In situ recovery, an alternative to conventional methods of mining: Exploration, resource estimation, environmental issues, project evaluation and economics

Seredkin, Maxim; Zabolotsky, A. M.; Jeffress, Graham

doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2016.06.016

Cited by 120 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…In essence, blended filtered tailings and waste rock in transit create a product that reduces oxygen flow and yields improved shear strength and better physical stability. This eliminates the need to keep (Seredkin et al 2016) that involves metal leaching underground without producing any tailings on land.…”

Section: Advantages and Disadvantages Of Submarine Tailings Disposal mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Deep-sea Tailings Placement Versus On-land Disposal

Kwong

Apte

Asmund

et al. 2019

Water Air Soil Pollut

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With increasing metal prices and declining ore grades, new mines are getting larger and mine waste disposal and management have become more difficult, particularly from an environmental perspective. While technologies keep on improving, the available space for terrestrial mine waste disposal is limited. Thus, several coastal countries still consider deep-sea tailings placement (DSTP) as a viable option. This brief review compares the environmental impacts of DSTP versus on-land disposal and suggests several factors to consider in selecting the most suitable options for mine waste disposal.

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Section: Advantages and Disadvantages Of Submarine Tailings Disposal mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Deep-sea Tailings Placement Versus On-land Disposal

Kwong

Apte

Asmund

et al. 2019

Water Air Soil Pollut

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“…DISB combines indirect bioleaching, where the abiotic dissolution of a sulfidic ore or concentrate by an acidic, ferric iron-rich lixiviant and the biological regeneration of oxidised iron following the stripping of the target solubilised metal(s), are spatially separated (e.g., Reference [29]) with in situ leaching (ISL) which is, as noted, not a new concept. An ISL process for recovering uranium was first introduced in the USA in 1959 and was estimated to account for 51% of global U production in 2014 [30]. Copper was also recovered using ISL in, e.g., Nevada and Arizona in the 1970s-1990s [31].…”

Section: Deep In Situ Biominingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Evolution, Current Status, and Future Prospects of Using Biotechnologies in the Mineral Extraction and Metal Recovery Sectors

Johnson

2018

Minerals

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The current global demand in terms of both the amounts and range of metals for industrial and domestic use greatly exceeds that at any previous time in human history. Recycling is inadequate to meet these needs and therefore mining primary metal ores will continue to be a major industry in the foreseeable future. The question of how metal mining can develop in a manner which is less demanding of energy and less damaging of the environment in a world whose population is increasingly aware of, and concerned about, the environment, requires urgent redress. Increased application of biotechnologies in the mining sector could go some way in solving this conundrum, yet, biomining (harnessing microorganisms to enhance the recovery of base and precious metals) has remained a niche application since it was first knowingly used in the 1960s. This manuscript reviews the development and current status of biomining applications and highlights their limitations as well as their strengths. New areas of biotechnology that could be applied in the mining sector, and their potential impact in terms of both their potential environmental and economic benefits, are also discussed.

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“…ISL has been most often applied to uranium leaching and accounts for a large proportion of uranium production. Acidic (sulfuric acid) or alkaline (ammonium or sodium bicarbonate/carbonate) lixiviant systems are typically used, although a much wider range of lixiviants are now being considered [9]. However, it is noteworthy that there have been many instances of poor environmental outcome from poorly/unmanaged uranium ISL operations [10].…”

Section: In Situ Technologies Mining Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

In Situ Resource Recovery from Waste Repositories: Exploring the Potential for Mobilization and Capture of Metals from Anthropogenic Ores

Sapsford

Cleall

Harbottle

2016

J. Sustain. Metall.

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Wastes and the waste repositories in which they reside are becoming targets for resource recovery, both for legacy wastes and for future waste arisings as part of a desire to move toward a circular economy. There is an urgent requirement to explore concepts for practicable technologies that can be applied to these ends. This paper presents a synthesis of concepts concerning in situ technologies (developed from mining and contaminated land remediation industries) that have enormous potential for application to technospheric mining. Furthermore, potential target waste streams and their mineralogy and character are presented along with a discussion concerning lixiviant and metal capture systems that could be applied. Issues of preferential flow (critical to the success of in situ techniques) and how to control it with engineering measures are discussed in detail. It is clear that in situ recovery of metals from anthropogenic ores is a novel technology area that links new sustainable remediation approaches for contaminated materials and technospheric mining for closing material loops, and warrants the further research and development of technologies applicable to major waste streams.

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In situ recovery, an alternative to conventional methods of mining: Exploration, resource estimation, environmental issues, project evaluation and economics

Cited by 120 publications

References 3 publications

Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Deep-sea Tailings Placement Versus On-land Disposal

Comparison of Environmental Impacts of Deep-sea Tailings Placement Versus On-land Disposal

The Evolution, Current Status, and Future Prospects of Using Biotechnologies in the Mineral Extraction and Metal Recovery Sectors

In Situ Resource Recovery from Waste Repositories: Exploring the Potential for Mobilization and Capture of Metals from Anthropogenic Ores

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