Dr. George Blankson Abaka-Wood is a Research Fellow and Process Metallurgist at the Future Industries Institute of the University of South Australia. He holds BSc. Mineral Engineering and PhD (Minerals and Resources Engineering) degrees from the University of Mines and Technology (Ghana) and University of South Australia, respectively. Since 2015, he has demonstrated highly specialized skills and expertise in research and innovative metallurgical studies geared towards the recovery of critical minerals such as rare earth elements (REE) that occur in complex deposits.
Dr Abaka-Wood is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). He has... Read more
About me
Dr. George Blankson Abaka-Wood is a Research Fellow and Process Metallurgist at the Future Industries Institute of the University of South Australia. He holds BSc. Mineral Engineering and PhD (Minerals and Resources Engineering) degrees from the University of Mines and Technology (Ghana) and University of South Australia, respectively. Since 2015, he has demonstrated highly specialized skills and expertise in research and innovative metallurgical studies geared towards the recovery of critical minerals such as rare earth elements (REE) that occur in complex deposits.
Dr Abaka-Wood is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). He has over 7 years professional experience as a Metallurgist/Mineral Processing Engineer and has worked with Gold Fields Ghana Limited - Tarkwa Mine (Ghana), Process Innovation (Tarkwa, Ghana) and Heathgate Resources Pty. Ltd.– Uranium Mine (Adelaide, Australia).
About me
Member, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
Member, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Guest Editor, MDPI Special Issue "Recovery of Rare Earth Elements Minerals"
Reviewer, Chemosphere
Reviewer, Powder Technology
Reviewer, Minerals Engineering
Reviewer, Journal of Rare Earths
Reviewer, Separation Science Technology
Reviewer, Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspect
Reviewer, Archives of Mining Science
Reviewer, Separation and Purification Technology
Reviewer, Energy Sources, Part A: Recovery, Utilization, and Environmental Effects
Reviewer, Physicochemical Problems of Mineral Processing
Reviewer, Bioresource Technology
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 30/08/2021 |
Beneficiation of Rare Earth Elements From Mining Tailings, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhOzlsSX5v8 |
| 29/10/2020 |
SAIMM Webinar Series , https://www.saimm.co.za/saimm-events/saimm-webinars/beneficiation-of-rare-earth-elements-minerals-from-mining-tailings-as-an-analogue-of-complex-low-grade-ores |
| 01/06/2020 |
Havilah Resources enters research collaboration for REE recovery from Kalkaroo, https://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/920784/havilah-resources-enters-research-collaboration-for-ree-recovery-from-kalkaroo-920784.html |
| 01/06/2020 |
Havilah looking at rare earth bonus, https://www.miningmonthly.com/design-build/news/1388027/havilah-looking-at-rare-earth-bonus |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy The University of South Australia
Research Fellow, Future Industries Institute (FII), University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia (February 2022 - date)
Research Associate, Future Industries Institute (FII), University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia (June 2020 - February 2022)
Senior Chemist/Laboratory Supervisor, Heathgate Resources Ltd. - Uranium Mine, Adelaide, Australia (October 2018 - January, 2020)
Technical Officer, Future Industries Institute (FII), University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia (April, 2018 - December, 2018)
Metallurgist, Gold Fields Ghana Limited, Tarkwa Mine, Ghana (September 2011 - January,2015)
Research Assistant, Process Innovation Consultancy, Tarkwa, Ghana (June 2011 - September 2011)
Recovery of Gold and Rare Earth Elements from West Kalkaroo Saprolite Gold Ore
Gold recovery from Namba Clay Ore
Beneficiation of rare earth elements minerals from South Australian mining tailings
The use of coal fly ash as secondary resource for rare earth elements
Development of Copper-Gold-REE processing plant
Production of Ilmenite concentrates from complex low grade ores
Leaching Rare earths from South Australian clay-rich ores
Dry magnetic processing of iron oxides and rare earth elements minerals
Copper ore flotation
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Advanced recovery of the battery materials and REE from ores and wastes, AISRF-Indo-Australian Scientific and Technological Cooperation Fund, 01/01/2022 - 09/11/2026
Advanced Flotation, Newcrest Mining Limited, 17/04/2023 - 17/04/2026
Vertically integrated battery anode material development program, CRC-P, 01/08/2023 - 31/07/2025
Recovery of critical minerals from complex low-grade ores and tailings, BHP Group Operations Pty Ltd, 18/12/2023 - 30/06/2025
Characterisation and exploratory leaching of complex low-grade ore for rare earth elements recovery, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd, 20/02/2024 - 20/08/2024
Investigation of Critical Metals Recovery and Upgrade from Continuous Drossing Furnace Slag, Nyrstar Port Pirie Pty Ltd, 24/04/2023 - 31/03/2024
Assessing the feasibility of Magnetic Recovery of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from Tailings - Stage 2: Enhanced REE minerals recovery and upgrade, BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd, 21/08/2023 - 01/03/2024
Investigating the feasibility of magnetic recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) from electric furnace slag, BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd, 21/08/2023 - 22/12/2023
Comparative adsorption capacity of activated carbon and resins
Investigating alternative lixiviants for gold leaching
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
10
4
|
| 2022 |
15
15
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
11
|
| 2022 |
Open access
6
5
|
| 2022 |
Open access
11
10
|
| 2019 |
22
21
|
| 2019 |
Open access
35
31
|
| 2019 |
43
40
|
| 2018 |
43
39
|
| 2018 |
29
30
|
| 2017 |
29
28
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
| 2016 |
Open access
|
| 2014 |
Open access
|
Abaka-Wood, G. B., Addai-Mensah, J., & Skinner, W., 2017. A study of flotation characteristics of monazite, hematite, and quartz using anionic collectors. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 158, 55-62. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.minpro.2016.11.012
Research
Recovery of Gold and Rare Earth Elements from West Kalkaroo Saprolite Gold Ore
Gold recovery from Namba Clay Ore
Beneficiation of rare earth elements minerals from South Australian mining tailings
The use of coal fly ash as secondary resource for rare earth elements
Development of Copper-Gold-REE processing plant
Production of Ilmenite concentrates from complex low grade ores
Leaching Rare earths from South Australian clay-rich ores
Dry magnetic processing of iron oxides and rare earth elements minerals
Copper ore flotation
FII Director's Early Career Researcher Award (2023), University of South Australia
Norton Jackson Material Science and Engineering Medal (2020), University of South Australia
Ian Wark Research Medal (2020), University of South Australia
Guest Editor, MDPI Special Issue "Recovery of Rare Earth Elements, Minerals" https://www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals/special_issues/REE_recovery
Guest Speaker, SAIMM Webinar Series, "Beneficiation of rare earth elements minerals from mining tailings as an analogue of complex low grade ores"
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| BHP (Australia) | AUSTRALIA |
| Central South University | CHINA |
| George Grant University of Mines and Technology | GHANA |
| Gold Fields Ghana Ltd | GHANA |
| Maptek | AUSTRALIA |
| Namibia University of Science and Technology | NAMIBIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Advances in Minerals Beneficiation Methods, Guest EditorMinerals (MDPI) |
2022 |
Recovery of Rare Earth Elements Minerals, Guest EditorMinerals (MDPI) |
2022 |
Recovery of Rare Earth Elements Minerals, Guest EditorMinerals (MDPI) |
2021 |
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| 110020 - Advanced recovery of the battery materials and REE from ores and wastes | Current |
| 138-Fluidised-bed flotation of copper ore at fine particle size | Current |
| 296- Mineralogical and Surface Chemical Factors Influencing the Flotation Recovery of Fine Mineral Particles | Current |
| Energy and Processing Benefits of a New Dry Comminution Technology | Current |
| Fast flotation of fine particles | Current |
| Impact of comminution strategy on pulp chemistry and downstream process performance | Current |
| Optimising coarse composites flotation in Hydrofloat | Current |
| The application of dry magnetic separation in the beneficiation of iron ores and tailings: value extraction and enabling the re-purposing of waste | Current |
