Alumtek Minerals initial focus was to complete proof-of-concept trials to prove that commercial quantities of metal elements in bauxite residue could be economically recovered. These include critical minerals, rare earth elements, iron oxides, alumina and cement additive material. The proof-of-concept work, conducted at SGS Perth concluded that it was economically feasible to extract target elements from bauxite residue.

Alumtek Minerals has now completed a Commonwealth funded R&D program and has demonstrated capability to extract the target elements.

2017 – Alumtek Pty Ltd commissioned by Rio Tinto as part of its “Global Valorisation” program to undertake initial scoping work on extracting critical minerals from bauxite residue

2018 – Alumtek Minerals Pty Ltd incorporated as the vehicle to develop a process leading to commercialisation of bauxite residue.

2019 – Alumtek Minerals awarded $100,000 Qld Government Ignite Ideas grant to undertake proof-of-concept work on the economic feasibility of extracting critical minerals from bauxite residue. Work completed at SGS laboratory in WA using bauxite residue from Qld Alumina Limited.

2020 – Alumtek Minerals given 10 year Sample Supply Agreement for bauxite residue by Alcoa WA.

2021 – Alumtek Minerals awarded $1.2m Cooperative Research Centre (CRC-P) Grant to further develop and commercialise existing processing technology developed by Alumtek Minerals over the last 3 years. Partners include Alcoa and Chemistry Centre (Curtin University WA). Project finishes June 2023.

2023 – Alumtek Minerals successfully completes CRC-P research recovering vanadium, titanium, iron oxide, alumina, SCM.

2024 – Developed a geopolymer binder for use in geopolymer concrete that achieved an MPa of 60.4 which is construction strength material (i.e. bridges, high rise buildings, road tunnels etc).