Future Mineral Exploration

• Problem of future mineral exploitation


  Development of technology and methods that can exploit the low grade deposits
• Mineral recovery enhancement


  -improved extraction techniques

  -recycling
• Sustainable mining approaches


  -green mining- sustainable development principle, reduces footprint, increases efficiency and social impact

  -community consultation- respecting rights and traditions of local communities, helps avoid conflict
• Strategic mineral reserve


  Ensuring availability in times of extreme need or supply interruptions
• Trade policies, sustainable mining


  Governments can negotiate trade agreements to ensure international peace
• Fair trade mining


  Supporting areas where mining is done sustainably and treats workers fair
• Main approaches for ensuring future mineral supplies


  -better exploration

  -efficiency of traditional methods

  -new techniques: deep seabed, phytomining, bioleaching, absorption from sea water

  -end of life strategies: recycling, cradle to cradle design
• Better exploration techniques


  investing into current and new deposits

  Technology improvement

  fully exploring big current deposits
• Efficiency of traditional methods


  using remote sensing, magnetometry, infrared spectroscopy, x-ray fluorescent and readiation
• Deep-sea mining


  with advancements in technology, mineral can be extracted from the bottom of the ocean

  -sand is also collected to replenish beaches
• Urban mining


  extraction of valuable minerals from discards in urban areas
• Mechanisation


  large excavators and trucks allow overburden to be removed quickly and efficiently
• Positives of mechanisation


  -allow deeper digs, 600m from 300

  -can go where it's too hot and dangerous for humans
• Bioleaching


  Process of extraction of metals from ores using microorganisms

  -separated by electrolysis or carbon filters
• examples of bioleaching


  Aspergillum fungi produce acids that dissolve metals such as nickel, lead, copper and tin
• Phytomining


  -plants absorb metal ions from soil and water

  -concentrated at leaf

  -plants then burnt

  -metals in ash are dissolved using acids and separated by electrolysis
• uses of phytomining


  To decontaminate polluted areas