Outcome-driven Research – Built on Teamwork, Worldwide Collaborations, and Excellence in Education
CODES is the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits. Formed in 1989 at the University of Tasmania, the Centre has grown substantially over the years and is now widely regarded as a global leader in ore deposit research. It is home to 35 highly qualified research staff and 85 postgraduate students, further cementing its position as the largest university-based team of ore deposit researchers in the world.
Location and Global Reach
The Centre is located at the Hobart Sandy Bay campus (Geology/Geography/Physics building), based alongside the School of Earth Sciences. Although the centre operates within the University of Tasmania, it also has four satellite facilities (known as nodes) which are located at:
- University of Queensland
- University of Melbourne
- Australian National University
- CSIRO
This structure of UTAS hub and nodes provides an exceptionally strong mix of skills and facilities by combining the research strengths of CODES ‘ UTAS hub with the diverse range of expertise available through the nodes. Read more about each of the nodes.
In addition, there are a host of national and international partners, contributors and collaborators who interact regularly with, and form part of, the Centre’s research programs.
CODES at a glance
- A total annual budget of approximately $9million
- 35 academic research staff (at the UTAS hub)
- 85 postgraduate students
- 244 undergraduate students (in the School of Earth Sciences)
- 30 major industry projects
- 34 countries involved
- 165 research reports to industry per annum
- 56 publications in journals per annum
- Worldwide collaborations with 42 mining companies and 35 institutes and universities
The Centre’s collaborations with mining companies have increased significantly. Its team of world-class researchers are highly valued for their wealth of knowledge and experience. Many industry companies have gained great benefit from tapping into this resource and see significant value in CODES’ ability to tailor research projects to meet their individual requirements.
Read about the benefits of becoming an ‘Industry Partner’ of the Centre.
Looking Forward
Consolidate, grow and adapt
CODES’ team of world-class researchers has developed a wealth of fundamental and applied ore body knowledge over a period spanning more than two decades. It is this knowledge that has formed the foundation of its success, enabling it to build collaborations, gain industry support, and be known around the world for supplying a steady stream of first class geoscientists to industry.
The team will consolidate and build on these strengths, while continuing to evolve in a proactive manner to meet the changing needs of industry. This will be achieved by further developing a comprehensive, ore-systems-based research model that addresses the diverse range of geoscience-related factors that are vital to the successful operation of a modern minerals organisation. This integrated strategy encompasses an array of disciplines from district architecture and ore characterisation, through to mineral processing, mine optimisation and environmental science.
The Centre will use its wealth of ore body knowledge to provide the tools and techniques to gain a better understanding of specific rock properties and relate these to ore body and halo footprints in a modern mining setting, thus enhancing the prospects for new discoveries, and ensuring optimisation of existing reserves.
In parallel to the globalisation of the minerals industry, CODES has developed into a truly international organisation, with projects and collaborations on six continents. These international collaborations will be expanded even further in the future, while it ensures that relationships with all current stakeholders are fostered and developed.
Range of postgraduate study options available
The Centre and School offer a wide range of national and international PhD and Masters research projects at Honours, Masters and PhD levels. You can study full time or complete our Master of Economic Geology by coursework whilst working full time.
We are very highly regarded for our research and teaching in the geological sciences. Our strengths are in economic geology (metallic mineral deposits), volcanology, igneous petrology, tectonics, marine geology, geophysics, geochemistry and geometallurgy. Many of our Honours and postgraduate projects involve travel to interesting and remote world-wide locations (e.g. Antarctica, Asia, Russia, South America, China, Mexico, Alaska, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, USA, Europe). Research is both fundamental and applied, with project funding and student scholarships provided by the University of Tasmania, government agencies and the exploration and mining sectors.