Session GMPV6.1

[Programme]

GMPV6.1 | Critical metals and minerals from mining and quarrying waste materials: formation, recovery and environmentally sustainable management for their valorization.

Critical metals and minerals from mining and quarrying waste materials: formation, recovery and environmentally sustainable management for their valorization.

Co-organized by ERE4

Convener: Antonello AquilanoECSECS | Co-conveners: Elena Marrocchino, Giovanna Antonella Dino, Angel M Lopez-Buendia, Stefan Dirlich

Orals

| Mon, 15 Apr, 08:30–10:10 (CEST)

Room -2.33

Posters on site

| Attendance Mon, 15 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) | Display Mon, 15 Apr, 14:00–18:00

Hall X1

Posters virtual

| Attendance Mon, 15 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | Display Mon, 15 Apr, 08:30–18:00

vHall X1

The production of minerals and metals is projected to increase by almost 500% by 2050 in order to meet climate targets and the growing demands of society and industry. The extraction and processing of geological resources inevitably generate a significant amount of waste throughout the extraction and processing stages. Waste from quarrying and mining contains substantial quantities of residual minerals, including critical raw materials (CRMs) such as metals and rare earth elements (REE). These waste materials have the potential to be valuable mineral resources.
In the past, the primary focus of mining and mining waste management was on addressing environmental risks and landscape degradation. However, advancements in innovative and technological processes now allow us to reduce, reuse, and recycle these industrial residues, promoting more sustainable exploitation practices. Nevertheless, there are additional challenges associated with the exploration, characterization, recovery, reprocessing, and testing of these recovered materials. Furthermore, it is crucial to develop realistic models for mining waste to accurately assess the prospects for sustainable utilization.
The main topics to be discussed in this session address, but are not limited to:
-Sustainable quarry and mine waste management strategies
-Innovative tools and enhanced methodologies in active and legacy sites for environmental/risk monitoring
-Identification of potential secondary resources (e.g., REEs, CRM)
-Characterisation of geomaterials, their environmental interactions and decay
-Technological developments for waste sampling, characterisation and environmental assessment
-Innovative mineral exploration, extraction, and (re)processing technologies, including geometallurgy
-Mine waste sites rehabilitation and repurposing

Keywords: extractive waste; circular economy; sustainable mining; raw materials and critical raw materials characterization, mine waste management