Rethinking the concept of small-scale mining for technologically advanced raw materials production

The re-direction of small deposit mining: Technological solutions for raw materials supply security in a whole systems context

“…The task outlined at the start of the manuscript was to examine the paradigm of small-deposit mining using historical and contemporary narratives, case study and stakeholder perspectives. Mining of small deposits was considered as separate from the concept of small-scale mining ( Sidorenko et al., 2020 ), since the former transects historical and contemporary narratives and the latter has multiple modern contexts. In so doing, we intended that the frameworks and criteria be established that will enable further discourses.…”

“…For example, perceptions of the negative impacts of dirty mining ( Harvey, 2014 ) by consumers are not linked to the provision of clean energy with low-carbon emissions, even though they are inextricably linked by the resources required to build renewable energy infrastructures. It illustrates the need for greater communication of the environmental and ethical frameworks within which the mining industry has variably operated ( Sidorenko et al., 2020 ), and which have been recognised from a humanist perspective in literature since Agricola's De re metallica ( Hannaway, 1992 ). The external forces influencing the interconnected critical metal-based value chain and technological development are embodied in social acceptance of mining.…”

“…The implication is that small-scale mining may apply to both small deposits and large deposits, as well as to both critical raw materials and bulk metals. The mining industry, operating at all scales ( Sidorenko et al., 2020 ) and for nearly all commodities, is now facing unprecedented challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to reduced demand, bulk metal prices fell by 10–15% between 4 March and 2 April 2020 and the price of the critical metals platinum and palladium fell 40% in a comparable time period ( Laing, 2020 ; Ahmed, 2020 ).…”

“…More work needs to be done therefore to bring these disparate groups, with different priorities and agendas, closer together in order to realise the future of mining as environmentally and socially accountable. There is a movement towards establishing the societal and environmental implications of implementing small-scale mining in a European context ( Sidorenko et al., 2020 ) as the underpinning of policy recommendations. But further steps must be taken to facilitate sustainable small deposit mining, perhaps by encouraging a greater number of mining companies to adopt a business model of co-creation with an emphasis on ethical responsibility.…”

“…We support our enquiry using case studies as an exploratory tool, with the intention of informing the development of subsequent research methodologies ( Rowley, 2000 ; Yin, 2014 ). We retain the use of the term ‘small deposit’ mining throughout the manuscript as far as possible and retain the use of the term ‘scale’ to emphasise the spatial and environmental footprint of mining operations, to negate challenges arising in the dialogues around artisanal mining contexts as addressed by Sidorenko et al., (2020) . We note that small-scale mining is suitable for, but not limited to, mining of small deposits.…”