Resource potential of mine wastes: A conventional and sustainable perspective on a case study tailings mining project

Suppes, Rudolf; Heuss‐Aßbichler, Soraya

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126446

Cited by 38 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 34 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Table 2 shows an overview of the knowledge generated in each step, as well as general criteria for the case of a positive rating of each step. In pioneering case studies, the UNFC has been successfully applied to anthropogenic RMs, such as landfills [48], municipal waste incineration residues [49,50], electronic waste [48,51], and metalliferous tailings [45]. They deal with already identified RMs recovery projects, partially in advanced stages, showing that quality-assured data on recoverable anthropogenic RMs quantities can be evaluated with the UNFC [44].…”

Section: Concept For a Systematic Tsf Screeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How to Identify Potentials and Barriers of Raw Materials Recovery from Tailings? Part I: A UNFC-Compliant Screening Approach for Site Selection

Suppes

Heuss‐Aßbichler

2021

Resources

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mapping the raw material (RM) potential of anthropogenic RMs, such as tailings, requires a comprehensive assessment and classification. However, a simple procedure to quickly screen for potentially viable RMs recovery projects similar to reconnaissance exploration of natural mineral RMs is missing. In this article, a quick and efficient approach to systematically screen tailings storage facilities (TSFs) is presented to evaluate if a particular TSF meets the criteria to be assessed in a more advanced study including costly on-site exploration. Based on aspects related to a TSF’s contents, physical structure, surroundings, potential environmental and social impacts, and potentially affected stakeholders, it guides its user in compiling the information at local scale in a structured manner compliant with the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC). The test application to the TSF Bollrich (Germany), situated in a complex environment close to various stakeholders, demonstrates that a quick and remote assessment with publicly accessible information is possible. Since an assessment of tailings under conventional classification codes from the primary mining industry neglects relevant aspects, it is concluded that tailings should be considered as anthropogenic RMs. The developed screening approach can help to create a TSF inventory which captures project potentials and barriers comprehensively.

show abstract

Section: Concept For a Systematic Tsf Screeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, there is currently no standardised procedure for their assessment and classification [44]. A comparative case study applying CRIRSCO and UNFC principles to a metalliferous tailings deposit in Portugal demonstrates that the inclusion of environmental and social aspects can affect the classification result substantially [45].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to Identify Potentials and Barriers of Raw Materials Recovery from Tailings? Part I: A UNFC-Compliant Screening Approach for Site Selection

Suppes

Heuss‐Aßbichler

2021

Resources

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Waste valorisation of mine wastes will not only add value to these waste streams and afford environmental benefits to stakeholders but will also promote resource conservation of metals and mineral resources. For example, the amount of Cu in tailings storage facilities (TSF) around the world is estimated to be about 0.13 gigatonnes, which is equivalent to about 15% of the current geogenic copper reserves [38,39]. Reprocessing these copper tailings through technospheric mining would preserve our primary copper sources and promote resource efficiency.…”

Section: Technospheric Miningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reprocessing these copper tailings through technospheric mining would preserve our primary copper sources and promote resource efficiency. This would also contribute significantly to environmental sustainability for various reasons: (1) minimise the impacts of excavations brought by conventional or virgin mining, (2) reduce the amount of final waste for impoundment or storage, (3) minimise contamination from dusts and seepage of toxic and heavy metals associated with mine wastes, and (4) improve safety and stability of tailings dam and storage facilities due to reductions in volume and capacity [4,39,40].…”

Section: Technospheric Miningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technospheric Mining of Mine Wastes: A Review of Applications and Challenges

Lim

Alorro

2021

Sustainable Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The concept of mining or extracting valuable metals and minerals from technospheric stocks is referred to as technospheric mining. As potential secondary sources of valuable materials, mining these technospheric stocks can offer solutions to minimise the waste for final disposal and augment metals’ or minerals’ supply, and to abate environmental legacies brought by minerals’ extraction. Indeed, waste streams produced by the mining and mineral processing industry can cause long-term negative environmental legacies if not managed properly. There are thus strong incentives/drivers for the mining industry to recover and repurpose mine and mineral wastes since they contain valuable metals and materials that can generate different applications and new products. In this paper, technospheric mining of mine wastes and its application are reviewed, and the challenges that technospheric mining is facing as a newly suggested concept are presented. Unification of standards and policies on mine wastes and tailings as part of governance, along with the importance of research and development, data management, and effective communication between the industry and academia, are identified as necessary to progress technospheric mining to the next level. This review attempts to link technospheric mining to the promotion of environmental sustainability practices in the mining industry by incorporating green technology, sustainable chemistry, and eco-efficiency. We argue that developing environmentally friendly processes and green technology can ensure positive legacies from the mining industry. By presenting specific examples of the mine wastes, we show how the valuable metals or minerals they contain can be recovered using various metallurgical and mineral processing techniques to close the loop on waste in favour of a circular economy.

show abstract

“…The importance of mining waste analyses is highlighted by their environmental impact and the potential of the raw materials. This attention is highly visible in commercial and scientific activities within Europe and the world [1]. In Poland, the discussion about the mineralization potential and the environmental impact of tailing piles and tailing ponds has been a point of interest for many years.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mining Waste Volume Estimation Using Airborne Lidar Data and Historical Maps: A Case Study of Tailing Piles in Szklary, Lower Silesia

Trybała

Kaczan

Górecki

2021

Innovations-Sustainability-Modernity-Openness Conference (ISMO’21)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reliable feasibility analysis of potential exploitation of a mining waste deposit poses a great challenge. One of the most crucial parts of this process is the approximation of the deposit volume. In this case study we propose a novel method of tailing pile volume estimation using open remote sensing and cartographic data. For selected piles, the difference between the proposed and classical approach reach 50% of the pile volume, which is a significant change in the potential value of the deposit.

show abstract

Resource potential of mine wastes: A conventional and sustainable perspective on a case study tailings mining project

Cited by 38 publications

References 34 publications

How to Identify Potentials and Barriers of Raw Materials Recovery from Tailings? Part I: A UNFC-Compliant Screening Approach for Site Selection

How to Identify Potentials and Barriers of Raw Materials Recovery from Tailings? Part I: A UNFC-Compliant Screening Approach for Site Selection

Technospheric Mining of Mine Wastes: A Review of Applications and Challenges

Mining Waste Volume Estimation Using Airborne Lidar Data and Historical Maps: A Case Study of Tailing Piles in Szklary, Lower Silesia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About