Grant: Alliance Grants

Our transition to a low-carbon economy is dependent on a massive increase in mined critical minerals for low-carbon energy technologies (e.g., wind turbines, solar panels, batteries). The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy identified 31 critical minerals essential to Canada's economic security, required for our transition to a low-carbon economy, and a sustainable source for partners and allies with lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements identified as an immediate priority for the federal government.Current mining systems are expensive, inefficient and associated with negative environmental impacts. New ways to improve current practices while improving environmental, societal and economic outcomes are essential. Current sensing technologies integrated into the mining cycle (exploration, mining, processing) and even downstream product manufacturing and recycling do not fulfill the objectives of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy. To do so, sensors with capabilities including classifying material in real-time, stand-off detection, no sample preparation requirement, field deployable, and the ability to detect traces of critical minerals (i.e., low ppm detection) are urgently needed.We propose to develop laser-ablation dual frequency comb spectroscopy (LA-DCS) to address the current shortcomings. Work to date has shown our proposed technology is effective on 5 of the 6 short-term priority critical minerals. Working with a team across Canada and abroad -composed of academic researchers, industry, and governmental agencies- our goal is to develop a sensing technology capable of detecting Lithium, the Rare Earth Elements, and Cobalt. We seek to deploy this technology at all stages of the mining cycle. Ultimately, such advances will reduce mining's environmental footprint to help transform Canada's mining industry and drive data-driven mining solutions.