Dr Rich Crane
Senior Lecturer
Mining and Minerals
Telephone: 01326 214370
Twitter: @RichCraneGeo
Overview:
Rich Crane is Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Mining at the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter. Prior to joining the CSM in 2017 I was Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow at the Universities of Cardiff, UNSW (Australia) and Bristol. I have PhD (Applied Geochemistry) and BSc (Environmental Geoscience) degrees from the University of Bristol.
My research and teaching interests lie in the fields of extractive metallurgy, materials science, nanotechnology and applied geochemistry for a range of applications including: the development of novel mining techniques, mine site reclamation, waste treatment, water treatment and contaminant transport. I also like to apply a holistic approach which considers the wider environmental, cultural and political implications of such activity.
Within this the obvious 'Grand Challenge' question is: How can we obtain metals from the subsurface with drastically less energy input and waste?
A central focus of my research is the development of next-generation "keyhole" mining techniques, which involve innovative methods for the injection of solvents into primary ores and waste materials, followed by their recovery. This approach holds promise for enabling the continued extraction of Critical Raw Materials (essential for the energy transition), but with significantly lower energy requirements and reduced environmental disturbance.
Read more about my research interests here.
Twitter: @RichCraneGeo
Overview:
Rich Crane is Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Mining at the Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter. Prior to joining the CSM in 2017 I was Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow at the Universities of Cardiff, UNSW (Australia) and Bristol. I have PhD (Applied Geochemistry) and BSc (Environmental Geoscience) degrees from the University of Bristol.
My research and teaching interests lie in the fields of extractive metallurgy, materials science, nanotechnology and applied geochemistry for a range of applications including: the development of novel mining techniques, mine site reclamation, waste treatment, water treatment and contaminant transport. I also like to apply a holistic approach which considers the wider environmental, cultural and political implications of such activity.
Within this the obvious 'Grand Challenge' question is: How can we obtain metals from the subsurface with drastically less energy input and waste?
A central focus of my research is the development of next-generation "keyhole" mining techniques, which involve innovative methods for the injection of solvents into primary ores and waste materials, followed by their recovery. This approach holds promise for enabling the continued extraction of Critical Raw Materials (essential for the energy transition), but with significantly lower energy requirements and reduced environmental disturbance.
Read more about my research interests here.
I am always interested to hear from prospective research students (MSc, MEng or PhD), postdoctoral researchers or other types of collaborators. Please get in touch if you have any interesting ideas. I am particularly interested in supervising PhD students (or collaborating on projects) in the following areas:
- Hydro/solvometallurgical leaching of ores and mine waste
- Innovative water treatment technology (particularly those focussing on redox manipulation)
- Recovery of ecomomically valuable and/or ecotoxic metals from mine water (particularly those focussing on acid mine drainage)
Teaching
I teach on a range of different modules, namely:
Undergraduate:
CSM2052: Grand Geoenvironmental Challenges
CSM3152: Hydrogeology [Module Lead]
CSM3049: Contaminated Land Management [Module Lead]
Postgraduate:
CSMM185: Soil and Water Contamination [Module Lead]
CSMM137: Hydrogeology [Module Lead]
CSMM440: Research Frontiers in Earth Science
CSMM443: Research Project and Scientific Article [Module Lead]
