A Sustainable Approach to Transforming Mining Waste into Value-Added Products

Abstract

AbstractMine waste is usually considered worthless in the subsequent stages of mineral production; but it will become valuable in the future and will be needed for the ever-increasing demand of society. Over several decades, large-scale extraction of minerals to cater ever-increasing demand for the growing global population has generated enormous mining wastes, polluted water bodies and air thereby leaving a deleterious effect on the environment. Each year, several billion tons of solid waste is generated worldwide by mining industries as mine byproducts during all types of mining activities, particularly drilling, blasting, and transportation for the extraction of the desired products. The mining wastes are generated at every step of activity, depending on the type of mining method, type of ore, the geological set-up and processing techniques adopted. It is estimated that about a million ton of ore and waste is generated from the large-scale mines per day, and a couple of thousand tons generates from small-scale mines per day. As per an estimate, mining of 1 ton of coal generates approximately 0.4 tons of waste and tailings. Similarly, the production of 1 ton of copper generates approximately 110 tons of waste and 200 tons removal of overburden. Besides, over 500 million tons of mill tailings is generated per year from various ore concentration processes (e.g., lead-zinc, copper, iron). Therefore, the adoption of optimal waste management strategies is sorely needed for the efficient recycling of large quantities of mining waste products generated each year from hundreds of mining operations across the country (or worldwide). In this study, we present a critical overview of solid wastes in mining and the optimal waste management strategy including legal remedies and economic constraints. A holistic approach to end-to-end mining processes to understand and frame the waste management strategy is needed for reducing the risk and maximizing the resource potential.KeywordsMining wasteResource efficiencySustainable management