An opportunity to restore the atmosphere

Why does gigatonne scale matter?

At Arca we throw around big numbers – like gigatonne (one billion metric tonnes, where each metric tonne is 1,000 kg). Why does gigatonne matter? For over 200 years humanity has been pumping carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. CO2 is a greenhouse gas, which traps heat in our atmosphere. Last year we emitted over 36 gigatonnes. To protect the Earth for our children, we need to reduce emissions to zero. To restore the Earth’s climate for our grandchildren, we will have to remove over 2 trillion tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. The IPCC projects a removal need of 10-20 gigatonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year by 2050. This is the scientific and humanitarian basis for a new gigatonne-scale CO2 removal industry.

Where to look for help in creating a gigatonne scale industry in 17 years

Today, the carbon dioxide removals (CDR) industry is in its infancy. It will need to grow into gigatonne scale by 2050. Where are the building blocks for this unprecedented industrial revolution? One place to look is in industries that already deal with gigatonnes of material.  Like mining. A large mine can process millions of tonnes of rock per year.

A renaissance opportunity for mining, if it can manage a paradox

Traditionally mining is carbon intensive and hasn’t had the best reputation for environmental stewardship. But human civilisation has been built on, and depends on, the products from mining: metals, minerals, energy, construction materials, industrial minerals, chemicals and gemstones. Looking ahead, the transition to clean energy will require more mining, with the International Energy Agency estimating 20x growth in critical metals demand by 2040. The paradox is that transitioning to clean energy will require more mining, which could result in more emissions. Can mining resolve this paradox and achieve a renaissance? Can mining be an agent for restoring the atmosphere?

This could be a renaissance opportunity for mining

Some mining waste can capture and permanently store atmospheric carbon dioxide

Critical metals like nickel can be found hosted in ultramafic rock, which is rich in magnesium. Magnesium reacts naturally with carbon dioxide in the air to form inert crystals, in a process known as carbon mineralization, or mineral carbonation.  It seems fantastic, but it's a fact: ultramafic rock can convert air into rock.

It's a fact: ultramafic rock can convert air into rock. 

Nickel is often found at very low concentrations (<1%) within its host rock, which means that over 99% of the rock that mining companies blast, truck, crush and grind ends up as waste, and is deposited in an area known as the tailings storage facility (TSF). A TSF that contains ultramafic rock therefore can become a carbon dioxide removal factory. 

Arca technologies maximize the air to rock transformation

Arca Head of Science Dr Greg Dipple discovered this phenomenon over 20 years ago. Greg and the Arca R&D team have been working on a portfolio of technologies to maximize carbon mineralization in any ultramafic TSF. 

Arca's patent-pending mineral activation technology uses high-intensity bursts of energy to transform and disrupt the mineral lattice structure of magnesium rich minerals, increasing both the rate and capacity for CO2 capture and permanent storage. Arca has achieved never-before-seen rates of air capture and capacity for CO2 storage, operating at atmospheric air temperature and pressure.

Our mineral activation technology helps mining companies transform their tailings into industrial-scale direct air capture and storage facilities, transforming mine waste into a valuable new resource and climate solution.

Mission – why Arca, why now?

Arca is a team of scientists, environmentalists, humanitarians and entrepreneurs. We love this planet, and are doing all we can to contribute to the fight against climate change. Our mission is to help restore the atmosphere by returning gigatonnes of CO2 into the ground, where it is safely stored forever. 

Last week, Arca unveiled its current mining partnerships

Arca announced that it is working with the global mining major Vale , and the Australia-based juniors Poseidon Nickel Limited , NickelSearch Limited , and Blackstone Minerals Limited . Arca is also working with Talon Metals Corp. which, in a joint venture with Rio Tinto , is developing the USA’s only high-grade nickel resource for the domestic battery supply chain.

Arca works with legacy (closed) mines, junior (under development) mining companies, as well as existing mine operations of any size.

You can learn more about our announcement here