DrJoshua Rasera
Research Associate
Department of Earth Science & Engineering - Faculty of Engineering
Orcid identifier0000-0003-0136-3308 (opens in a new tab)
- Research AssociateDepartment of Earth Science & Engineering - Faculty of Engineering
- Royal School of Mines, South Kensington Campus, United Kingdom
RESEARCH
Terrestrial Mining & Mineral Processing
The mining industry faces significant challenges in water-scarce regions, prompting the need for innovative solutions in mineral processing. Dry beneficiation techniques are gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional methods that rely heavily on water. My research focuses on the development and optimisation of dry beneficiation processes for iron ore deposits in Western Australia. This work aims to enhance efficiency and reduce water usage, ultimately improving the sustainability and economic viability of iron ore extraction in arid regions. By refining these techniques, it is possible to address both environmental and operational challenges in the mining industry.
Space Mining & Mineral Processing
Space Resource Utilisation (SRU), also known as In Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU), represents a revolutionary concept in which resources such as oxygen are extracted from the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies, facilitating extended human exploration and habitation in space. Oxygen can be generated from lunar soil by reducing its minerals through various techniques, each with distinct feedstock requirements. These feedstocks are produced through size and mineral separations, known as mineral processing or beneficiation. However, traditional mineral processing methods must be adapted to the lunar environment, which is characterised by vacuum conditions, low gravity, and the absence of water.
My research in this field focuses on developing mineral separation techniques suitable for the lunar environment, including electrostatic and magnetic methods. Additionally, I study dust mitigation and handling for lunar habitat design, particle size classification through innovative approaches such as the Brazil Nut Effect, and the toxicity of lunar dust simulants. This research is paving the way for sustainable and efficient resource utilisation on the Moon, contributing to the broader goals of space exploration and colonisation.
The mining industry faces significant challenges in water-scarce regions, prompting the need for innovative solutions in mineral processing. Dry beneficiation techniques are gaining attention as a sustainable alternative to traditional methods that rely heavily on water. My research focuses on the development and optimisation of dry beneficiation processes for iron ore deposits in Western Australia. This work aims to enhance efficiency and reduce water usage, ultimately improving the sustainability and economic viability of iron ore extraction in arid regions. By refining these techniques, it is possible to address both environmental and operational challenges in the mining industry.
Space Mining & Mineral Processing
Space Resource Utilisation (SRU), also known as In Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU), represents a revolutionary concept in which resources such as oxygen are extracted from the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies, facilitating extended human exploration and habitation in space. Oxygen can be generated from lunar soil by reducing its minerals through various techniques, each with distinct feedstock requirements. These feedstocks are produced through size and mineral separations, known as mineral processing or beneficiation. However, traditional mineral processing methods must be adapted to the lunar environment, which is characterised by vacuum conditions, low gravity, and the absence of water.
My research in this field focuses on developing mineral separation techniques suitable for the lunar environment, including electrostatic and magnetic methods. Additionally, I study dust mitigation and handling for lunar habitat design, particle size classification through innovative approaches such as the Brazil Nut Effect, and the toxicity of lunar dust simulants. This research is paving the way for sustainable and efficient resource utilisation on the Moon, contributing to the broader goals of space exploration and colonisation.