Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects
Ultramafic and mafic mine tailings are a valuable feedstock for carbon mineralization that should be used to offset carbon emissions generated by the mining industry. Although passive carbonation is occurring at the abandoned Clinton Creek asbestos mine, and the active Diavik diamond and Mount Keith...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2014-05-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/4/2/399 |
| _version_ | 1797357345906360320 |
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| author | Ian M. Power Jenine McCutcheon Anna L. Harrison Sasha Wilson Gregory M. Dipple Simone Kelly Colette Southam Gordon Southam |
| author_facet | Ian M. Power Jenine McCutcheon Anna L. Harrison Sasha Wilson Gregory M. Dipple Simone Kelly Colette Southam Gordon Southam |
| author_sort | Ian M. Power |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ultramafic and mafic mine tailings are a valuable feedstock for carbon mineralization that should be used to offset carbon emissions generated by the mining industry. Although passive carbonation is occurring at the abandoned Clinton Creek asbestos mine, and the active Diavik diamond and Mount Keith nickel mines, there remains untapped potential for sequestering CO<sub>2</sub> within these mine wastes. There is the potential to accelerate carbonation to create economically viable, large-scale CO<sub>2</sub> fixation technologies that can operate at near-surface temperature and atmospheric pressure. We review several relevant acceleration strategies including: bioleaching of magnesium silicates; increasing the supply of CO<sub>2</sub> via heterotrophic oxidation of waste organics; and biologically induced carbonate precipitation, as well as enhancing passive carbonation through tailings management practices and use of CO<sub>2</sub> point sources. Scenarios for pilot scale projects are proposed with the aim of moving towards carbon-neutral mines. A financial incentive is necessary to encourage the development of these strategies. We recommend the use of a dynamic real options pricing approach, instead of traditional discounted cash-flow approaches, because it reflects the inherent value in managerial flexibility to adapt and capitalize on favorable future opportunities in the highly volatile carbon market. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:43:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-33f38a96df754060ad5c73e0e093a762 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:43:42Z |
| publishDate | 2014-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-33f38a96df754060ad5c73e0e093a7622024-01-11T14:52:24ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2014-05-014239943610.3390/min4020399min4020399Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot ProjectsIan M. Power0Jenine McCutcheon1Anna L. Harrison2Sasha Wilson3Gregory M. Dipple4Simone Kelly5Colette Southam6Gordon Southam7Mineral Deposit Research Unit, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaSchool of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaMineral Deposit Research Unit, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaSchool of Geosciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaMineral Deposit Research Unit, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, CanadaDepartment of Finance, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4229, AustraliaDepartment of Finance, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4229, AustraliaSchool of Earth Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, AustraliaUltramafic and mafic mine tailings are a valuable feedstock for carbon mineralization that should be used to offset carbon emissions generated by the mining industry. Although passive carbonation is occurring at the abandoned Clinton Creek asbestos mine, and the active Diavik diamond and Mount Keith nickel mines, there remains untapped potential for sequestering CO<sub>2</sub> within these mine wastes. There is the potential to accelerate carbonation to create economically viable, large-scale CO<sub>2</sub> fixation technologies that can operate at near-surface temperature and atmospheric pressure. We review several relevant acceleration strategies including: bioleaching of magnesium silicates; increasing the supply of CO<sub>2</sub> via heterotrophic oxidation of waste organics; and biologically induced carbonate precipitation, as well as enhancing passive carbonation through tailings management practices and use of CO<sub>2</sub> point sources. Scenarios for pilot scale projects are proposed with the aim of moving towards carbon-neutral mines. A financial incentive is necessary to encourage the development of these strategies. We recommend the use of a dynamic real options pricing approach, instead of traditional discounted cash-flow approaches, because it reflects the inherent value in managerial flexibility to adapt and capitalize on favorable future opportunities in the highly volatile carbon market.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/4/2/399carbon sequestrationcarbon mineralizationmineral carbonationbioleachingbiomineralizationmine tailings |
| spellingShingle | Ian M. Power Jenine McCutcheon Anna L. Harrison Sasha Wilson Gregory M. Dipple Simone Kelly Colette Southam Gordon Southam Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects Minerals carbon sequestration carbon mineralization mineral carbonation bioleaching biomineralization mine tailings |
| title | Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects |
| title_full | Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects |
| title_fullStr | Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects |
| title_short | Strategizing Carbon-Neutral Mines: A Case for Pilot Projects |
| title_sort | strategizing carbon neutral mines a case for pilot projects |
| topic | carbon sequestration carbon mineralization mineral carbonation bioleaching biomineralization mine tailings |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/4/2/399 |
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