Burnie Research Laboratory was first established as a metallurgical laboratory in 1980 by Aberfoyle Ltd. Initially the laboratory supported the various tin mining operations of Aberfoyle with testing including gravity separations and oxide flotation. Following the discovery of Que River and Hellyer polymetallic Pb/Zn/Cu/Ag/Au orebodies, the laboratory then focused on differential sulphide flotation. In the mid 1990's with the purchase of the Gunpowder Mine in North Queensland the laboratory then developed skills in hydrometallurgy resulting in the patented "Mount Gordon Ferric Leach Process". Subsequent projects involved hydrometallurgical extraction of copper from chalcopyrite ores and the development of a pressure leach process to recover zinc and precious metals from the Hellyer flotation tailings. A provisional patent has been applied for in respect of the pressure leaching of chalcopyrite.