Lecture 9: A blessing or a curse? Socioeconomic, political and ecological aspects to mining

Question 1

Mining for energy transition

Answer 1

Is there enough material? Yes BUT demands is forecast to grow much faster than supply → e.g. Lithium, copper, cobalt
Close-loop Circular Economy
* Carbon neutrality and closed-loop economy is goal
* For most critical raw materials: far from circularity: low recycling, poor schemes, low quantities
* Every step uses energy and creates waste/CO2
CO2 emissions: 4-8% global GHG BUT more if processing, refining and production is taken into account!

Question 2

Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)

Answer 2

• Measures full input/output cycle from ground to product
• Highest CO2: loading/hauling (Al, Fe), crushing/grinding (Cu)
• Cu worse due to low ore grade
• Reduce by mining high-grade ores, electric vehicles for loading/hauling, efficient grinding

Question 3

Carbon Taxes (CAT)

Answer 3

• Carbon tax increases costs by 30% max, raises revenue
• May benefit mining due to rising demand

Question 4

Total Material Requirement (TMR)

Answer 4

• TMR +200–900% (energy), +350–700% (transport) by 2050
• Mainly Cu, Ni, Co, Li, steel
• Transport: TMR EVs may offset decarbonization gains

Question 5

DRC - a gelogical scandal

Answer 5

Africa: The mineral resource frontier
DRC - A Geological Scandal
* Rich in Au, diamonds, Sn, Ta, W, Cu, Co
* Still one of poorest countries
The 3Ts: Tin, Tantalum and Tungsten
* 40–60% of global Ta from Great Lakes region (esp. DRC)
* Mostly artisanal mining
* 3T in granites → alluvial concentration
* also Lithium in pegmatites (unweathered)
* 3TGs (3Ts + gold) = conflict minerals
* Armed groups funded via mine control
* Child labour, rape, forced mining, illegal exploitation

Question 6

Geopolitical/Foreign involvement

Answer 6

Geopolitical/Foreign involvement
* Dodd-Frank Act (2010): curb funding conflict: boycott of Congolese 3TG → illegal activity, lost jobs
* Current Conflict: M23 rebels (Rwanda-backed) control major cities in East DRC
Manono-Kitotolo: 13 km pegmatite, large Li resource
* China vs Australia conflict over Manono
* ESG concerns, Chinese workers, raw export = no local value
Zimbabwe banned raw Li exports: processing in-country
Chinese investment in Africa
* Infrastructure + mining investment = control
* China dominates Cu, Co, Fe, Al, soon Li
* R/P ratios show Chinese depletion = need for imports
Cobalt mining in the Copper Belt
* DRC = 70% global Co supply
* ASM workers: 110,000–150,000 in Co, 1.2 million total (2nd largest sector)

Question 7

Environmental/health issues

Answer 7

Environmental/health issues
Positive impacts:
* Employment when no other jobs around
* Development of infrastructures (health care, transport, …)
* Wealth creation
Possible negative impacts:
* for mineworkers & workers in downstream industry
* for populations in vicinity of mines & factories
Hazards for mine workers
* Specific occupational hazards
* Living conditions: camps, inhospitable environments
* Vulnerable populations (migrants, women, children)
Health hazards:
* Accidents: mine collapse
* Musculoskeletal-skeletal disease
* Heat strain
* Dust-induced respiratory disease: cum. quantity dust, size dust particles, nature of dust inhaled → Silicosis, …
Bio-monitoring! Metal concentration measuring!