in forms less likely to contaminate groundwater or soil.

Xingjie responds to the following questions to give insight into being a MRIWA PhD Scholar and what her role as Lead Investigator looks like.

What is your background and what led you to work in this area?

In my master’s degree in mineral engineering, I developed an alternative way to turn waste rock and iron ore tailings into construction materials. The successful application of this method in industry has inspired me to further my work in the area of the use of Western Australian local mine waste.

Tell us a little bit about your role as Lead Investigator on this project?

I’m responsible for the PhD project using local tailings in shotcrete. I promoted my project to interested mine sites and conducted laboratory experiments and analyses using the site materials with the assistance of my supervisors. From there, we discovered the potential and issues of the reuse of different tailings.

What inspired the research project, how does it address current industry challenges and how will your research benefit Western Australia?

My previous experience in utilisation of iron mine waste in construction materials has motivated me to further explore the performance of different tailings from various Australian mines. Current mining activities have produced a large quantity of tailings which require disposal and subsequent environmental and rehabilitation issues. The environmental impacts would be reduced if tailings could be reused for other purposes which is the research my project contributes to.

What have you found most rewarding doing research?

The most rewarding part is the sense of accomplishment when doing research. I get the opportunity to investigate the questions I am interested in and make new discoveries in my field. Being able to make a contribution to the better understanding of the utilisation of tailings brings me a strong sense of satisfaction.

How do you envision the future of your field, and what role do you see yourself playing in its evolution?

I seek to release the big monitoring and maintenance burden mining companies have in both environmental and economic aspects. Reusing mine waste in alternative disposal ways becomes a constant concern and a focused area in Western Australia. I have done some preliminary work on the feasibility of reusing local tailings as part of the research in this field.

Conclusions and more information.

Xingjie’s work reflects a dedication to sustainable mining practices and innovative engineering solutions. Her vision for reusing local tailings to alleviate environmental burdens showcases a commitment to shaping a more sustainable future for the Western Australian mining industry.

Discover more about the MRIWA PhD project Xingjie leads and find information about the PhD Scholarship Program, here: https://www.mriwa.wa.gov.au/research-funding/education-program/scholarships/

For more inspiring stories from the frontiers of research, discovery and exploration at MRIWA, stay tuned here on LinkedIn for the Lead Investigator Interview Series. Together, let’s continue championing the pursuit of knowledge, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and advance Western Australia.