Grant: Alliance Grants

CO2 mineralization of mine wastes may allow the mining industry to reduce its carbon footprint by sequestering this greenhouse gas within stable carbonate minerals. The CO2 sequestration potential of mine wastes mainly depends on their mineralogical composition, which can vary greatly depending on the type of deposit being mined. Research on CO2 mineralization of mine wastes has focused on mafic and ultramafic mine wastes, including those from nickel and diamond mines, which are now considered conventional targets for CO2 mineralization. In contrast, other deposit types have largely been unexplored. In collaboration with Teck Resources, this research project will be the first for a mining company to evaluate its entire portfolio of historic, active, and prospective mines. In addition to Teck's operations in Canada, the United States, Chile and Peru, which include mining critical minerals with zinc, copper and molybdenum, the company has advanced projects and is exploring opportunities in over a dozen countries. The overall research goal is to determine the potential for implementing CO2 mineralization technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at mines with deposits considered unconventional for carbonation. The objectives are to (1) broadly evaluate the CO2 sequestration potential of Teck's numerous operations, (2) conduct an in-depth evaluation of the most promising sites, (3) assess CO2 mineralization potential and determine the optimal reaction pathways and rate limitations, and (4) develop a framework, including recommendations, for advancing CO2 mineralization at mines with wastes considered unconventional. We will achieve these objectives by first evaluating the extensive datasets provided by Teck to assess deposit geology and mine waste compositions to identify the sites with the greatest potential for CO2 mineralization. In-depth mineralogical and geochemical characterization and reactivity testing will be conducted on select sites using state-of-the-art facilities. These data will determine the most appropriate CO2 mineralization technologies to pursue. Furthermore, this project promotes climate action and environmental protection, a core objective of Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy.