Staff at CQU Gladstone were pleased to see former Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL) scholar, Luke McArthur (pictured), return to Gladstone recently to begin his Masters of Applied Science. Luke will be based at CQU’s Process Engineering and Light Metals centre and will be working on a project that aims to assess the precision and accuracy of mineralogical analysis of Weipa bauxite using near infrared spectroscopy.

“Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a relatively new technique that has only become popular in recent decades due to rapid advancements in computing power.

“In essence, mathematical models can be developed that can accurately quantify a number of minerals present in a bauxite sample by measuring the amount of near infrared radiation that the sample absorbs. This technology may ultimately assist Comalco bauxite mines in their operations.”.

NIRS is an extremely rapid, non-destructive analysis technique, and depending on instrument and configuration, can make a measurement taking less than one tenth of a second.

Luke started studying at the Gladstone campus in 2000 as a Bachelor of Physics/Bachelor of Information Technology undergraduate and relocated to Rockhampton in 2001 to complete his degree.

While at Gladstone, Luke was awarded the 2000 QAL scholarship, which is awarded to students based on their academic excellence, community involvement, overall personal presentation and a commitment to the successful completion of studies as a full-time student at Central Queensland University.

At Luke’s graduation ceremony in 2004, he was awarded the James Goldston Faculty medal and during Rockhampton’s September graduation ceremony he will also be awarded a Central Queensland University Medal, awarded for his exceptionally high level of performance in his honours studies.

Luke said that he loves being back at the CQU Gladstone campus and his time at PELM.

“The staff are friendly and very helpful and being located at the marina is a very peaceful place to study,” said Luke.