Future Is Mine CIC’s Post

Acid mine drainage #AMD remains a global problem and one of the most serious environmental issues associated with metal mining. This PhD will rethink AMD treatment and examine how we can convert it into a resource! Do you have a background in aqueous #geochemistry #electrochemistry #chemistry #chemicalengineering and looking to take your research to the next level? If so, drop me an email! #PhD #minewater #environment #mining #criticalminerals #criticalmetals NERC: Natural Environment Research Council Camborne School of Mines, University of Exeter University of Exeter University of Bristol

This week, I was delighted to learn that I have two scientific publications accepted for publication in the scientific journal Nature Communications. The fact that both were accepted in the same week is coincidence -- both studies have been underway for years. Years ago, when I suffered from imposter syndrome as a graduate student, I would never have dreamed of publishing in such a prestigious journal. These days, I have mostly kicked my imposter syndrome to the curb, but it still feels surreal to read the acceptance emails. The famous quote "Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration" (commonly attributed to Thomas Edison, but we should probably give others more credit) applies here. For both publications, the research idea was important but only represented the beginning of a long journey that eventually resulted in the acceptance of a scientific paper. My day job in the mining industry does not focus on scientific publication, so the hours I worked on these studies were over and above my normal work hours. The first paper is a geology paper about undersea volcanic rocks and plate tectonic reconstructions. The research was done using rocks that I helped collect during the first year of my PhD studies back in 2007. After the fieldwork, I started a research project on these rocks, and I worked on it diligently in the lab for two years. Due to various difficulties and circumstances beyond my control, I had to abandon the project. I ended up switching to a new research project at the beginning of the third year of my PhD. At the time, this felt devastating. Longer-term, the switch in topic turned out to be excellent, since I started researching the carbon cycle, something that I still do to this day. Nevertheless, I have always regretted not publishing a paper on my original PhD research topic. A few years ago, a new colleague asked me about that original research project. I managed to track down some of the rock samples in a storage facility. New analysis was done on the rocks (since equipment had improved significantly), eventually resulting in a publication on which I am a co-author. Although this time around I didn't do much work, other than provide general support, it does sort of feel like that original PhD research is finally being published, 17 long years later. The second paper is about my Carbon Management MSc research on biomass carbon emissions associated with nickel mining. I did my original research during 2021 and refined the analysis with colleagues during 2022. I submitted the paper at the end of 2022, so it has taken nearly two years to publish. l submitted the paper to three different journals and have been through four rounds of peer review. At any point, it would have been easy to give up, since I don't have to publish papers for my job. I'm glad that I didn't give up and persisted, even though one research project took 17 years and one took 4 years. Sometimes, good science takes time.

Montana Technological University Graduate School is honored to present the graduate product defense of: Claire Mbia B. ⚒ Master of Science: Mining Engineering A Proposed Metals Recovery Assessment Protocol to Evaluate Mine Wastes for Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Recovery prior to Site Remediation Abstract: Critical minerals are essential to our daily life and are key to modern-day technology. With the advance of technology and industrial future, the need for critical minerals will only increase. Reprocessing mine wastes can be economical for local supply of minerals for economic sustainability and to reduce risk to human and environmental health. The goal of this study is to develop a Metals Recovery Assessment (MRA) protocol to provide technical expertise and guidance for developers, landowners, and agencies to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of remining and extracting critical minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from mine wastes. The MRA protocol involves collecting and evaluating information to assess the possibility for recovery of critical minerals or rare earth metals at mine sites to offset remediation or redevelopment costs associated with land reuse at Superfund or closed mine sites. MRA protocol was built on three important feasibility criteria: safety, cost-benefit analysis, and regulations. The MRA protocol was evaluated using available data to processes Berkeley Pit water in Butte, MT, and mine tailings at the Empire Millsite in Marshville, MT. The findings from this review have noted that the Berkeley Pit is a potential site for reprocessing activities and Empire Millsite location require additional data before determination can be made. Defense Date, Time, Location & Link: December 6, 2024; 2:00 pm; Location: MG 103 Meeting ID: 216 463 182 407 Passcode: vY6EW3T3 We invite faculty, staff, students, and the wider academic community to attend and support as they present their research and innovative work. This is an important milestone in their graduate journey, and we look forward to sharing their success with all of you. 💚 #AcademicExcellence #GraduateProductDefense #ResearchInnovation #GraduateSchool

As the world transitions to greener sources of energy, demand for the metals used in these new technologies is increasing. But how do you grow the mining industry while still holding the line on carbon emissions? A new study involving scientists from the University of Alberta and the Universität Bern (Switzerland) may hold the answer. Using the CLS, the researchers have determined how best to trap and store CO2 using brucite, a mineral found in certain mining wastes and geologic environments. Their work could help make mining more sustainable. “We’re taking atmospheric CO₂ ... and trying to lock that CO₂ away in a mineral phase which is stable over time,” says Colton Vessey, a graduate student with UAlberta’s Environmental Economic Geology Laboratory (EEGL), who led the research. The team’s findings are published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Brucite is a solid mineral that can trap greenhouse gases for many thousands of years, says Dr. Sasha Wilson, principal investigator at the EEGL. “More than 90% of the carbon dioxide on Earth is locked away in rocks in the crystal structures of carbonate minerals and that's what the Rocky Mountains are predominantly made of,” says Wilson, Canada Research Chair in Biogeochemistry of Sustainable Mineral Resources and lead of the EEGL in University of Alberta Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. Vessey, Wilson and their collaborators looked at how the proportion of iron content in brucite affects the efficiency of its carbon capture, and whether the surrounding environment also changes its ability to permanently store carbon. "If you were trying to bind carbon dioxide in normal air, the iron turns into rust instead of trapping carbon dioxide," says Wilson. However, in oxygen-free environments, the iron was much more effective in capturing carbon. “Now we can look at environments we might not have considered before, like deep underground in mine waste storage facilities.” The HXMA beamline at the CLS enabled the UAlberta and UBern researchers to analyze minerals that were undetectable using conventional methods and to calculate the overall efficiency of the carbon capture under different conditions. The research, says Vessey, lays the foundation for mining sites to one day safely and stably store harmful emissions underground. https://bit.ly/4egaGVD #mining #environment #carbonsequestration

Mining has a PR problem. Geoscience graduate numbers are falling globally. We’re in the midst of a climate crisis that requires us to urgently improve the sustainability of our industries – and we need more mined materials to do this, produced in a better way, than ever before. It’s a potent mix of challenges that requires a huge cross-sector effort to address. Three and a half years ago I met a group of incredible people from sustainability (Beth Knight) tech (Helen Philpot), education (Nicola Nicoll), health & community (Boluwatife Oluwafunmilola Lola-Dare) and wellness & leadership (Kate Barker and Wendy Gardner) sectors. We spent 12 months together coached by the incredibly talented team from Ginger Leadership Communications. As a group we listened, supported and challenged each other’s aspirations to make positive change in our sectors and beyond. I realised that we as an industry needed to do better. We needed to communicate why mining was so essential to everyday life, we needed to own our current and historical mistakes, and we also needed to better showcase the really good work we were doing. That group was the inspiration for a talk I gave last year – “It’s not magic, it’s mining” at the Gamechangers leadership event in London. It also planted the seed in my mind for a new type of mining and minerals outreach; working with schools and communities to engage and connect young people with critical minerals and their central role in creating a more sustainable world. I’m thrilled to say this idea has now become a reality with the launch of Future Is Mine CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise that education professional Loren Crisp and I have created to address issues around public perception of the mining sector and geoscience skills gaps. We have a host of free resources available over on our website to educate and engage people on critical mineral supply chains, including teaching plans suitable for primary aged (4-11 year-old) children matched to the UK curriculum. We’ve had great fun creating these and they’ve been given the thumbs up by an expert group of testers, that also happen to be our own children 😄 We also offer workshops directly in schools – so if you’re looking for a fun, hands-on workshop that meets your science and geography syllabus, do get in touch. Finally, as a not-for-profit we rely on multiple funding sources, so to my industry contacts: if our mission aligns with your organisation's aims, we’d love to discuss how we can work together to shape our sector for the better. #mining #criticalminerals #outreach #education #sustainability #energytransition

I am delighted to share news of the launch of Future Is Mine CIC, a not-for-profit social enterprise Jessica Roberts and I created to address issues around geoscience skills gaps and public perception of the role of mining in our lives. As a person without a geology background, I can honestly say I did not know enough about the role of critical minerals in our everyday lives. It is vital our children understand what it takes to get the raw materials we need for the technology we all take for granted. The clean energy transition is now driving unprecedented demand for critical minerals, with materials needed for technologies like lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, photovoltaic solar cells, and wind turbines. This is why we want to help children 'discover the Earth, shape the future.' We have a host of free resources available over on our website to educate and engage people on critical mineral supply chains, including teaching plans suitable for primary aged (4-11 year-old) children matched to the UK curriculum. We also offer workshops directly in schools – so if you’re looking for a fun, hands-on workshop that meets your science and geography syllabus, do get in touch. 👋

"How can West Africa use its Mineral Wealth for Economic Development" Hosted by Senegal, the Service Géologique National (SGNS) and the Université Amadou Mahtar Mbow (UAM), the 9th African Metallogeny SGA Short Course was a great success.   Experts representing academia and industries from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Namibia, Algeria, Switzerland and France, gave high level presentations, workshops to improve technical skills, and participated in the panel discussion.   More than 60 Master and PhD students, young career geoscientists, confirmed professionals from the geoscience, mining and energy sectors from Senegal, Nigeria, Mali, Algeria and Cameroon participated actively in this event.   Key outcomes of all our discussions are:   1.       Increasing education and training at all levels. This provides competent and skilled human resources to industries, governments, schools and universities. 2.       Enabling the region to be self-sufficient for agriculture to feed the growing population through developing the phosphates value chain up to fertilizer, one of the key-materials in West Africa. 3.       Increasing quality infrastructures (roads, trains, flights) to connect African countries, cities, villages for communicating, trading, and improving living standards all over the countries. 4.       Creating high-level, long-term industrial projects along the entire value chain at national and international level: Trans-Africa, with other continents to produce semi-and final industrial products in West-Africa, African.   Four important projects of our program are exemplary: Titanium-Zirconium mining and processing (ERAMET Grande Côte Senegal). Alumina and phosphate concentrate from Thiès, Senegal: valuation of the deposit, ore, and process (ENSG & ESP). Valorization of natural phosphates and blending: the case of Burkina Faso (SEPB). HYPHEN Africa, Namibia: Pioneering the African Green Hydrogen revolution (Hyphen)   5.       An important message for the young people : Trust yourself, be honnest, take actions, increase your competences and skills, network, communicate….in short: build Your capacity!   We had the great opportunity to visit: ·     ERAMET Grande Côte Titanium-Zirconium from mining to rehabilitation. ·     TBAOBAB Phosphate mine (BMCC). ·     Heritage Geosites Popenguine, Toubab Dialaw, Yene.   I would like to thank the Senegal team, led by Dr. Rokhaya Samba Diene, Dr. Malick Faye (Thor Exploration, president: SGA student chapter Senegal), Dr. Doro Niang (Director Africa Geoingénierie, vice-president SGA student chapter Senegal), Mr. Alla Diaw, Ms Rokahaya Youm, Ms Fatoumata Youm (SGNS) for hosting this event for sharing knowledge, skills and culture with all of us. Great thanks to our sponsors: SGNS, ERAMET Grand Côte, BAOBAB Phosphate, Boto-Managem, Barrick, African Star, CATURA , IRD, Sabodala Massiwa Mine, SGA, IUGS, SEG, ANSTS.   The 10 th SGA African Metallogeny Short course will be hosted by Algeria in 2026.

As the world transitions to greener sources of energy, demand for the metals used in these new technologies is increasing. But how do you grow the mining industry while still holding the line on carbon emissions? A new study involving scientists from the University of Alberta and the Universität Bern (Switzerland) may hold the answer. Using the CLS, the researchers have determined how best to trap and store CO2 using brucite, a mineral found in certain mining wastes and geologic environments. Their work could help make mining more sustainable. “We’re taking atmospheric CO₂ ... and trying to lock that CO₂ away in a mineral phase which is stable over time,” says Colton Vessey, a graduate student with UAlberta’s Environmental Economic Geology Laboratory (EEGL), who led the research. The team’s findings are published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Brucite is a solid mineral that can trap greenhouse gases for many thousands of years, says Dr. Sasha Wilson, principal investigator at the EEGL. “More than 90% of the carbon dioxide on Earth is locked away in rocks in the crystal structures of carbonate minerals and that's what the Rocky Mountains are predominantly made of,” says Wilson, Canada Research Chair in Biogeochemistry of Sustainable Mineral Resources and lead of the EEGL in University of Alberta Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. Vessey, Wilson and their collaborators looked at how the proportion of iron content in brucite affects the efficiency of its carbon capture, and whether the surrounding environment also changes its ability to permanently store carbon. "If you were trying to bind carbon dioxide in normal air, the iron turns into rust instead of trapping carbon dioxide," says Wilson. However, in oxygen-free environments, the iron was much more effective in capturing carbon. “Now we can look at environments we might not have considered before, like deep underground in mine waste storage facilities.” The HXMA beamline at the CLS enabled the UAlberta and UBern researchers to analyze minerals that were undetectable using conventional methods and to calculate the overall efficiency of the carbon capture under different conditions. The research, says Vessey, lays the foundation for mining sites to one day safely and stably store harmful emissions underground. https://bit.ly/4egaGVD #mining #environment #carbonsequestration

As the world transitions to greener sources of energy, demand for the metals used in these new technologies is increasing. But how do you grow the mining industry while still holding the line on carbon emissions? A new study involving scientists from the University of Alberta and the Universität Bern (Switzerland) may hold the answer. Using the CLS, the researchers have determined how best to trap and store CO2 using brucite, a mineral found in certain mining wastes and geologic environments. Their work could help make mining more sustainable. “We’re taking atmospheric CO₂ ... and trying to lock that CO₂ away in a mineral phase which is stable over time,” says Colton Vessey, a graduate student with UAlberta’s Environmental Economic Geology Laboratory (EEGL), who led the research. The team’s findings are published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Brucite is a solid mineral that can trap greenhouse gases for many thousands of years, says Dr. Sasha Wilson, principal investigator at the EEGL. “More than 90% of the carbon dioxide on Earth is locked away in rocks in the crystal structures of carbonate minerals and that's what the Rocky Mountains are predominantly made of,” says Wilson, Canada Research Chair in Biogeochemistry of Sustainable Mineral Resources and lead of the EEGL in University of Alberta Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. Vessey, Wilson and their collaborators looked at how the proportion of iron content in brucite affects the efficiency of its carbon capture, and whether the surrounding environment also changes its ability to permanently store carbon. "If you were trying to bind carbon dioxide in normal air, the iron turns into rust instead of trapping carbon dioxide," says Wilson. However, in oxygen-free environments, the iron was much more effective in capturing carbon. “Now we can look at environments we might not have considered before, like deep underground in mine waste storage facilities.” The HXMA beamline at the CLS enabled the UAlberta and UBern researchers to analyze minerals that were undetectable using conventional methods and to calculate the overall efficiency of the carbon capture under different conditions. The research, says Vessey, lays the foundation for mining sites to one day safely and stably store harmful emissions underground. https://bit.ly/4egaGVD #mining #environment #carbonsequestration

As the world transitions to greener sources of energy, demand for the metals used in these new technologies is increasing. But how do you grow the mining industry while still holding the line on carbon emissions? A new study involving scientists from the University of Alberta and the Universität Bern (Switzerland) may hold the answer. Using the CLS, the researchers have determined how best to trap and store CO2 using brucite, a mineral found in certain mining wastes and geologic environments. Their work could help make mining more sustainable. “We’re taking atmospheric CO₂ ... and trying to lock that CO₂ away in a mineral phase which is stable over time,” says Colton Vessey, a graduate student with UAlberta’s Environmental Economic Geology Laboratory (EEGL), who led the research. The team’s findings are published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. Brucite is a solid mineral that can trap greenhouse gases for many thousands of years, says Dr. Sasha Wilson, principal investigator at the EEGL. “More than 90% of the carbon dioxide on Earth is locked away in rocks in the crystal structures of carbonate minerals and that's what the Rocky Mountains are predominantly made of,” says Wilson, Canada Research Chair in Biogeochemistry of Sustainable Mineral Resources and lead of the EEGL in University of Alberta Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. Vessey, Wilson and their collaborators looked at how the proportion of iron content in brucite affects the efficiency of its carbon capture, and whether the surrounding environment also changes its ability to permanently store carbon. "If you were trying to bind carbon dioxide in normal air, the iron turns into rust instead of trapping carbon dioxide," says Wilson. However, in oxygen-free environments, the iron was much more effective in capturing carbon. “Now we can look at environments we might not have considered before, like deep underground in mine waste storage facilities.” The HXMA beamline at the CLS enabled the UAlberta and UBern researchers to analyze minerals that were undetectable using conventional methods and to calculate the overall efficiency of the carbon capture under different conditions. The research, says Vessey, lays the foundation for mining sites to one day safely and stably store harmful emissions underground. https://bit.ly/4egaGVD #mining #environment #carbonsequestration