Sphalerite might not be a household name, but this unique mineral is packed with valuable secrets.
Known as a zinc sulfide mineral (ZnS), sphalerite is the primary source of zinc—an essential material used in everything from galvanized steel to solar panels and battery storage.
Although it’s not yet on Australia’s critical minerals list, it is considered crucial in the United States for its role in various technologies.
What makes sphalerite truly remarkable is its ability to host a treasure trove of other critical elements.
These include manganese, cadmium, mercury, indium, thallium, gallium, germanium, antimony, tin, lead, silver, and cobalt. The mineral can take on many different forms, appearing in colors that range from clear to deep brown, reflecting the unique mix of elements in its structure.
Sphalerite is found in a variety of ore deposits, from ancient volcanic regions to modern seafloor formations, and even in meteorites dating back 4.5 billion years to the birth of the solar system.
For many years, mining and mineral processing focused mainly on extracting zinc from sphalerite, often ignoring these other valuable elements. The practice of targeting just one or two main components left behind a wealth of untapped resources.
In fact, many old mining sites contain massive amounts of leftover ore—sometimes as much as 98% of the original material—just sitting above ground in rock piles and tailings. These forgotten heaps represent a hidden opportunity to reclaim valuable elements that were once considered waste.
That’s where new approaches come into play. I’m currently working at CSIRO as the Fulbright Australia-US Chair in Science, Technology, and Innovation, focusing on the field of geomet. Geomet links geological knowledge with engineering and social impacts, helping to create sustainable resource development and empower local communities.
My goal is to unlock the full potential of minerals like sphalerite by rethinking how we process and extract its hidden elements.
Some zinc mines contain sphalerite crystals that are meters in size, packed with cadmium, germanium, indium, and gallium—elements essential for modern technologies like semiconductors and solar panels.
In addition, many smelters have significant deposits of germanium and tellurium as byproducts of processing zinc and copper ores. These byproducts are often overlooked, but they represent huge potential for recovery and use in cutting-edge technologies.
My work is about fully characterizing these materials, understanding exactly what is inside each mineral, and designing better, less wasteful extraction methods.
By linking geology with smarter engineering solutions, we can reclaim value from old slag heaps and mining byproducts while also reducing the environmental impact of resource extraction. This sustainable approach ensures that more of Earth’s valuable minerals are brought into circulation, benefiting both industry and local communities.
The idea is simple: when we understand the full value of what we extract, we waste less and gain more.
This creates a more circular system where minerals are used efficiently and repurposed for future generations. After all, as the late scientist George Wetherill once said, “We are all made of stardust.” In minerals like sphalerite, that stardust holds even more potential than we ever imagined.
