New IEAGHG Technical Report: 2022-10 Mineral Carbonation using Mine Tailings – A Strategic Overview of Potential and Opportunities

Mineral Carbonation using Mine Tailings – A Strategic Overview of Potential and Opportunities

This report from IEAGHG is a review of the current status of mineral carbonation using mine tailings consisting of rock fragments that are known to be reactive with CO₂. Many key industrial metals including nickel, chromium and platinum group metals (PMG) are associated with magnesium, iron and calcium rich silicate minerals that are known to be reactive with CO₂. The resultant carbonate minerals permanently lock CO₂ into solid phases. 

The key question is how rapid and effective is this process and can it be achieved economically without excessive additional energy. This review has critically investigated three decades of research on the subject as well as the most recent advances in industrial CO₂ mineralisation.