Version 1
: Received: 30 June 2022 / Approved: 1 July 2022 / Online: 1 July 2022 (09:00:31 CEST)
Version 2
: Received: 5 July 2022 / Approved: 5 July 2022 / Online: 5 July 2022 (07:43:54 CEST)
Version 3
: Received: 12 August 2022 / Approved: 12 August 2022 / Online: 12 August 2022 (06:20:08 CEST)
Araujo, F.S.M.; Taborda-Llano, I.; Nunes, E.B.; Santos, R.M. Recycling and Reuse of Mine Tailings: A Review of Advancements and Their Implications. Geosciences2022, 12, 319.
Araujo, F.S.M.; Taborda-Llano, I.; Nunes, E.B.; Santos, R.M. Recycling and Reuse of Mine Tailings: A Review of Advancements and Their Implications. Geosciences 2022, 12, 319.
Araujo, F.S.M.; Taborda-Llano, I.; Nunes, E.B.; Santos, R.M. Recycling and Reuse of Mine Tailings: A Review of Advancements and Their Implications. Geosciences2022, 12, 319.
Araujo, F.S.M.; Taborda-Llano, I.; Nunes, E.B.; Santos, R.M. Recycling and Reuse of Mine Tailings: A Review of Advancements and Their Implications. Geosciences 2022, 12, 319.
Abstract
Mining is an important industry, accounting for 6.9% of global GDP. However, global development promotes accelerated demand, resulting in the accumulation of hazardous waste in land, sea, and air environments. It reached 7 billion tonnes of mine tailings generated yearly worldwide, and 19 billion solid tailings will be accumulated by 2025. Adding to this, the legacy of environmental damage from abandoned mines is worrying; in Canada there are around 10,000 abandoned mines, 50,000 in Australia, 6,000 in South Africa, and 9,500 coal mines in China, reaching 15,000 by 2050. In this scenario, restoration techniques from mining tailing have become increasingly discussed among scholars due to their potential to offer benefits towards reducing tailings levels, thereby reducing environmental pressure for the correct management and adding value to previously discarded waste. This review paper explores available literature on the main techniques of mining tailing recycling and reuse and discusses leading technologies, including the benefits and limitations, as well as emerging prospects. The findings of this review serve as a supporting reference for decision-makers concerning the related sustainability issues associated with mining, mineral processing, and solid waste management.
Keywords
beneficiation; slag; flotation; construction material; soil remediation
Subject
Engineering, Architecture, Building and Construction
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Commenter: Rafael M. Santos
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author