The International Mineralogical Association (IMA) has officially recognised a new mineral – ehrigite – named after BHP superintendent for geometallurgy, Dr Kathy Ehrig, honouring her decades-long contributions to geology and geometallurgy.

Discovered by Associate Professor Cristiana Ciobanu and Professor Nigel Cook from the University of Adelaide, ehrigite (pronounced air-rig-ite) is a microscopic bismuth telluride mineral with a unique crystal structure, revealed using atomic-resolution transmission microscopy. The identification process, which took more than a decade, was unanimously approved by the IMA commission on new minerals and mineral nomenclature.

The recognition marks a milestone for Ehrig, who has spent more than 30 years bridging the disciplines of geology and mineral processing. At BHP’s Olympic Dam operation, her work in geometallurgy has enhanced the ability to predict ore behaviour during processing, improving metal recoveries and reducing waste.

By characterising the mineralogy and processing properties, in advance of mining and processing, the geometallurgy team improved communication between the ore and the plant, BHP said, enabling more sustainable and cost-effective production.

“I’m a scientist who happens to work in the mining industry,” Ehrig said.

She has long advocated for collaboration between industry and academia, a principle exemplified in her partnership with the University of Adelaide, which led to the discovery of ehrigite. Ehrigite is a sub-microscopic bismuth telluride mineral. It has a unique crystal structure which required the use of the world-class atomic-resolution transmission microscope (at the University of Adelaide) to identify a previously unrecognised mineral.  

Each year, only 90 to 110 new mineral species are officially approved. There are only 6 100 minerals officially recognised by the IMA, with new mineral names often derived from where the mineral was found or based on its composition.  

The application for a new mineral species and name undergoes a rigorous procedure of vetting from experts in over a dozen countries to ensure that the mineral has a distinct chemical composition and crystal structure  Many of the most recently discovered minerals are microscopic, requiring advanced instrumentation and highly specialised knowledge.

Beyond academic value, new minerals can inform exploration strategies and unlock alternative sources for critical elements used in clean energy, electronics and defence applications. According to BHP, the knowledge gained from ehrigite and related research supports more targeted and efficient mineral extraction methods.

The work continues. Ehrig and Cook recently secured an A$894 000 Australian Research Council grant to apply computational mineralogy to copper-iron sulphides – research with direct implications for deposits like Olympic Dam, one of the world’s largest ore bodies.