{"id":15113,"date":"2022-11-29T15:51:36","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T07:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?p=15113"},"modified":"2023-11-27T13:44:45","modified_gmt":"2023-11-27T05:44:45","slug":"mining-digs-into-the-circular-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/mining-digs-into-the-circular-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Mining digs into the circular economy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After the Western Australian government announced in June that it would start \u2018decarbonising\u2019 the state, the mining industry and science research teams began preparing for some groundbreaking collaborations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Curtin, Professor Michael Hitch is leading the first step of the process: the drafting of the \u2018decarbonisation roadmap\u2019, which he intends to align with models of \u2018the circular economy\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hitch, who heads the Curtin WA School of Mines: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering, believes in the resources sector\u2019s ability and motivation to set new standards in the circular production model of reduce-reuse-recycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a critical alternative to the linear model we’re accustomed to, which is to produce, then use, then dispose,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the circular model, we produce, we use, but we never really dispose. Or we do it in such a way that the manufactured goods can be disaggregated and returned to the production stream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a mining company, supporting a circular model involves minimising the impact of mining operations on the land, converting mining waste into useful by-products, and undertaking land rehabilitation once mining ceases. And it\u2019s the waste from mineral extraction that\u2019s driving the industry\u2019s entry into the circular economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn mining \u2013 and in the resources sector in general \u2013 we produce a lot of waste. We call it ‘waste’ but really it’s just broken rock, which is either put it into dumps or tailings ponds. In the circular model, we aim to up-value that waste to the point of creating a viable byproduct.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe circular mode is usually quite static, with little room for economic growth. However, up-valuing waste can actually help to grow an economy, and occasionally we might even develop by-products that are worth more than the materials generating that waste\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Metals leasing\u2019 is another bold concept that Hitch believes has merit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBasically, it’s blockchain and supply-chain management, tracking that ton of ore through its life cycle. The person who\u2019s using the steel to manufacture a product isn\u2019t buying it, they\u2019re leasing it, within a circular economy. When the product is at end-of-life, it can return to the manufacturer or the miner as a recyclable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What do artificial reefs, blueberries and paint have in common?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The development of viable by-products from mining and smelting is fast becoming a global research movement. At its core is the commitment of all 27 members of the International Council on Mining and Metals to a goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050<\/a>. Some companies have already implemented initiatives to achieve the goal; Novum Energy, BHP and Anglo American, for example, are recycling discarded dump-truck tyres into oils and steel. And Rio Tinto, which is aiming for a 50% emissions reduction by 2030 \u2013 a mere eight years from now \u2013 is developing blueberry fertiliser from waste aluminium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of Hitch\u2019s research focuses has been the potential for the mining by-product selenium<\/a> to be a fertiliser enhancer. He\u2019s also contributed to research looking at carbonated steel slag to create artificial reefs<\/a>. But the area he\u2019s most enthusiastic about is carbon capture and sequestration (CCS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRight now, BHP are investigating uses for their tailings, which is the material that\u2019s left once the target mineral is extracted. In nickel mining, the tailings are effectively sand and they\u2019re chemically neutral. But when in contact with carbon dioxide, the sandy material is reactive and the sand particle changes to a carbonate,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause the carbonate is thermodynamically stable for about 100,000 years, it gives sand tailings the potential as a carbon capture and storage material. This would qualify the process for carbon offset credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says the material could also form the basis on new industrial products such as building materials, animal feed, food fillers or paint thickeners. In fact, this year alone, Hitch as co-authored three research papers that explore the potential of tailings and steel slag to be the basis of new building materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo there are at least three major benefits that nickel tailings offer: sequestering CO2, generating carbon credits, and forming a base for innovative industrial products. It\u2019s a perfect example of circularity, where the waste has economic value, environmental value and social value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t forget your social licence<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hitch\u202fjoined Curtin in 2020, following 20 years\u2019 industry experience, beginning as a field geologist and transitioning to mining operations and eventually to research.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
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Professor Michael Hitch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cI’ve travelled a lot since my career began in the mid-80s and I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly of what mining can do,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He stresses that community acceptance of a company\u2019s operations is vital for the industry\u2019s future, and that mining companies must gain and uphold their \u201csocial licence to operate\u201d, a concept that was the basis of a journal paper<\/a> Hitch co-authored in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe social licence to operate, or SLO, is about a trust that’s built between a mining company, or any industrial proponent, for that matter \u2013 it could be a shoe factory. It’s about bringing the community into the planning process and the operations, and being truthful in communication and transparent in operation \u2013 including when something goes wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt must comprise community engagement, including what should be done to the land after mining operations cease, and a clear commitment to regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says the concept of a social licence often is still missing in developing countries, where mining companies pay taxes and royalties directly to corrupt governments and where none of the mining wealth is distributed to local communities. Canada, and Australia to a lesser extent, have some of the highest environmental standards in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCanadian mining companies operating overseas to work, they’re held by the standards of Canadian law and policy. So if they go in and behave badly, they’ll be held accountable against Canadian standards. A few years ago, for example, Barrick Gold\u2019s operations in Chile were stopped by the Canadian government, due to concerns about the impact on local water supplies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, here in Australia, who could forget the unforgiveable blasting of the Juukan Gorge that\u2019s still stigmatising Rio Tinto?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cActually, the ‘big end of town’, as it’s known here in WA, is doing a really good job,\u201d Hitch says. \u201cThey\u2019re establishing programs and have specialists focused on sustainability and social responsibility, so that the local communities are not negatively impacted and preferably benefit from the operation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does sustainability even mean?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Underpinning the circular model is the acceptance that, despite the mining industry\u2019s titanic contribution to CO2 emissions, mining will remain integral to most economies for the foreseeable future. That isn\u2019t due only to the enduring demand for products that use traditional mineral resources for construction materials, but also to the rising need for critical minerals that underpin modern gadgets and technological innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with the growing call to adopt more sustainable practices, what will mining operations look like in the future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSustainability as a term has become a bit diffused,\u201d Hitch says. \u201cWe think of \u2018sustainability\u2019 as being able to continue doing what we\u2019re doing without sacrificing the needs of future generations. But there’s another part to it that many people don’t want to acknowledge \u2013 and that\u2019s if it’s feasible<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recalling a mining conference at which Indian prime minister Narendra Modi revealed that 40% of India\u2019s population lived without electricity, Hitch believes the challenges faced by developing nations deserve greater attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFortunately for WA, we produce most of the material that will be required for the infrastructure of the future \u2013 iron ore and specialty metals like nickel and lithium. But we also have a wealth of mining technology and knowledge, and we should export this knowledge to help lift nations out of poverty, help smooth their energy transition and minimise environmental impact,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we have to come up with alternative models of the materials that we are producing. Sustainable resource use is about mining to meet need, not mining that\u2019s economically valuable due to market conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIdeally, we\u2019d be able to estimate how much steel the world will need for the next 25 years, then and develop mines that will provide the iron ore to produce the steel for the next 25 years. It\u2019s ‘material stewardship’\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mining becomes part of the solution<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As part of WA\u2019s decarbonisation plan and with support from the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia, Hitch will develop a research program that offers exciting collaborations for the state\u2019s mining industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, one project aims to develop methods that accelerate the natural process of mineral carbonation, a natural rock weathering process where CO2 binds to minerals in the Earth’s crust, thereby removing CO2 from the atmosphere, albeit slowly. The project builds on one of Hitch\u2019s recent international collaborations<\/a> that investigated sequestration processes for commercialisation, based on the potential for mineral carbonation to provide greater storage capacity than other CCS methods, such as geological and ocean sequestration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAgain, nickel tailings are ideally suited for this purpose, and we\u2019re working with BHP Nickel West on methods to increase the carbonation reaction to store CO2 into its tailings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If successful, the project\u2019s outcome will be a new solution for large-scale storage of CO2 emissions, at the gigatonne scale. And with WA holding about 30% of the world\u2019s nickel reserves, and nickel being highly sought after for electric vehicle batteries, Hitch says that \u201cWA could sequester more emissions than we produce \u2013 and set a new level of mining industry innovation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, it’s about resource utilisation and stewardship. If we’re going to dig into the land, we should find ways to extract value from everything that we take out of the ground, including the waste material that didn\u2019t previously have economic value.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Will Western Australian mining set a new industry standard for the global circular economy?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":618,"featured_media":15118,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_research-areas":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41,103],"tags":[174],"research-areas":[],"class_list":["post-15113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","category-mining-and-minerals","tag-sustainability"],"acf":{"post_options":{"":null,"additional_content":{"title":"","content":"","image":false},"related_courses":[{"title":"Mining","qualification":"Bachelor of Science (Mining)","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/study\/offering\/course-ug-mining-major-bsc-science--mjru-mneng\/","description":"Covering mining methods, rock mechanics, geology and mine planning, this course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to help plan and direct the extraction of mineral and energy resources from the Earth.","faculty":"Science and Engineering"}],"credits":{"author":"","photographer":"","media":false},"display_author":true,"banner":{"image":false}},"post_components":false},"featured_image":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/wa-nickel-mine.jpeg","author_meta":{"first_name":"Karen","last_name":"Green","display_name":"Karen Green"},"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-25 04:58:26","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/618"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15113"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15113\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15113"},{"taxonomy":"research-areas","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-areas?post=15113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}