Over the last few years, a number of mining operations have begun to explore achieving carbon neutral in their operations. In addition to the usual strategies: switching from diesel and incorporating renewable energy, many are pursuing a strategy of aiming for Net Zero by employing mining tailings.
Until now, tailings have largely been viewed as a waste product in the mining world. But some tailings, specifically ultramafic hosted deposits—nickel, diamonds, or PGEs (Platinum Group Elements)—possess the potential to absorb significant amounts of CO2.
Greg Dipple, a professor and researcher at the University of British Columbia has been researching carbon mineralisation for over 20 years. “For some deposits,” he says, “it’s technically feasible to have mines that are operating at net negative in terms of CO2 emissions.
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