A review of sustainable mining and resource management: Transitioning from the life cycle of the mine to the life cycle of the mineral

Abstract

Application of sustainability principles to mining is inherently challenging, as mining is the act of removing and consuming a limited resource. However, consideration of sustainability – meeting present needs without compromising needs of future generations – is increasingly being incorporated into mine development and operation as demand for minerals and products of mining such as metals and fuel and non-fuel minerals and the environmental impacts associated with minerals extraction activities continue to increase. This paper provides a review of existing research literature and thought on sustainability in mining of non-fuel minerals.A common sustainable mining framework is focused on reducing environmental impacts of mining. Strategies for assessing the sustainability of mining operations include measuring, monitoring, and working to improve various environmental performance metrics, and these are used to determine whether a mining operation is sustainable. The key metrics for environmental sustainability in mining relate to efficiencies in resource consumption, minimizing land disturbance, pollution reduction, as well as closure and reclamation of exhausted mine lands.Another sustainable mining framework transitions from the emphasis on the environmental footprint of mining operations to responsible management of non-fuel mineral resources throughout their entire life cycle, including use phase and end of life, with attendant implications for reducing the quantity of mined material and preserving reserves for future generations. This paper examines the transition to a broader context that includes the entire mineral life cycle. We propose that assessment of sustainability in mining should encompass a systems view of mined materials in society, emphasizing existing environmental sustainability metrics from mining operations as well as including “circularity” or “life cycle” metrics to assess the sustainability of production and extraction for the long term.