Media coverage: COEMinerals' researcher Dr Ünzile Yenial Arslan and COEMinerals featured in international Mining Development Foundation of Türkiye magazine (SEKTÖRMADEN DERGİSİ) / Woman in Mining section

MINING SECTOR MAGAZINE (JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH 2026 EDITION)

Our favourite quote from our researcher Dr Ünzile Yenial Arslan (UQ node):

“..I came to realise that leadership is not always defined by a job title. More often,
it is reflected in one’s actions. Being the person others can rely on, maintaining composure during difficult situations, and guiding decisions through sound technical judgement — these, to me, are the true qualities of leadership.”

—

Text of Full article:

Science, Fieldwork and Migration: An Engineering Journey

WOMAN IN MINING, Dr Ünzile Yenial Arslan

My fascination with rocks began in childhood. Every trip we took ended with me returning home carrying a handful of stones to add to my growing collection. I was captivated by the colours of each rock and eager to discover where they had come from.

In 2004, I was enrolled into the Mining Engineering program at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). I carried with me the excitement of becoming the first engineer in
my family.

It was 2007. We were conducting selective sulphide flotation of copper, lead, and zinc in the flotation laboratory. The froth forming on the surface of the flotation cell, the colourful minerals rising to the surface, and the constant movement of colours fascinated me.
Looking back today, I realise that I was not merely observing a mineral processing experiment — I was unknowingly taking the very first step in my professional journey.

Over time, my interest in metallurgy grew beyond simple curiosity and developed into an academic pursuit. Reflecting this passion, my undergraduate thesis, which investigated the use of flotation techniques for the separation of plastics, received the Student Award at the 2009 PAGEV Plastic Technology Awards. I began my academic career at Istanbul Technical University in 2010, and in 2012 I commenced my PhD in Mineral Processing Engineering within the Faculty of Mines. During this period, I had the opportunity to present my research at numerous national and international conferences. Among these, one experience remains particularly memorable. In 2012, I travelled to New Delhi, India, with the Foundation for the Development of Turkish Mining, where I presented my research at an international conference. That experience helped me realise that our research was not confined to the laboratory — it formed part of a much broader global scientific conversation.

In 2015, I travelled to Rome under TÜBİTAK’s International PhD Research Scholarship Program to continue my doctoral research. I knew this would be far more than a routine academic appointment. Rome was not simply another city — it represented a turning point. A new language, a different culture, and an entirely new academic environment awaited me. Speaking English was no longer enough; I found myself learning Italian as well. I spent my days in the laboratory and my evenings attending language classes. Yet Rome gave me far more than research experience. It was there that I realised engineering was beginning to shape me as a person. My analytical thinking became more disciplined, my ability to adapt to different cultures strengthened, and working alongside researchers from around the world showed me that knowledge is truly universal. I came to realise that an academic career is not only about developing expertise — it is also a key that opens the doors to the world.

From Academia to Industry

After completing my PhD at Istanbul Technical University in 2018, I made the transition from academia to industry, joining Acacia Copper Mine as a Senior Metallurgist. I joined the project during the construction phase of the operation and witnessed the commissioning of the processing plant firsthand. As the mine entered production, I became part of the operational journey that extended from commissioning through to the shipment of the first 100,000 tonnes of concentrate. This experience allowed me to observe one of the most critical stages of a mining project — from construction to full-scale production and product shipment.

Working on site meant putting everything I had learned in the laboratory to the test under real operating conditions. While laboratory experiments are controlled and repeatable, variability is the defining characteristic of plant operations. Ore never behaves exactly the same way
twice. Grades fluctuate, mineralogy changes, and equipment performance directly influences production outcomes. Decisions often had to be made quickly under operational pressure, production targets, and strict time constraints.

Academia taught me precision and attention to detail. The operation taught me how to think quickly and make decisions under pressure. Optimising process parameters, improving recovery, and reducing losses became part of my everyday responsibilities. However, engineering on site involved much more than technical analysis. It also required communication and coordination. I worked closely with maintenance teams, plant operators, and management.
Seeing how technical decisions translated into operational outcomes became one of the greatest learning experiences of my career. Every shift was an exercise in planning and
problem-solving. Unexpected equipment failures, sudden performance declines, or the pressure of meeting production targets demanded rapid action. This environment taught me not only analytical thinking but also resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure. My experience at Acacia Copper Mine was invaluable. Together with my colleagues, I had the opportunity to conduct numerous plant-scale trials, including marked ball wear tests, collector, frother and flocculant optimisation programs, as well as the installation and performance evaluation of Eh sensors. These projects significantly expanded my expertise
in both process optimisation and large-scale plant operations. 

Many people speak about the challenges of being a woman in mining. My experience at Acacia Mining Operations was different. I worked alongside a highly professional team that included many talented women engineers. Professionalism and mutual respect formed the foundation of our daily work. Open communication with operators and the long hours we spent together on site naturally built trust. I learned that earning credibility in the field is not achieved through
technical knowledge alone. It also requires consistency, determination, and a willingness to take responsibility. When problems arose, being part of the solution, taking initiative, and standing behind difficult decisions became essential.

Through these experiences, I came to realise that leadership is not always defined by a job title. More often, it is reflected in one’s actions. Being the person others can rely on, maintaining composure during difficult situations, and guiding decisions through sound technical judgement — these, to me, are the true qualities of leadership.
Working in industry also gave me a new perspective on efficiency. Beyond the daily pressures of production and maintenance, I found myself constantly asking a broader question: How can this process work better? Thinking critically about resource efficiency, energy consumption, and process optimisation helped me recognise the limits of what I could accomplish solely through plant operations. That realisation became one of the driving forces behind my decision to pursue postdoctoral research opportunities abroad.

Then came 2020. Like the rest of the world, we were confronted with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although I had received offers from several institutions, international travel restrictions and visa limitations prevented me from taking up those opportunities. Amid this uncertainty, I received an offer to join the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC) within The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute where I continue to work today. This was more than simply another academic appointment. At a time when the world had largely come to a standstill, it represented one of the few opportunities made possible
through a government-supported research project. Thanks to a special travel exemption, I was able to relocate despite the global restrictions. And so, in 2021, I made one of the most significant decisions of my life: I moved to Australia. 

From Kastamonu to Australia

Australia had been my dream destination since my high school years. Now, that dream had become a reality. Leaving behind a career built over many years, a professional network, and a familiar life was never easy. Migration is far more than changing countries. It is the
reconstruction of identity. Starting over in a new country means introducing yourself
again, earning trust once more, rebuilding professional credibility, and proving yourself all over again. In many ways, you rebuild the professional identity you have spent years creating.

Today, I continue to work within the Coarse Particle Recovery (CPR) Research Program at the Sustainable Minerals Institute, serving as both Deputy Program Leader and Project Leader.
The program brings together universities and industry partners to develop next-generation flotation technologies, improve our understanding of the surface chemistry and processing behaviour of coarse particles, and translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions for the
mining industry. For me, this role has been particularly rewarding because it connects my academic curiosity directly with real industrial challenges.

It has provided the opportunity to conduct applied research that pushes the boundaries of flotation science while maintaining a strong focus on practical outcomes for industry. The program itself has also received significant recognition. In 2022, it was awarded The University of Queensland’s Research Partnerships and Translation Award for Innovative Partnerships, acknowledging its success in strengthening collaboration between academia and industry. Established in 2020, the program is planned to continue through to 2030.

In addition to my work within the CPR program, I have also contributed to the ARC Centre of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of Minerals, a collaborative research initiative involving eight Australian universities. As part of this Centre, I have trained postgraduate students in the practical aspects of flotation tests and contributed to the design, planning, and execution of experimental research programs. 

Beyond supporting research activities, this experience has given me the opportunity to share knowledge within an international academic environment and to mentor the next generation of mineral processing researchers.

One of my current research interests focuses on adapting geophysical techniques commonly used in the field for laboratory-scale mineral processing research. Specifically, I investigate how the electrical properties of minerals — including electrical conductivity and chargeability ‑influence flotation performance, sulphide self-heating behaviour, and surface chemistry. My research explores the relationships between mineral electrical properties, reagent interactions, surface oxidation, and flotation kinetics, with the broader aim of determining whether
geophysical measurements can be used to predict process performance before benefication even begins. This work combines principles from mineral processing, electrochemistry, and applied geophysics to better understand how minerals behave during flotation.

Working closely with numerous industry partners has also provided opportunities to visit mining operations and processing plants across Australia. These site visits have been invaluable. They have allowed me to see how laboratory research is translated into full-scale industrial practice and, in turn, helped shape new research questions based on real operational challenges. One particularly memorable experience was finally visiting the Mount Isa copper operations — a site I had long hoped to see before its closure. This position has allowed me to combine two worlds that have shaped my career: the practical realities of mine-site operations and the scientific depth of academic research. Years ago, while working on site, I often found myself asking why ore sometimes failed to behave as expected and what lay behind unexpected prroduction losses. Today, I investigate those very same questions using scientific methods in the laboratory. To me, this represents continuity rather than change. The questions I first asked during the operation have stayed with me throughout my career. The difference is that today I have the opportunity to explore them more deeply, understand them more systematically, and share that knowledge with others.

Perhaps that is the most meaningful part of this journey: the questions that first emerged in a processing plant have, years later, begun to find their answers on the other side of the world. Today, when I look back, I realise that the journey that began with flotation experiments in a 
laboratory has shaped me into far more than a mining engineer. Academic patience, the responsibilities of working on site, international experience, the determination to establish my
professional identity as a woman, and the courage to start over through migration — they have all been parts of the same story. Engineering has never been just a profession for me. It has become a way of understanding and questioning the world. It has shaped the way I approach problems, how I deal with uncertainty, and how I make decisions. The foundations of this mindset were laid at Istanbul Technical University. There, I gained not only technical knowledge
but also the discipline of critical thinking. Today, I understand that choosing a university is not merely an educational decision. It is the first step in shaping how a person thinks, the questions they ask, and the path they ultimately follow. And sometimes, a single step can lead
you on a journey across continents.