Recycling and Reuse of Mine Tailings: A Review of Advancements and Their Implications

Abstract

Mining is an important industry, accounting for 6.9% of global GDP. However, global development promotes accelerated demand, resulting in the accumulation of hazardous waste in land, sea, and air environments. It reached 7 billion tonnes of mine tailings generated yearly worldwide, and 19 billion solid tailings will be accumulated by 2025. Adding to this, the legacy of environmental damage from abandoned mines is worrying; there are around 10,000 abandoned mines in Canada, 50,000 in Australia, and 6000 in South Africa, as well as 9500 coal mines in China, reaching 15,000 by 2050. In this scenario, restoration techniques from mining tailings have become increasingly discussed among scholars due to their potential to offer benefits towards reducing tailing levels, thereby reducing environmental pressure for the correct management and adding value to previously discarded waste. This review paper explores the available literature on the main techniques of mining tailing recycling and reuse and discusses leading technologies, including the benefits and limitations, as well as emerging prospects. The findings of this review serve as a supporting reference for decision makers concerning the related sustainability issues associated with mining, mineral processing, and solid waste management.

Effects of different water and fertilizer treatments on the matrix properties and plant growth of tailings waste

“…It is characterized by its high bulk capacity, high shear strength, low subsidence deformation and high permeability. It is exactly complementary to the low shear strength and high compressibility of sieved soil 13 . Gravel is a prevalent surface cover material, offering protection against the direct impact of wind, wind-sand ow, and rainfall.…”

The Mining Industry’s Role in Enhanced Weathering and Mineralization for CO2 Removal

“…If tailings production cannot be avoided, reuse is the best option. 62 Transporting tailings off-site for EWM will generate CO 2 emissions that must be considered. It will be necessary to assess the distance from the mine to the dispersal site and quantify the CDR potential, 63 which depends on the mineralogical composition of the mineral feedstock, climate, particle size, soil environment, and means of transportation.…”

“…The global production of mine wastes is vast and expected to increase as low-grade ore deposits are exploited. If tailings production cannot be avoided, reuse is the best option …”

Statewide analysis of U.S. Metal Waste and Industrial Residues Trade Dynamics from 2002 to 2022

“…The growing global production and consumption of goods are leading to signi cant accumulations of metal and mineral wastes, which are often overlooked but possess both environmental and economic implications (Araujo et al, 2022). These wastes present unique management challenges due to their composition but also represent opportunities as sources of valuable secondary raw materials (Lemos et al, 2023;Kinnunen and Kaksonen, 2019;Wang et al, 2021).…”

“…While foundational methods like metallic separation and eddy current techniques remain pivotal (Li et al, 2010), advancements in hydro and pyrometallurgy, re nements in electrore ning, and innovations like bioleaching and phyto-mining are enriching the metal recovery landscape (Cortés et al, 2020;Dinh et al, 2022;Hussaini et al, 2021). The introduction of eco-friendly chemicals and novel techniques promises cleaner, more e cient processes (Araujo et al, 2022). Concurrently, interest is spiking in recovering metals and minerals from not only metal wastes and scrap (Ally et al, 2021;Šajn et al, 2022) but also from slags, ash, and residues (Jyothi et al, 202;Gou et al, 2019), emphasizing the widening spectrum of resource optimization opportunities.…”