In mining, not everything is a circular economy: Case studies from recent mining projects in Iberia

The simplistic model of the current concept of the circular economy seems to have serious application challenges when applied to the industrial use of mineral resources. Given the importance and characteristics of the waste that inevitably accompanies the production of metals and minerals, it is necessary to separate those that are generated during processing or concentration from those that inevitably accompany the extraction cycle in the mine without any mineral content. The latter are much larger in volume and have little chance of being reused under acceptable economic and environmental conditions. For this reason, valuation tools are needed to ensure the sustainability of the processes involved in the use of old mineral residues in contrast to the mining of primary minerals. Under this vision, this study analyses the situation for some recent Iberian mining developments.

Automated summary

The simplistic model of the circular economy faces challenges in the industrial use of mineral resources, and valuation tools are needed to ensure the sustainability of using old mineral residues.