UQ Tailings Innovation Summit
Workshop 01 I OreSand Masterclass & Innovation Ecosystem Workshop: Building a circular economy through tailings reduction
17 November 2026
UQ Brisbane City
This workshop positions OreSand at the forefront of global responses to sand
sustainability and tailings risks. Grounded in innovative research, proven
industry practice, and policy insights, the workshop equips decision-makers
with clear, actionable strategies to advance circularity in mining.
OreSand is a circular economy solution that reduces tailings generation while producing sustainable, low-carbon manufactured sand directly from metal ore bodies during mineral processing. By creating a valuable sand by-product, it can significantly reduce reliance on sand extracted from rivers, coastlines, and other sensitive ecosystems.
In this workshop participants will learn why previous tailings repurposing initiatives have struggled, how OreSand can be produced at scale, and where the greatest commercial and social value exists. Real-world case studies demonstrate pathways to transform mining waste into long-term economic and environmental benefits.
Workshop Outline
Welcome and introductions
Session 1: The Challenge of Tailings Risks and Sand Sustainability: Why Tailings Repurposing has failed, What is OreSand?
Morning tea
Session 2: How much OreSand can we produce? The Business Case for OreSand, IsThere a Market?, and the Vale and Agera Case Study
Lunch
Session 3: Mapping exercise, Connecting with markets by creating an innovation ecosystem
Afternoon tea
Session 4: Realising the OreSand opportunity for mining businesses and other actors, Building the knowledge to transform mining.
Facilitator
Dr Juliana Segura-Salazar is a Senior Research Fellow at The University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute. Her interdisciplinary research is dedicated to enhancing the sustainability and circularity of mineral resources supply through innovation. Juliana's current work focuses on developing sustainable, circular solutions, such as ore-sand co-production, to address the global sustainability challenges associated with sand supply and conventional mineral waste management.
Juliana leads the OreSand program at The University of Queensland.