Moving towards deep underground mineral resources: Drivers, challenges and potential solutions

• DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.103222
• Publication Date: 2022-12-12T10:34:48Z
• Authors: Yousef Ghorbani; Glen T. Nwaila; Steven E. Zhang; Julie E. Bourdeau; Manuel Cánovas; Javier Arzua; Nooraddin Nikadat
• Keywords: Annan samhällsbyggnadsteknik; J110 - Mining; 550; 4th industrial revolution; future prospect; mining; Near surfaces; F180 Analytical Chemistry; 01 natural sciences; J210 - Applied metallurgy; Environmental footprints; Mining; industrial development; 12. Responsible consumption; Industrial revolutions; J210 Applied Metallurgy; F110 Applied Chemistry; Technological constraints; 11. Sustainability; J200 - Metallurgy; F170 - Physical chemistry; Subsurface; Mineral exploration; Non-renewable natural resources; F110 - Applied chemistry; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; J100 Minerals Technology; Minerals; Mineral resources; 9. Industry and infrastructure; Environmental constraints; 600; mineral resource; Other Civil Engineering; F180 - Analytical chemistry; natural resource; J100 - Minerals technology; F170 Physical Chemistry; 13. Climate action; J200 Metallurgy; Deposits; J140 - Minerals processing; Exploration; J110 Mining; Legacy data; J140 Mineral Processing

Underground mining has historically occurred in surface and near-surface (shallow) mineral deposits. While no universal definition of deep underground mining exists, humanity's need for non-renewable natural resources has inevitably pushed the boundaries of possibility in terms of environmental and technological constraints. Recently, deep underground mining is being extensively developed due to the depletion of shallow mineral deposits. One of the main advantages of deep underground mining is its lower environmental footprint compared to shallow mining. In this paper, we summarise the key factors driving deep underground mining, which include an increasing need for raw materials, exhaustion of shallow mineral deposits, and increasing environmental scrutiny. We examine the challenges associated with deep underground mining, mainly the: environmental, financial, geological, and geotechnical aspects. Furthermore, we explore solutions provided by recent advances in science and technology, such as the integration of mineral processing and mining, and the digital and technological revolution. We further examine the role of legacy data in its ability to bridge current and future practices in the context of deep underground mining. Validerad;2023;Nivå 2;2023-01-16 (sofila);Funder: Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation (South Africa) Thuthuka Grant (grant no.121973)