Sustainable Development Of Mineral Resources Research Articles

Towards Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

This study focuses on economic, governmental, social, and environmental factors and their impact on the sustainable development of mineral resources in sub-Saharan Africa. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and data from 40 countries from 2010 to 2022, the research examines the hypothesized links between these factors and sustainable development. The results reveal a positive and statistically significant relationship between economic factors and sustainable development, underlining the crucial role of economic growth in achieving sustainable development goals. Furthermore, effective governance and policy implementation are strongly associated with better sustainable development, underscoring the importance of robust government action. This study also highlights the importance of social factors, demonstrating that increased community involvement and participation contribute positively to sustainable development. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the research reveals a positive relationship between environmental factors and sustainable development, challenging existing ideas and suggesting the need for a more nuanced understanding of the interaction between environmental practices and sustainability. This study concludes with concrete recommendations, including prioritizing economic growth, improving governance and policy effectiveness, promoting social inclusion, and reassessing environmental conservation strategies. These findings provide valuable information for policymakers, corporations, and communities in sub-Saharan Africa, thus contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of sustainable development in the region.

Environmental assessment of geomechanical behavior of lithosphere in sustainable development of mineral resources

Environmental assessment of geomechanical behavior of lithosphere in sustainable development of mineral resources

Assessment of impacts of land and electricity prices on mineral efficiency

This research delves into the complex interplay between land and electricity prices and sustainable mineral resource development across ten Asian countries characterized by significant pollution levels. Leveraging the CUP-FM (continuously updated full modified) technique from 1995 to 2020, the study uncovers crucial insights. Notably, heightened electricity prices demonstrate a direct association with an elevated ratio of mineral consumption to GDP (Gross Domestic Product), underscoring the role of pricing in optimizing mineral resource utilization. Additionally, a positive correlation between the poverty ratio and mineral consumption underscores that regions grappling with higher poverty levels tend to rely more on mineral consumption for their economic activities. Conversely, a negative link exists between the Consumer Price Index and mineral consumption, indicating how inflation impacts prudent resource consumption. Furthermore, the research reveals a compelling connection wherein increased patent applications coincide with reduced mineral consumption-to-GDP ratios, underscoring the role of innovation. Lastly, population growth exhibits a positive influence on the mineral consumption-to-GDP ratio. To enhance mineral efficiency, practical policy recommendations encompass fostering renewable energy, strategically importing green utilities, supporting green patents, and embracing digital transformation.

Examining challenges and solutions for environmental and natural resource management with a focus on mineral resources

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant negative influence on the environment and natural resources, especially in developing countries that already face environmental issues. This research examines the effects of the pandemic on environmental degradation and natural resource depletion in developing countries. In this study, the fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and fuzzy Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) methods are used to examine the challenges and solutions for environmental and natural resource management with a special attention on mineral resources policy. In this regard, the various critical challenges and solutions are proposed for the sustainable development of mineral resources. According to the results of the fuzzy AHP approach, the depletion of natural resources, energy use and emissions, and deforestation and biodiversity loss are of paramount relevance challenges. While, the fuzzy WASPAS results show that sustainable development planning, research innovation, and conservation and protection of natural resources are key solutions in addressing environmental and natural resource depletion after the Covid-19 crisis in developing countries. The findings have enriched our understanding regarding how the Covid-19 outbreak has affected the environment and natural resources in developing countries. The study highlights the significance of considering mineral resources in the overall assessment and the need for sustainable resource management practices throughout the post-pandemic recovery stage.

China's new environmental protection law: Implications for mineral resource policy, environmental precaution and green finance

This study investigates the impact of the new Environmental Protection Law on the cash-holding behavior of polluting firms, utilizing samples of A-share listed companies from the China Stock Market & Accounting Research Database. The findings reveal that polluting firms exhibit more substantial precautionary incentives to hold cash under stringent environmental regulations, indicating their awareness of green financial innovations. The robust analyses confirm the soundness of the conclusions. The heterogeneity results suggest that non-state-owned, non-politically-affiliated, and large firms exhibit more substantial precautionary incentives to hold cash. The mechanism tests indicate that firms may increase cash holdings by aggressively reducing investment or substituting long-term borrowing with cash holdings. However, the study finds that solid environmental regulatory policies do not significantly affect short-term corporate borrowing, indicating that ecological legislation stabilizes long-term impact. Drawing from these findings, this paper offers targeted policy recommendations to enhance the sustainable development of mineral resources.

Management concepts for the sustainable development of mineral resources

Background. The development and implementation of the life cycle concepts of extracted raw materials seems promising for the sustainable development of mineral resources by a mining company. The practical implementation of such concepts requires a system of theoretical, methodological, analytical, and organizational procedures developed in close collaboration by state officials, researchers, and subsoil users with a particular focus on the responsibility of producers.Aim. To carry out an analysis of the existing theoretical concepts for managing the mineral resource base of mining companies and to assess their implementation prospects. The following objectives were formulated: 1) to analyze the current situation in the field of reproduction of mineral resources; 2) to review the management approaches currently used to reproduce mineral resources; 3) to evaluate the prospects of modern concepts for the management of mineral resources in the mining industry.Materials and methods of research. The authors analyzed the publications of foreign and domestic authors in the field of sustainable development. The complex of studies included an analysis of the theoretical concepts of management of reproduction of the mineral resource base developed to date, grouping of key indicators for assessing the sustainability of a mining enterprise, comparing approaches to management of reproduction of the mineral resource base and others.Results. Specific features of the mechanistic approach to the management of mineral resources, as well as its limitations and drawbacks, were analyzed. Particular attention was paid to a concept of the life cycle of a mining plant. The possibilities and prospects of using a methodology of mineral resource capacity management are described.Conclusions. The transition to modern concepts in the management of mining enterprises can be achieved under the condition of changing the existing orientation to super-profitable gross mining to that balancing social, environmental, and economic considerations.

Evaluation of Enterprise Green Mine Construction Based on DPSIR Model.

As a new mode of mining development, green mine optimizes the development and utilization of mineral resources with a minimum of the environmental impact, and how to objectively evaluate the construction level of the green mine has become the key to promote green mine construction and it has also been an important path to achieve sustainable development of mineral resources. The evaluation system and methods of green mine construction, however, are not perfect at present as the existing green mine evaluation mostly adopts the index scoring accumulation method, with which the internal relations between the indicators are ignored, and the subjective influence it causes is too large. Based on the framework model of driving forces, pressure, state, impact and response, an indicator system is constructed in this paper to express the internal relationship between indicators more intuitively. Combined with subjective and objective combination weighting method to determine the index weight, TOPSIS and coupling coordination degree models are introduced to quantitatively evaluate the spatio-temporal evolution process of green mine construction and the coupling coordination between subsystems, analyze and obtain the main obstacle factors affecting the green mine construction of enterprises, and provide suggestions and countermeasures for the improvement of green mine construction of enterprises. The applicability of the model is verified by an actual case study of a mine in China. The model enriches the connotation of green mines, making the evaluation process and results fairer and more reliable, thus providing an effective way to promote the sustainable development of mines.

Long-Term Sustainability of Copper and Iron Based on a System Dynamics Model

Copper and iron are critical to the economic growth of modern society. Nations depend on these metals for the development of infrastructure, transportation, and other industries. However, concerns regarding future availability of “peak minerals” with a “limit to growth” have been extensively debated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount of potential resources and the recycling rate from secondary metal scrap recycling for the sustainable development of mineral resources. The long-term mineral supply and demand balance with respect to recycling for copper and iron were developed for the next 50 years at the regional and global levels. The results indicate that the supply of copper would increase four-fold by 2070 compared to 1991, with primary copper remaining the main contributing source. For iron, the total supply would increase by nine times from 2000 to 2070, with secondary recycling surpassing the primary iron supply by 2033 and becoming the main contributor by 2070. Even though there is no future resource constraint, further promotion of scrap recycling, especially for copper, is necessary to address environmental concerns through reduction in material extraction. Emphasizing the importance of metals in society is essential for stock accountability through resource efficiency and resource conservation.

Overall Dynamic Optimization of Metal Mine Technical Indicators Considering Spatial Distribution of Ore Grade Using AADE

In optimizing the production of a metal mine, either the overall dynamic relations between technical indicators or the spatial distribution of the ore grade are usually considered, but few studies have considered both factors together. These two factors in combination have a greater effect on the optimization of mine production in terms of economic benefit and resource utilization than they do individually. We proposed an overall dynamic optimization model of technical indicators of metal mine production that considers the spatial distribution of the ore grade to better optimize the technical indicators and improve sustainable development of mineral resources. We incorporated an adaptive mutation strategy and adaptive control parameters into a differential evolution algorithm (AADE) in order to overcome the drawbacks of the differential evolution algorithm in solving this optimization model. The adaptive mutation strategy and adaptive control parameters were used to increase the rate of convergence and improve the search for a global maximum. To assess the performance of AADE, we used a real case and four test functions (the Sphere, Griewank, Rastrigin and Rosenbrock functions) in tests that compared AADE with a standard genetic algorithm, a standard differential evolution algorithm and the recently developed adaptive differential evolution algorithm. The results indicate that the optimization model we created is better aligned with mine production processes than current optimization models. In optimizing the technical indicators of metal mine production to maximize economic benefits, AADE performed significantly better than the other three algorithms tested in terms of convergence rate and global search ability.

A Multi-objective Zoning Framework for Mineral Resources Development and Management: A Case Study in Henan Province, China

Sustainable development of mineral resources (MRs) is important for a national strategy of resource security and ecological civilization. Reasonable zoning of MRs for development and management is key. In this study, we developed a multi-objective framework for MRs zones (MRZs), including indicator sets and dividing processes, after evaluating and grading indicators of 131 county-level units in Henan Province, China. We used this framework to customize resource management measures for all kinds of MRZs. The dominant criteria in the zoning evaluation system were resource conditions, development and utilization conditions, ecological environment conditions, and socioeconomic conditions, which included ecological priority, resource security, and socioeconomic development. Discriminant analyses, spatial superposition, cluster analyses, and exclusion method in ArcGIS were used to divide the study area into five categories: prohibited MRZ, restricted MRZ, key MRZ, optimal MRZ, and common MRZ. The results indicated the obvious regional characteristics of MRZ distribution in Henan Province, with 32 restricted MRZs, seven key MRZs, three optimal MRZs, and 23 common MRZs. Prohibited MRZs were located in 51 counties. For the different MRZ types, specific management measures were put forward to improve the layout structure and facilitate the future MRs planning.

Research on Characteristics and Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources in China

China is rich in total mineral resources, but per capita possession of less, more poor ore, mineral resources supply is prominent, and there are problems such as resource waste and environmental pollution; Therefore, in order to achieve sustainable development of mineral resources, it is necessary to strengthen exploration, realize stable allocation of resources, increase strategic reserves, and improve the level of comprehensive utilization of mineral resources, so as to achieve sustainable and healthy development of mineral resources and bring benefits to future generations. On the basis of enumerating the characteristics of China’s mineral resources, this paper analyzes the factors restricting the sustainable development of mineral resources, and puts forward measures to realize the sustainable development of mineral resources by strengthening the legal system and promoting management.

A stochastic optimization method with in-pit waste and tailings disposal for open pit life-of-mine production planning

Environmental responsibility and the sustainable development of mineral resources are a topic of critical importance to the mining industry and at the same time relate to operational and rehabilitation costs to be considered in technical studies. Open pit mining operations impact their local environment in terms of their modification of the landscape and local ecosystems. Many of these impacts are the result of the transportation of large volumes of materials mined and shifted from and to different locations. External stockpiles and waste dumps occupy considerable space as well as involve substantial transportation costs to move materials from open pits to stockpiles and then move them back to the pit for rehabilitation after the end of exploitation. Depending on the shape of the deposit and the intended design of the pit, a desirable option may be to place it directly in the free spaces within the pit, instead of storing all waste and tailings materials in stockpiles and/or waste/tailings dumps. This paper presents a new mathematical formulation integrating to life-of-mine planning and the maximization of net present value, with the related waste and tailings disposal kept within the mined-out parts of a pit, using a stochastic integer program that manages geological uncertainty including metal grades, material types and related chemical compositions. In addition to the traditional variables related to the materials being extracted from the ground in the form of mining blocks, strips of ground following the dip of a pit are considered within the pit as decision variables, and the optimization process aims to optimally define both the sequence of extraction of mining blocks and the reservation of strips needed to store waste materials. An application at an iron ore mine demonstrates the feasibility, applied aspects and advantages of the proposed method.

Some Aspects of Economic – Geographical View on the Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources

Some Aspects of Economic – Geographical View on the Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources

Precious metals in gossanous waste rocks from the Iberian Pyrite Belt

The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) is one of the largest (if not the largest) of the world’s massive sulphide provinces. Since the Chalcolithic era, gossans formed from the massive sulphide mineralisations have been worked for copper, silver and gold, and consequently many historic mine sites have abandoned dumps of gossanous material. The aims of this study are to determine the mineralogical hosts of precious metals (Au, Ag) and environmentally significant elements (As, Ba, Bi, Cu, Hg, Mo, Sb, Se, Pb, Zn) in gossanous waste rocks from historic dumps, using geochemical, optical, SEM–MLA and laser ablation techniques. Results demonstrate that the precious metals are contained as inclusions of electrum, Au and Ag–Hg halides commonly within iron oxides and hydroxides. At least part of the inclusion surfaces are exposed and thus may be amenable to processing, however, the encapsulated nature of the precious metal inclusions along with their small size could make mineral processing difficult. In addition, the As, Bi and Pb enrichment of iron oxides and the presence of Ag–Hg halides may require suitable and safe storage of processing wastes. The study indicates that a solid knowledge of the mineralogical siting of precious metals and environmentally significant elements in gossanous waste rocks is required to assess processability in the move towards sustainable mineral resource development.

The Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources in the International Seabed Area: The Role of the Authority in Balancing Economic Development and Environmental Protection

This paper considers recent developments in the international regime for the exploration and exploitation of seabed minerals beyond national jurisdiction. In particular, it analyses the role of the International Seabed Authority in regulating access to seabed mineral resources and the mechanisms through which the Authority balances the objectives of economic development and environmental protection.

Sustainable Mining in Thailand: Paradigm Shift in Environmental Management

Thailand’smining industry has always been considered as an industrial activity generating significant environmental burdens. This is because environmental management in the sectorwas given lower prioritycompared with economic benefits. The resulting adverse environmental effects in areas surrounding some mining areas required government interventions.Accordingly, the sustainable development of mineral resources requires a delicate balance of economic, environmental and societal considerations. To respond to this challenge, Thailand needs a paradigm shift in environmental management towards sustainablemining, in order to maximize benefits from exploitation of the mineral resources,whilst ensuring co-existence and mutual benefits of mining activities and their surrounding communities.This article seeks to provide some information about a fundamental change in theprinciples, approach and strategies of environmental management towards sustainable mining inThailand. The main mechanism includes changing in visions and strategies towards sustainable mining, applying various sustainability assessment tools in licensing and decision-making processes, decentralizing the environmental monitoring system to local authorities and communities, as well as enhancing the use of the sustainable development principle to all mining operators through various projects. An establishment of a rehabilitation fund, ahealth surveillance fund and a community infrastructure improvement fund are also required for development of any new mining project to guarantee rehabilitation works and risk management efforts during and after the mine’s life.

The Evaluation of the Level of Mineral Recourses' Sustainable Development Based on Efficacy Function

This paper based on efficacy function to get a general assessment about the mineral resources in China on sustainable development level in five major categories: existence, development, society, environment and human resource. Meanwhile, the OLS method is also utilized to make a regressive analysis. The sustainable development of mineral resources in china is fairly well in development and human resource while show trend of continuous growth. The increase of sustainable development in society is slowing down and turning to be tranquil. However, sustainable development level is severe in existence and environment hence illustrate a exasperate trend.

Regional distribution and sustainable development strategy of mineral resources in China

This paper summarizes the distribution and production layout of the major mineral resources in China, including coal, iron ore, copper and bauxite, from a national perspective. It also identifies the incompatibility between the mineral resources distribution and regional economic development. Significant issues with China’s mineral resource industry cause challenges for the sustainable development of both the mining industry and the national socio-economy. The sustainability of regional mineral resources and the environmental pollution by mining in the western China were also analyzed. Results show that the distribution of China’s mineral resources is misaligned with its regional layout of economic development. China’s mineral resources have been over-exploited, and the mineral resources production in the eastern China is unsustainable. The continuously expanding production of mineral resources in the western China has heavily endangered the ecological environment. We propose strategies to boost the sustainable development of mineral resources, including measures to accelerate economic development and enhance the sustainability of domestic mineral resources. We also offer suggestions for scientifically planning the mineral resource prospecting and exploitation and regional economic layout, as well as for proactively undertaking industry transfer in the eastern China and raising the environmental benchmark requirements for the mineral industry in the central and western China.

Measurements study on sustainability of China’s mining cities

It is generally considered that the non-renewable mineral resources will be depleted some day. So it is crucial for each mining city to make sustainable use of its mineral resources. And in order to support suitable decision-making of sustainable development for mining cities, it requires measuring its degree of sustainable development of mineral resources and forecasting its developing trend effectively. The purpose of this paper is to establish a scientific and suitable method for measuring the degree of sustainable development of mineral resources (DSDMR) of mining cities well and truly. This study proposes measuring sustainability of mineral resources with an integrated method which synthesizes accelerating genetic algorithms (AGA), analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy integrated judgment (FIJ). And a real case is used to demonstrate the method AGA–EAHP–FIJ. The results show that AGA–EAHP–FIJ is a good method for measuring the DSDMR of the mining city.

The sustainability of China's major mining cities

The aim of this paper is to identify principal factors controlling the Degree of Sustainable Development of Mineral Resources (DSDMR) of mining cities and then to measure their DSDMR and reveal their developing trends. To do this, 78 Chinese mining cities are used as an example. These cities are classified on a hierarchical level of the DSDMR in order to support decision-making of sustainable development. Six principal factors controlling the DSDMR are recognized using factor analysis. They are used to measure the DSDMR of the Chinese mining cities and their developing trends. The results show that in terms of the type of mineral resources, the DSDMR decreases from petroleum to multi-resources to non-metal to coal to metal cities. It decreases also from middle to old to young aged cities and from eastern to central to western cities in geographical location. In addition, large and very large cities have higher DSDMR values than middle- and small-sized cities. These Chinese mining cities are classified into six clusters by cluster analysis, which forms the basis for policy making.