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Lebogang Babedi received the prize for the best poster presentation at the South African Raman Workshop, held in Stellenbosch, 27-28 December.  

Lebogang is studying the effects of trace element substitutions into sphalerite crystal structure (i.e., in terms of changes to crystal structure, surface chemistry and ultimately geometallurgical response). The idea is to develop a fundamental understanding of mineral systems, in order to use this understanding to better design ore beneficiation circuits.

The work he received the prize for forms part of an interdisciplinary research collaboration between Bjorn von der Heyden (Geology) and Dr Pieter H Neethling (Physics).