Articles tagged with "sustainable-mining"
New solvent method extracts lithium faster from low-grade brines
Researchers at Columbia Engineering have developed a novel solvent-based method called switchable solvent selective extraction (S3E) to extract lithium more quickly and cleanly from low-grade brines, which are traditionally difficult to process due to low lithium concentrations and high contamination. Unlike conventional solar evaporation ponds that are slow, water-intensive, and limited to specific climates, S3E uses a temperature-sensitive solvent that selectively absorbs lithium ions and water at room temperature and releases purified lithium upon heating, allowing the solvent to be reused. This process also effectively removes magnesium, a common contaminant, enhancing lithium selectivity by up to 10 times over sodium and 12 times over potassium. Lab tests simulating brines from California’s Salton Sea—a region with lithium reserves sufficient for over 375 million electric vehicle batteries—showed that S3E could recover nearly 40% of lithium over multiple cycles using the same solvent batch. The method can operate continuously and be powered by low-grade heat from waste or solar sources,
energylithium-extractionbattery-materialsrenewable-energysustainable-miningsolar-energyelectric-vehiclesHow one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage
The article discusses the looming global copper shortage expected within five years, driven by rising demand from sectors like data centers and electric vehicles. Current projections suggest supply could fall short by up to 25%, pushing copper prices higher and prompting increased investment in mining ventures, such as KoBold’s recent efforts in Zambia. Amid this challenge, a startup named Transition Metal Solutions is pioneering a novel approach to enhance copper extraction by leveraging microbial communities in ore heaps. Unlike traditional methods that focus on isolating or engineering specific microbial strains, Transition aims to stimulate the entire microbial ecosystem using low-cost, mostly inorganic additives—akin to “prebiotics” for copper mines—to boost copper yield by 20-30%. Transition’s CEO, Sasha Milshteyn, explains that previous microbial enhancement attempts often failed because they targeted individual strains without considering the complex, largely uncharacterized microbial communities in acidic heap leach environments. These environments are difficult to replicate and study in labs, with over 90% of microbes being previously unknown
materialscopper-miningmicrobial-technologymineral-extractionstartup-innovationsustainable-miningmetal-productionMassive 50-ton electric vehicles to help extract gold from Canadian mine
Eldorado Gold, a Canadian mining company, has ordered ten Sandvik TH550B battery electric vehicles (BEVs) worth $17 million to replace its diesel-powered fleet at the Lamaque gold mine in Val-d’Or, Québec. Deliveries will begin in early 2026 and conclude by 2027. These 50-ton electric trucks run on large lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery packs, which are safer for underground use due to lower fire risks compared to nickel-rich lithium cells. A key feature is their “AutoSwap” system, enabling robotic battery swaps in minutes, minimizing downtime compared to traditional charging. The adoption of these BEVs offers significant operational and environmental benefits. They eliminate exhaust fumes and reduce heat buildup underground, which can lower ventilation costs—a major energy expense in deep mining. This could also enable deeper mining without extensive new ventilation infrastructure. Beyond gold mining, such electric vehicles have potential applications in other mining sectors, particularly those extracting materials for electric vehicle
energyelectric-vehiclesbattery-electric-vehiclesmining-technologylithium-iron-phosphate-batteriesbattery-swappingsustainable-miningA Phyto Finish: Could Seaweed Be Mined for Critical Minerals? - CleanTechnica
The article discusses research by scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the University of Alaska Fairbanks investigating the potential of seaweed to accumulate rare earth elements (REEs) near Bokan Mountain, Alaska—a former uranium mining site known for its rich REE deposits. REEs are critical minerals used in everyday electronics and defense technologies, but traditional mining is costly and environmentally challenging. The team collected seaweed and water samples from Moira Bay to study which seaweed species absorb these minerals most effectively and to understand the physiological and geochemical mechanisms behind this accumulation. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency, the researchers aim to develop biomimetic or bioinspired methods for extracting REEs from seawater, potentially enabling future cultivation of mineral-rich seaweed as a sustainable alternative to conventional mining. This approach, called ocean phytomining, could help meet growing demand for critical minerals while reducing environmental impact. The study highlights the surprising biodiversity of marine life
energymaterialsrare-earth-elementsbiominingseaweedsustainable-miningbioenergyDriving Best Practice in Mining Waste Management - CleanTechnica
A recent study by Transport & Environment (T&E) and Earthworks provides a global benchmarking of mining waste legislation across six regions, highlighting significant weaknesses in current regulatory frameworks. As demand for critical minerals surges due to the energy transition and other technological needs, robust mining waste management is essential to protect people and the environment. The research compares national laws against the "Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management" and finds that no region fully mandates the use of best available technologies or meets all safety requirements, especially regarding the closure of tailings facilities. Despite widespread regulatory gaps, some countries demonstrate leadership in mining waste governance. Brazil stands out with the strongest legislative framework, notably being the only country to fully ban upstream tailings dams and enforce strict monitoring and proximity limits to residential areas. The US state of Montana also has strong independent monitoring rules, while China imposes restrictions on tailings facility locations near communities. Most jurisdictions require some form of financial assurance for mining waste management. The report calls on governments
energymining-waste-managementenvironmental-protectioncritical-mineralsmining-legislationsustainable-miningtailings-managementChina extracts rare earth minerals from living plant in a first
A Chinese-led research team has made a groundbreaking discovery by identifying nanoscale monazite—a rare earth element (REE)-rich mineral—naturally crystallized within the tissues of a living plant, specifically the evergreen fern Blechnum orientale. This marks the first time such a mineral has been found forming biologically under ambient Earth-surface conditions, contrasting with the typical geological formation of monazite under high pressure and temperature. The study, conducted by the Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry and Virginia Tech, highlights the fern’s ability to concentrate REEs like cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium in its leaflets, where the mineral crystallizes extracellularly as a detoxification mechanism. This discovery supports the feasibility of phytomining, a sustainable and environmentally friendly method that uses hyperaccumulator plants to extract valuable metals from soil. By cultivating these plants on metal-rich land and harvesting their biomass, rare earth metals can be recovered without the environmental and geopolitical risks associated with conventional mining. The
rare-earth-elementsphytominingmaterials-sciencemonazitesustainable-miningmineral-extractionenvironmental-technologyNew breakthrough tech helps extract gold by recycling toxic cyanide
Scientists at Australia’s CSIRO have developed a new Sustainable Gold Cyanidation Technology that improves gold recovery by recycling toxic cyanide used in mining. This process, recently completed in a month-long lab-scale pilot, aims to reduce environmental and health risks associated with cyanide spills, which have historically caused significant ecological damage, such as the 2000 Aural Gold Mine disaster in Romania. Unlike current industry practices that destroy residual cyanide, this technology recovers cyanide and other toxic compounds, as well as some base metals and valuables typically lost in tailings, potentially lowering costs and hazards related to cyanide transport and storage. The researchers are now seeking industry partners to advance to larger-scale field demonstrations. This innovation builds on CSIRO’s previous work, including the ‘Going for Gold’ cyanide-free extraction process using thiosulphate, which has been commercially adopted by Clean Mining. The new cyanidation technology promises greater economic and environmental benefits beyond existing cyanide recovery methods, with the potential
materialsgold-extractioncyanide-recyclingsustainable-miningenvironmental-technologytoxic-waste-managementprecious-metals-recoverySeaweed could unlock new sources of rare minerals for EVs: US study
US researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a novel approach to extract rare earth minerals and critical metals from seaweed, potentially unlocking a sustainable domestic source for materials essential to electric vehicles (EVs), electronics, and construction. Seaweed species, particularly Ulva (sea lettuce), have been found to bioaccumulate rare earth elements and metals like nickel at concentrations vastly higher than those in seawater. By cultivating various seaweed species at their Sequim campus, the team identified which types concentrate specific minerals, with Ulva showing the best overall potential for critical mineral accumulation. The extraction process involves grinding harvested seaweed into a paste and treating it with acidic liquids known as lixiviants, which dissolve the targeted minerals. This mixture is then subjected to high temperatures to break chemical bonds and release the minerals. Although achieving efficient extraction—aiming for at least 50% recovery—has been challenging, researchers have optimized the process by experimenting with different lixiviants, temperatures, and
energyrare-earth-mineralsseaweedelectric-vehiclescritical-mineralssustainable-miningPacific-Northwest-National-LaboratoryHow a New Jersey startup found an electrifying way to slash copper costs
Still Bright, a New Jersey startup founded in 2022, has developed an innovative and environmentally friendly method to extract copper more efficiently from existing ores and tailings. With global copper demand set to surge due to the transition away from fossil fuels, traditional mining faces challenges such as limited easily accessible ores and the need for numerous new mines. Still Bright’s technology uses a vanadium-based solution to soak copper-containing ores, extracting nearly all the copper without the pre-processing losses typical in conventional methods. The solution is regenerated electrically, inspired by vanadium flow battery technology, enabling a cleaner process that avoids the harmful pollution associated with burning unwanted ore components. The startup’s modular system is compact and cost-effective, with equipment 70% to 90% cheaper than traditional pyrometallurgical refining gear, and processes copper rapidly—within minutes to an hour. Although currently operating at pilot scale producing two tons annually, Still Bright plans to build a demonstration unit by 2027 or 2028 capable of producing
energymaterialscopper-extractionvanadium-flow-batterymining-technologysustainable-miningclean-energy-technologyNew clay membrane tech can extract lithium straight from water
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Chicago have developed a novel, low-cost membrane technology capable of efficiently extracting lithium directly from saltwater. This membrane is made from vermiculite, a naturally abundant and inexpensive clay, which is processed into ultrathin two-dimensional sheets. To stabilize these sheets in water, the team introduced microscopic aluminum oxide pillars that maintain the membrane’s structure and enable selective ion filtration based on size and charge. By doping the membrane with sodium ions, it gains a positive surface charge that repels magnesium ions more strongly than lithium ions, allowing for effective separation of lithium from chemically similar elements. This breakthrough offers a scalable alternative to traditional lithium mining, which is costly, slow, and geographically concentrated, by tapping into the vast lithium reserves dissolved in seawater, underground brines, and wastewater. The membrane’s ability to selectively filter lithium with high precision could reduce dependence on foreign lithium suppliers and unlock new domestic sources. Beyond lithium, the
materialsenergylithium-extractionmembrane-technology2D-materialssustainable-miningwater-filtrationUS: World-first lithium plant uses oilfield water with 97% recovery
A US company, Gradiant, through its lithium-focused subsidiary alkaLi, has launched the world’s first fully integrated lithium production facility that extracts lithium from oilfield produced water in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale Formation. Expected to begin commercial operations by early 2026, this facility uses an innovative extract, concentrate, and convert (EC²) process that achieves up to 97% lithium recovery and 99.5% purity, surpassing industry standards. The plant is designed to supply up to 50% of the US lithium demand, addressing the growing need for domestic lithium amid rising electric vehicle and energy storage markets. AlkaLi’s vertically integrated model bypasses lengthy permitting processes, enabling faster deployment of battery-grade lithium production with lower capital and operating costs. The EC² platform combines Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) with concentration and conversion in a streamlined system that uses less water, energy, and produces less waste, enhancing both economic and environmental sustainability. The company has secured a
lithium-productionenergy-storagebattery-grade-lithiumsustainable-miningcritical-mineralselectric-vehiclesresource-recoverySuperbug mines rare earths and captures carbon from thin air
rare-earthscarbon-capturebiotechnologysustainable-miningclimate-changemicrobial-engineeringenvironmental-sustainability100 XCMG autonomous mining trucks begin operating in Inner Mongolia - The Robot Report
robotIoTenergyautonomous-vehiclessustainable-miningelectric-truckszero-carbon-technology