WhyAfrica’s Post

Let’s talk about Acid Mine Drainage   The mining sector inadvertently contributes to Acid Mine Drainage. The processes involved in mining, such as drilling, blasting, and the use of chemicals for mineral extraction, expose sulfide minerals to the environment.   Once exposed, these minerals undergo oxidation reactions, producing sulfuric acid. This acid leaches into the groundwater, contaminating it with dissolved metals like iron, aluminium, and manganese.   The impact of AMD is far-reaching. Apart from environmental degradation, it also poses a significant risk to human health – heavy metals such as arsenic and lead, often present in AMD, are toxic and can lead to severe health issues. The cleanup of ADM is also extremely costly.   According to Peter Marumong, Cluster WWW Segment Leader at Schneider Electric, AMD requires effective management to mitigate its impact.  “For one, contaminated water needs to be treated to neutralise acidity and remove harmful contaminants before releasing it back into the environment,” writes Marumong in his article published this morning on the WhyAfrica website.     “Complex water treatment plants play a critical role in managing AMD. These plants are designed to treat contaminated water from mining operations, removing impurities and adjusting the pH to safe levels.   “For example, in South Africa, the eMalahleni Water Reclamation Plant - commissioned in 2010 - produces drinking water, with its feedwater coming from four coal mines in the area.”   Read the full article and more about water management in Africa by clicking on the link below or visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on-the-ground information and business intelligence about Africa. AMD is problematic because of its scale, both in space and time, as it can affect both mining areas and their surroundings over large kilometres for decades or centuries. Image credit: Artists Eyes from Unsplash WhyAfrica specialises in the conservation, sustainable use and responsible extraction of Africa’s natural resources. We focus on mining and mineral exploration, critical minerals, biodiversity conservation, environmental management, natural resource management, the wildlife economy and rural development. We also look at the impact extreme weather events, climate change, technology, the African Continental Free Trade Area, African politics, geopolitics and ESG considerations have on your business and investments in Africa.      WhyAfrica supports the empowerment of African communities, especially women and the youth, through sustainable development projects. #whyafrica #whyafricaroadtrips #africa #mining #exploration #quarrying #watermanagement #environmentalmanagement Leon Louw Schneider Electric    https://lnkd.in/d94UXc_z 

This is a very important and relevant subject and talking point in mining today

Kaivannaisjätteet kiertoon: "The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded funding to a project that seeks to recover critical minerals from coal mine waste. The Illinois Rare Earth Novel Extract & Supply (IRENES) project plans to conduct Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) necessary to establish a fully integrated, vertical supply chain for multiple critical minerals located entirely within Illinois. It is led by the Illinois State Geological Survey at the Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. According to the Institute, all solid materials within the waste stream will be converted to products for further use, strengthening domestic supply chains while addressing environmental challenges posed by mines." #kriittisetmateriaalit #kaivannaisjätteet #jätejakeet #hiilikaivos #DoE #yhdysvallat #julkinenrahoitus https://lnkd.in/dExJvKf7

The African continent hosts several significant rare earth element (REE) deposits, with the most notable projects being located in South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, and Malawi. The Steenkampskraal mine in South Africa is located approximately 350 kilometers north of Cape Town, and represents one of the world's highest-grade rare earth deposits, with total rare earth oxide (TREO) grades averaging around 14%, significantly higher than most other global deposits. The mine was originally developed for thorium production in the 1950s and now contains an estimated resource of 605,000 tonnes of TREO, with high concentrations of neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium. The processing for Steenkampskraal involves crushing and grinding, followed by flotation and hydrometallurgical extraction, with separate circuits designed to manage the thorium content of the ore. The capital requirements for restarting Steenkampskraal are estimated at approximately $50 million for initial production, with $200 to $300 million needed for the downstream processing capabilities. The Environmental challenges at Steenkampskraal include: - Management of radioactive thorium and uranium present in the ore body. - The need for sophisticated dust suppression systems due to the arid environment. - Water management in a water-scarce region. - The requirement for secure tailings storage facilities designed to contain radioactive materials. - Ongoing monitoring of groundwater and air quality to prevent contamination. In Tanzania, the Ngualla project, developed by Peak Resources, represents one of Africa's largest and highest-grade rare earth deposits, with an estimated 214.4 million tonnes at 2.15% TREO, focused on neodymium and praseodymium production, critical elements for permanent magnets. The processing plan involves a multi-stage approach: physical beneficiation at the mine site in Tanzania, production of a mineral concentrate, shipment to a separation plant in the United Kingdom for final processing. The capital requirements for Ngualla are estimated at approximately $200 million for the mine site development and an additional $165 million for the separation facility. The Environmental considerations at Ngualla include: - Management of a large-scale open pit operation. - Water conservation and recycling systems. - Storage facilities suitable for tropical weather conditions. - Social impact management in a populated rural area. - Dust suppression systems for the dry season. The Longonjo project in Angola, developed by Pensana Rare Earths, represents another significant African REE resource, focused on neodymium and praseodymium production. It has an existing rail infrastructure connecting to a Port, simple mineralogy and straightforward processing, and Aacess to hydroelectric power from the nearby Lomaum dam. The estimated capital requirement for Longonjo stands at approximately $300 million for the initial development phase, and $65 million for processing.

Mountains NOT Coal Mines in Canada’s Rocky Mountains — Pollution Update from the Alberta Tarsands Tarnation’s Energy Industry⚠️⛔️⚠️ CBC News - Bob Weber/Canadian Press: Coal mine contaminants blown onto snowpack in Alberta, British Columbia - Study. Cancer-causing chemicals found in melted snowpack from B.C.'s Elk Valley near 4 coal mines. Cancer-causing chemicals are being blown downwind from coal mines in southern British Columbia in concentrations that rival those next to oilsand mines, newly published research has concluded. "Our results reveal, for the first time, clear evidence that coal mining contaminants are spread far downwind from their sources," says the paper, published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The research, conducted by scientists from the Alberta government and the University of Alberta, studied the snowpack around four coal mines in British Columbia's Elk Valley. They sampled 23 sites at varying distances from the mines in 2022 and 2023, melting a surface-to-ground column of snow and analyzing the results.

Q) Consider the following statements regarding mercury pollution: (UPSC CSE 2023) 1. Gold mining activity is a source of mercury pollution in the world. 2. Coal-based thermal power plants cause mercury pollution. 3. There is no known safe level of exposure to mercury. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Answer: (c) How to arrive at the answer • Statement 1: Any mining activity and the use of any ores and minerals can cause any kind of pollution because different areas will have a different combination of elements, overburdens, and pollutants. So, every time just mark them correct. • Statement 2: Now, the burning of minerals such as coal can produce any sort of pollutant. So, it is very difficult to say with certainty that this pollution is not produced by coal burning. So, it also needs to be marked correct. • Statement 3: It is quite tough, but if you apply my golden rule, then you can get it correct. If mercury has some known safe level, then to confuse you, the examiner would have tweaked the level itself. For example, if the safe level is 10 ppm, then he may give 100 ppm, but it’s very difficult to write such a statement if it’s not written somewhere. Q) Consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2023) 1) Statement 1: Marsupials are not naturally found in India. 2) Statement II: Marsupials can thrive only in montane grasslands with no predators. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement - I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I (c) Statement-1 is correct, Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-1 is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct Answer: (c) How to arrive at the answer: • Statement – II: Focus on the word "only," and it is very extreme to say that marsupials can survive only in montane grasslands with no predators. • Marsupials are not a single species; there are many species, and how can there be no predators for any of them? • So, statement 2 is eliminated, and you reached the correct answer (c). You don't even have to know whether 1 is correct or not. These tricks and methods are not fullproof, but definitely give an edge in clearing the cutoff.

What has been hailed as the ‘#greentransition’ – the global project to end large-scale extraction of #fossilfuels – requires a shift to a new set of #extractive projects. Green technologies depend on #minerals and #metals locked in the earth: #lithium, #cobalt, #nickel, #copper, and, above all, #iron for #steel. The #exploitation, #corruption and #environmental #destruction involved in the #mining of these materials are not on the wane. But what can be done to counter the interests behind them? What possibilities are there for a less ecologically compromised and economically stratified future? [...] "But the thing that most worries the #mining#industry – more than #finance, more than the reliability of supply – is the so-called #sociallicense to operate. Over the past couple of decades there has been a rise in community-level #militancy. I’ve mentioned the #protests in Panama and Serbia, but there are many, many more. Some mining projects have been stalled for years or a decade with no clarity over when or even whether they will resume. Mining companies no longer feel confident that local populations will accept their operations, which has resulted in a whole cottage industry of consultants on corporate social responsibility, green credentials and ethical certification schemes. The classical form of contention in the mining industry for the past century was labor. And strikes still happen. But given how much automation has changed the sector and reduced its labor intensity, community and frontline conflict have become the primary concerns."

TFM MINING DESTROYS THE ENVIRONMENT IN MANOMAPIA CAUSING WATER AND AIR POLLUTION Presence of toxic gases in the air, soil and water, the inhabitants of Manomapia, a district located in the urban-rural commune of Fungurume, are plunged into a humanitarian drama caused by the 30k copper processing plant and cobalt owned by Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM). Denounced since 2020 by the local civil society of Fungurume in particular for lack of clarity in the environmental and social impact study, the installation in 2023 of the “30K” factory for the processing of copper and cobalt exploited by Tenke Fungurume Mining , disrupted the…READ MORE HERE https://lnkd.in/dWi-Jxas

South America's rare earth element (REE) potential remains largely untapped compared to major producers like China. Brazil stands as the region's primary rare earth producer, w/ significant deposits in the Minas Gerais state, and the municipalities of Catalão and Araxá. The primary rare earth minerals found include monazite and xenotime, and contain elements like neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium. Brazilian company CBMM operates the world's largest niobium mine in Araxá, which also contains significant rare earth deposits. The company has invested approximately $2 billion developing rare earth processing capabilities. The processing involves complex hydrometallurgical techniques, including acid leaching, solvent extraction, and precipitation steps to separate individual rare earth elements. Peru has identified promising deposits in its Bayóvar region, containing monazite w/ high concentrations of cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium. However, these deposits remain largely unexploited due to technical challenges and capital constraints, along with environmental concerns, such as groundwater contamination and radioactive thorium. Chile has deposits in its Atacama region but presently mines small amounts of RE. These deposits are often found in association with lithium brines, & extraction technology is a significant challenge. The Chilean government seeks has investment in rare earth exploration and development, as required capital investments range from $500 million to $1 billion per project. Environmental challenges across South American rare earth operations include: management and treatment of acidic wastewater; the disposal of radioactive waste products, particularly thorium and uranium; soil and groundwater contamination from processing chemicals; and significant water usage in arid regions/Chile's Atacama Desert. Brazil's estimated reserves could support production of approximately 22,000 tons of rare earth oxides annually, but actual production is significantly lower. The country's deposits are particularly rich in neodymium and praseodymium, crucial elements for permanent magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. Processing facilities in the region generally employ conventional techniques including: crushing & grinding of ore; physical separation; chemical processing using acid leaching; solvent extraction to separate elements; production of rare earth oxides. Capital investment requirements for most new rare earth projects in South America typically range from $300 million to $1.5 billion. These costs are due to the need for sophisticated processing facilities and environmental management systems. Challenges to rare earth mining in South America include: limited existing processing infrastructure; high capital requirements; technical complexity of rare earth separation; environmental concerns; competition from China, and regulatory uncertainty.

>>>>> Exordium #5+3A: HMAppR&D-Brand-New Natural Minerals & Derivatives Industry for the World- HITECH ECONOMIC & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS TO AVOID THE PROBLEMATIC RARE EARTH OR OTHER METALS EXTRACTION OPERATIONS Human civilization continually pursues various high-tech applications, including outstanding electromagnetic industrial achievements. However, there is no longer a need to depend overly on problematic rare earth or other elements for these advancements. Instead of extracting these elemental metals from natural Rare Earth Elements (REEs)- or other metals-bearing minerals, direct application of any natural REEs- or metals-bearing minerals can achieve satisfactory productivities in various high-tech applications. These innovative goals use highly advanced micro- to nano-processes while requiring drastically reduced amounts of REEs- or other metals-bearing minerals in contrast with the current operations of gigantic mineral consumptions. These innovations are firmly grounded in multidisciplinary high-tech geoscientific economic affluent financial and environmental sustainable applications of all-natural REEs- or other metals-bearing minerals. Through the adoption of these innovative technologies, not only can high-tech productive operations based on REEs- or other metals-bearing minerals be efficiently achieved, but it is also possible to avoid all disastrous technical, economic-financial, and environmental problems associated with incorrect REEs or other metals applications. The larger the quantities of rare earth or other elemental metals extracted and amassed, the more significant and disastrous problems are added to the world, rather than beneficial solutions. Sufficient REEs or other metals mineral deposits have already been identified on land areas, making it globally, nationally, or locally feasible to acquire REEs- or other metals-bearing minerals as required instead of rare earth or other metal elements. So-called critical minerals stockpiling & reserve expansion-focused operations are no longer necessary globally, nationally, and locally for the foreseeable future, as natural minerals inherently possess high-tech, economic, and environmental functional capabilities nullifying those necessities. Natural minerals can be made available sufficiently if sought and used only as genuine high-tech economic environmental functional materials. In contrast, the same natural minerals can quickly become materials in short supply when demanded for the conventional wasteful exploitation of enormous amounts of valuable minerals. High-tech mineral applications-based alternative operations are poised to replace conventional energy-mineral resources, information-communications, and all other industrial enterprises. The combined mineral-related industrial sectors can generate approximately US-CAN$60 trillion per year, nearly half the current Gross World Product (GWP). Please write to KOOJHDR@GMAIL.COM for the details of this exordium.