Professor Mohan Yellishetty

Professor Mohan Yellishetty

Professor in Resources Engineering
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
+61 3 990 27143
Woodside, Clayton Campus
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Prof Mohan Yellishetty is an internationally respected engineering academic, strategic policy adviser, and global thought leader who has advanced India’s interests in critical minerals and sustainable resource security from the Indo-Pacific stage. With nearly three decades of leadership across Monash University, CSIRO, Yale University, and IIT Bombay, he has built a distinguished career at the intersection of science, strategy, and diplomacy.

Recognized as a leading authority in Sustainable Mineral Resources and Global Thought Leader, Prof Yellishetty’s research interests encompass diverse areas including Critical Minerals, Mine Rehabilitation and Closure, and Mine Tailings and Waste within the framework of the Resources Trinity. His significant contributions extend to the application of sustainability frameworks and tools in the mining industry, industrial ecology, life cycle thinking, substance flow, and material flow analysis, alongside the assessment of critical and strategic mineral supply chains. Notably, his research group’s pioneering work includes the development of the world’s first agent-based dynamic criticality model and the establishment of an Australian-first geospatial database encompassing all known active and inactive hard rock mine sites nationwide.

Prof Yellishetty co-founded the Critical Minerals Consortium at Monash University; Founded the Australia-India Critical Minerals Research Hub; and was Convenor at Critical Minerals National Industry Group, Australia-India Chamber of Commerce.

He is an Honorary Academic Fellow, Australia India Institute,  Visiting Professor, Department of Energy Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay, and Advisory Committee,  Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, IIT Dharwad.

Professor Mohan Yellishetty is pioneering a new mineral diplomacy model that fuses science, sustainability, and strategic alliances to secure a greener future for Asia. Prof Yellishetty’s efforts have contributed significantly to fostering robust relationships and knowledge exchange through the facilitation of numerous bilateral and multilateral workshops and symposiums within the Indo-Pacific region (i.e.  Australia-India; Australia-Japan; Japan-Australia-India; Australia-Korea; Australia-Vietnam; Australia-Indonesia and Australia-India-Japan-Korea-UK). 

Prof Yellishetty’s research has garnered significant public, media and policy attention, with coverage in reputable national and international platforms. His insights have been sought by major media channels globally, including Al Jazeera English, SBS World News (1 and 2), TaiwanPlus, TRT World (1 and 2),  ABC News (1 and 2), The Grand Challengers Podcast Episode #17,  What Happens Next? (Episode 72 and 73), LENS (1 and 2)  and ABC Radio, while his op-eds have been featured in various publications, showcasing my global thought leadership. Additionally, he has written extensively in magazines and industrial periodicals such as The Conversation (1, 2, and 3), Australian Geography, illumine, Quarry Magazine (1 and 2), Australian Resource and Investment and Australian Mining.

Prof Yellishetty’s research has positively influenced both public policy and industrial practice. His major disciplinary public service contributions include:

Qualifications

  • Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice, Monash University, 2010
  • PhD, Monash University., 2010
  • M Tech, IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India, 2004
  • PG Dip Environmental Education & Management , Hyderabad University, India, 2001
  • Diploma in Industrial Safety Engineering, Annamalai University, India, 1998
  • BEng, Osmania University, India, 1995

Expertise

Mine rehabilitation and closure
Sustainability frameworks/tools and their application to mining industry.
Industrial ecology, life cycle thinking, substance flow and material flow analysis.
Critical and strategic mineral supply chains and assessment
Resources and environmental geotechnical engineering

Professional Association:

  • Australasian Institute of Mining & Metallurgy (CP)
  • Mining Engineers Association of India

Honors & Awards:

Research Projects

Current projects

Development of a cost-effective and resilient mine rehabilitation strategy framework for AGL Loy Yang mine.

Field trials at Loy Yang Mine, Victoria will be undertaken to test the performance of rehabilitated mine slopes. AGL has selected a site to commence large-scale rehabilitation trials at the Loy Yang Open Cut Coal Mine. The trials will focus on large-scale in situ data collection during and after the construction phase. This project will investigate the existing conditions within the planned cut and fill slope and expected stability parameters. Three phases of the investigation are required:

  • Construction,
  • Instrumentation, and
  • Monitoring.

The scope of work presented covers activities associated with the planned construction of the Trial Slope 1 and specifically investigates the following:
Design and performance monitoring of engineered earthen covers on slopes.
Development of a cost-effective monitoring framework for Loy Yang mine slopes.
Numerical slope analysis including the assessment of consolidation, swelling and saturation behaviour and performance of the coal-capping material interface.
Full-scale Field Trials of Artificial Soils at Loy Yang Open Cut.

Evaluating Critical Raw Material Supply for Australia’s Defence Sector

‘Criticality’ assessments evaluate the exposure and vulnerability of an actor to potential raw material and mineral supply chain disruptions. These supply chain disruptions can be caused by a variety of factors, including potential economic or geopolitical conflicts and may be exacerbated in situations of excessive import dependence from unstable or hostile countries. Due to this, it has been speculated that future resource conflicts may not just be associated with fuel resources (e.g. oil, gas), but may also arise from competition and access to strategic, non-fuel minerals and elements (e.g. the rare earth elements) (www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1717152115). In the context of the United States, recent research has developed approaches for early-warning screening of mineral criticality in an attempt to pre-emptively avoid potential supply constraints (https://10.1007/s13563-017-0119-6), and there has also been work undertaken by the U.S. Geological Survey to assess mineral criticality risks for the U.S. defence and manufacturing sectors (https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181021). However, to our knowledge there has been no equivalent assessment of mineral criticality risks for the Australian defence sector. The proposed research will provide an analytical framework for evaluating mineral criticality risks for the Australian defence sector, based upon a novel machine learning approach for assessing mineral criticality recently developed at Monash University (currently unpublished). This will provide a pathway for improved understanding of the mineral supply risks facing Australia’s defence sector and potential strategies for mitigating these risks.

Australian Critical Minerals and Economic Fairways

There is a clear opportunity for Australia to position itself as a reliable supplier of a range of critical minerals (and metals) – those which are economically important and assessed as being at risk of supply disruption leading to significant economic, environmental and/or social impacts. The critical minerals are typically those required for renewable energy (e.g. rare earths, tellurium), consumer electronics (e.g. indium, lithium, rare earths), chemical catalysts (e.g. platinum), specialty alloys (e.g. rhenium) or military technologies (e.g. rare earths, tungsten). At present, a small number of countries (or companies) control the supplies of most critical minerals, and these are often developing countries, justifying concerns about stability of these supplies.

 

Given that critical minerals are typically potential by-products to base or precious metals, Australia’s existing mines and mineral resources are potentially well positioned to take advantage of the growing need for reliable critical minerals supplies in the world. Furthermore, most of Australia’s base and precious metal mines and mineral resources are located in the northern half of Australia, meaning these can be linked to economic development opportunities currently being pursued for the region, known as ‘Exploring for the Future’ (EFTF).

 

Researchers at RMIT and Monash universities have considerable expertise in critical minerals and quantifying various aspects of mining and mineral resources.

Past projects

AusIMM EEF Funding Program for Universities - Mining Engineering Industrial Experience for Monash Mining Students 2017.

The AusIMM Education Endowment Fund provides funding for a variety of educational initiatives to attract and support those studying minerals related degrees.

Gallium and germanium from discarded products in Australia's "urban mines" under future scenarios as well as their potential for recycling and reuse.

This study estimated the potentially recoverable resources of Ga, Ge, and Sb in Australian primary ore deposits and geogenic stocks (such as waste rock piles, tailings, smelting, and refining).

Hood Infiltrometer Procurement.

4-drum Slake Durability Apparatus - procurement.

BOOKS EDITED:

  1. Singhal, R, Topal, E., Fytas, K., and M. Yellishetty, (Eds) Proceedings of the 21st International Symposium on Mine Planning & Equipment Selection [MPES 2012], November 28-30, 2012, New Delhi, India [ISSN 21673322].
  2. Subhash, K. N., Yellishetty and E. H Reddy (Eds) (2006). Proceedings of the National workshop on Occupational health, safety & environmental issues in industries. Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry and and Institution of Engineers (India), Goa, India.

BOOK CHAPTERS:

  1. Whittle, D., and M Yellishetty (2023). Critical minerals: a criticality assessment approach. Chapter in Arda Işıldar, Eric D. van Hullebusch, Donald Huisingh: Critical Materials and Sustainability Transition (ISBN 9781032112213).
  2. Yellishetty, M., T T Werner, Z Weng (2021). Iron Ore in Australia and the World: Resources, Production, Sustainability and Future Prospects. In Liming Lu (Eds) Iron Ore: Mineralogy, Processing and Environmental Sustainability, Elsevier (DOI: 10.1016/C2018-0-03685-3)
  3. Sultana S., Ahsan S., Tanvir S., Haque N., Alam F., Yellishetty M. (2021). Coal Fly Ash Utilisation and Environmental Impact. In: Jyothi R.K., Parhi P.K. (eds) Clean Coal Technologies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-68502-7_15.
  4. Yellishetty M., Haque N., Dubreuil A. (2012) Issues and Challenges in Life Cycle Assessment in the Minerals and Metals Sector: A Chance to Improve Raw Materials Efficiency. In: Sinding-Larsen R., Wellmer FW. (eds) Non-Renewable Resource Issues. International Year of Planet Earth. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-8679-2_12
  5. Yellishetty, M., P. G. Ranjith A. Tharumarajah (2009). Application of best practice environmental management systems: a sustainable solution for the mining industry. In: T. N. Singh (Ed) Recent Advancements in Disaster Analysis, JBC Publishers New Delhi.

PAPERS IN PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS:

  1. Krishnamurthy, P., Chinnasamy, S. S., Radhakrishna, M. & Yellishetty, M. (2023). Report on the India-Australia Joint Workshop on Critical Minerals Research for Sustainable Transition to Green Energy, , Aug 2023, In: Journal of the Geological Society of India.99, 8,  1173-1176 4 p.
  2. Northey, S.A., S. Klose, S. Pauliuk, Yellishetty and D. Giurco (2023). Primary Exploration, Mining and Metal Supply Scenario (PEMMSS) model: Towards a stochastic understanding of the mineral discovery, mine development and co-product recovery requirements to meet demand in a low-carbon future. Resources, Conservation & Recycling Advances, 17 (2023) 200137 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2023.200137
  3. Li, S, Y Zhao, W Xiao, M Yellishetty, and D Yang (2021). Identifying ecosystem service bundles and the spatiotemporal characteristicsof trade-offs and synergies in coal mining areas with a high groundwater table. Science of the Total Environment https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151036.
  4. Werner, T.T.; Bach, P.M.; Yellishetty, M.; Amirpoorsaeed, F.; Walsh, S.; Miller, A.; Roach, M.; Schnapp, A.; Solly, P.; Tan, Y.; Lewis, C.; Hudson, E.; Heberling, K.; Richards, T.; Chia, H.C.; Truong, M.; Gupta, T.; Wu, X. A Geospatial Database for Effective Mine Rehabilitation in Australia. Minerals 2020, 10, 745. https://doi.org/10.3390/min10090745.
  5. Svobodova, K; Vojar, J; M Yellishetty, Janeckova M, K. (2020). A multi-component approach to conceptualizing the reputation of the mining industry from a stakeholder perspective. Resources Policy, Vol. 68, 101724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101724
  6. Fernando, W. Ashane M.; Ilankoon, I. M.S.K.; Rabbani, Arash; M Yellishetty (2020). Inter-particle fluid flow visualisation of larger packed beds pertaining to heap leaching using X-ray computed tomography imaging. Minerals Engineering, 151, 106334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106334
  7. S Walsh, S Northey, D Huston, M Yellishetty, K Czarnota (2020). Bluecap : a geospatial model to assess regional economic-viability for mineral resource development. Resources Policy, Vol. 66, 101598, 06.2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2020.101598.
  8. Yuan Y, Yellishetty M, Muñoz MA, Northey SA. Toward a dynamic evaluation of mineral criticality: Introducing the framework of criticality systems. J Ind Ecol. 2019; 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.jiec12920
  9. Y Yuan, M Yellishetty, G M Mudd, M A Muñoz, S A Northey, T T Werner (2019). Towards a Dynamic Evaluation of Minerals Criticality: A Systems Framework Applied to Platinum. Resources, Conservation, & Recycling, 152 (2020) 104532. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104532
  10. Northey, S A, G M Mudd, T T Werner, N Haque, M Yellishetty (2019). Sustainable water management and improved corporate reporting in mining. Water Resources and Industry, 21,100104.
  11. S Ilankoon, Y Tang, Y Ghorbani, M  Yellishetty, S  Northey; X Deng, D  McBride (2018). The current state and future directions of percolation leaching in the Chinese mining industry: Challenges and opportunities. Minerals Engineering, 117, 74–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.06.006
  12. K Svobodova, M Yellishetty and J Vojar (2019). Coal mining in Australia: Understanding public knowledge of mining and mine rehabilitation. Energy Policy, 126 (2019) 421–430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2018.11.042
  13. Van Hung, T., Yellishetty, M., Thanh, N. T., Patil, A., & Huy, L. T. (2019). The Application of Flipped Classroom in Teaching University Students: A Case Study From Vietnam. In I. Management Association (Ed.), Computer-Assisted Language Learning: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications (pp. 1473-1485). IGI Global. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-7663-1.ch069
  14. A M. Fernandoa, I.M.S.K. Ilankoona, T H Syeda, M Yellishetty (2018). Challenges and opportunities in the removal of sulphate ions in contaminated mine water: A review. Minerals Engineering, 117 (2018) 74–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2017.12.004
  15. Northey, S.A., C. Madrid López, N. Haque, G.M., Mudd, and M Yellishetty (2018). Production weighted water use impact characterization factors for the global mining industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 184, 788-797. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.307
  16. S Northy, G Mudd, T Werner, S Jowitt, N Haque, M Yellishetty, Z Weng (2017).The Exposure of Global Base Metal Resources to Water Criticality, Scarcity and Climate Change. Global Environmental Change, 44, 109-124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.04.004
  17. Yellishetty, M., T Graedel, B Reck, G Mudd and T Werner (2016). Quantifying the potential for recoverable resources of Gallium, Germanium and Antimony as companion metals in Australia, Ore Geology Reviews, 82, 148-159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2016.11.020
  18. T Gupta, M Yellishetty and T N Singh (2016). Measurement of Bulk Volume and Density of irregular solid samples by sand displacement method. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering Journal, 50, 639-645. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-016-1104-z
  19. M Khandelwal, D J Armaghani, R S Faradonbeh, M Yellishetty, M Z A Majid and M Monjezi (2016). Classification and regression tree technique in estimating peak particle velocity caused by blasting. Engineering with Computers, 33, 1, 45–53 [Contributions: M Yellishetty: 25%; Impact factor: 1.46, SPRINGER] https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-016-0455-0
  20. Chandar, K. R., Hegde, C., Yellishetty, M., & Kumar, B. G. (2015). Classification of stability of highwall during highwall mining: a statistical adaptive learning approach. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 33(3), 511 – 521. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10706-014-9836-6
  21. Ukwattage N, P G Ranjith, M Yellishetty (2015). A laboratory scale study of the aqueous mineral carbonation of coal fly ash for CO2 sequestration, Journal of Cleaner Production, 103, (15), 665–674 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.03.005
  22. Mudd, G.M.; Yellishetty, M.; Reck, B.K.; Graedel, T.E. Quantifying the Recoverable Resources of Companion Metals: A Preliminary Study of Australian Mineral Resources. Resources2014, 3, 657-671. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources3040657
  23. Yellishetty, M., and G M Mudd (2014). Substance flow analysis of steel and the sustainability of iron ore resources. Journal of Cleaner Production, 84, 400–410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.02.046
  24. Yellishetty, M., G M Mudd, D. Giurco, L. Mason and S. Mohr (2013). Iron ore in Australia – too much or too hard? Journal of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, 3, pp. 42-47.
  25. Yellishetty, M., G M. Mudd & R Shukla (2013). Prediction of soil erosion from waste dumps of opencast mines and evaluation of their impacts on the environment, International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 27:2, 88-102 https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2012.655164
  26. Shukla, R., Ranjith, P.G., Choi, S.K. et al. Mechanical Behaviour of Reservoir Rock Under Brine Saturation. Rock Mech Rock Eng 46, 83–93 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00603-012-0246-x.
  27. Yellishetty, M., G M Mudd, P G Ranjith and A Tharumarajah (2011). Environmental life-cycle comparisons of steel production & recycling: sustainability issues, problems and prospects. Environmental Science & Policy, 14, 650 – 663 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2011.04.008.
  28. Yellishetty, M., G Mudd and P G Ranjith (2011). The steel industry, abiotic resource depletion and life cycle assessment: A real or perceived issue? Journal of Cleaner Production, 19, 78-90 [Contributions: Yellishetty: 80%; Impact factor:  715, ELSEVIER SCI LTD] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2010.08.020
  29. Yellishetty, M., and W Darlington (2011). The effects of monsoonal rainfall on waste dump stability and respective geo-environmental issues. Environmental Earth Sciences, 63, 1169–1177 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0791-0
  30. Yellishetty, M., A Tharumarajah and P G Ranjith (2010). Iron ore and steel production trends and material flows in the world: Is this really sustainable?   Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 54, 1084–1094 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2010.03.003
  31. Khandelwal, D L Kumar and M Yellishetty (2010). Application of soft computing to predict blast-induced ground vibration. Engineering with Computers, 27, 117–125 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00366-009-0157-y
  32. Yellishetty, M., P G Ranjith, A Tharumarajah and S Bhonsale (2009). Life cycle assessment in the minerals and metals sector: a critical review of selected issues and challenges. J. of Life Cycle Assessment, 14, 257–267 [Contributions: Yellishetty: 80%, Impact factor: 3.173, SPRINGER HEIDELBERG] https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-009-0060-1
  33. Yellishetty, M., P G Ranjith and D L Kumar (2009). Metal concentrations and metal mobility in unsaturated mine wastes in mining areas of Goa, India. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 53, 379–385 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2009.02.005
  34. Yellishetty, M., V Karpe, E H Reddy, K N Subhash and P G Ranjith (2008). Reuse of iron ore mineral wastes in civil engineering constructions: A case study. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 58 (11), 1283-1289 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.07.007
  35. Yellishetty, M., V Karpe, E H Reddy, K N Subhash and P G Ranjith (2008). Mineral wastes as alternative and sustainable construction material, Canadian Mining Journal, 129 (2), 7.

Editorial

Associate Editor, International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment Int J of Mining Science & Technology

Associate Editor, I J of Quality Control and Standards in Science and Engineering

Conferences

MPES 2020

Supervision

Research fellow

Dr Kamila Svobodova
The post-mining community aesthetic preferences in mine rehabilitation practice
2015 to 2016

Dr Sumit K Gautam
Temporal changes to the chemical characteristics of the artificial soils used in mine rehabilitation due to biological and physical weathering processes
2014 to 2015

Dr Alena Walmsley
Soil fauna establishment in artificial soils used for mine rehabilitation at Loy Yang’s open cut coal mine
2017 to Ongoing

Dr Stephen Northey
Critical Minerals and Economic Fairways
2018 to 2019

Dr Zhehan Weng
Evaluating Critical Raw Material Supply for Australia’s Defence Sector
2019 to Ongoing

Dr David Whittle
Critical Minerals
2020 to Ongoing

PHD

Ms Likhitha Mundodi
Study of artificial soil created from Overburden, Ash, Brown coal and Compost in Mine Rehabilitation
2013 to 2019

Mr Tushar Gupta
Ash utilisation in haul-road construction in open pit mines: A geoenvironmental investigation
2014 to 2018

Mr Shashibhushan Biliangadi
Synthesizing Soils Using By-Products from Iron & Steel Industry
2015 to 2018

Mr Ye (Eric) Yuan
A new framework for minerals criticality evaluation using machine learning, artificial intelligence, and game theory
2015 to 2019

Mr Stephen Northey
Assessing Water Risks in the Mining Industry using Life Cycle Assessment based Approaches
2014 to 2018

Mr Anil Kumar
Statistical and Machine Learning Models for the Evaluation of Geophysical and Geomechanical Data
2016 to 2020 (expected)

Teaching Commitments

  • ENG5220 - Organising the project function
  • RSE3020 - Resource estimation
Last modified: 03/06/2026