Materials Proceedings, Volume 15, 2023

Acid sulfate waters originated from acid rock drainage (ARD), affecting the La Silva stream (El Bierzo, Spain), present anomalously high values of rare earth elements and yttrium (REY). These REY are maintained dissolved along the water stream as sul...

Rare-earth elements (REEs), which are indispensable for high technology and renewable energy, are becoming more significant due to their distinct properties (e.g., catalytic, metallurgical, magnetic, etc.) and their diverse applications in a wide ran...

The unique magnetic, optical, and electrical properties of rare earth elements (REEs) have become essential in modern high technology. Considering the necessity of technology, efficient management and utilization of rare earth resources are of great...

To achieve the European milestone of climate neutrality by 2050, the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries is essential. In 2022, global energy-related CO₂ emissions increased by 0.9% or 321 Mt, reaching a peak of over 36.8 Gt. A large amoun...

Iron and alumina can be separated from bauxite residue and calcite self-hardened reduced pellets through simultaneous magnetic separation and alkali leaching. Bauxite residue and calcite self-hardened pellets were reduced non-isothermally by hydrogen...

Mine optimisation and anticipation of ore behaviour in the mineral processing and separation circuits are major economic drivers for all mining operations. Recent methodological developments with the inception of geometallurgy across multiple commodi...

The successful commercialization of the results of research works, R&D projects and inventions, as well as the cooperation between research centres, industry and business, is becoming commonplace and crucial in regional development. Regardless of...

The steel manufacturing industry is one of the most concentrated anthropogenic carbon-emitting point sources that is still expected to increase further each year. Moreover, steel slags are also generated at a rate of 10–20% of the total crude s...

Chromite ore occurs mainly in ophiolitic mineral complexes and within ultrabasic rocks. As a result, the mining and enrichment processes applied to this ore lead to the production of large amounts of ultrabasic rocks, considered to be a waste stream....

The deficit of graduates working in the core raw materials sectors will significantly impact raw materials organizations in European RIS regions. The RIS Internship programme aims to improve professional opportunities for RIS raw materials students,...

Magnetite deposits represent important iron ore resources. Selective sorting of valuables from gangue and targeting of potential critical metals that can be recovered from waste streams must be implemented from the exploration and excavation steps on...

Fluorite-rich sludge is the main waste from dicalcium phosphate (DCP) production. This sludge consists of 40–60% of CaF₂, which precipitates during the reaction between fluorapatite (the main component of raw phosphorite material) and HCl. In a...

Lithium, that is now exclusively produced outside the European Union (EU), is needed urgently for the green energy transition. The EU has promising lithium projects; however, the social license to operate (SLO) is important for their long-term viabil...

The chemical properties of soils in the Sarigkiol Basin, Western Macedonia, Greece, were studied to investigate the potential for new land uses in post-mining areas. An extensive dataset of chemical parameters was analyzed in a total of 34 representa...

Mining activities are a form of severe anthropogenic stress and result in water and soil contamination in mining sites. A decline in the quality of water affects humans directly through water consumption or indirectly through contaminated food consum...

Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods represent an efficient mathematical tool for making selections between several alternatives which are seemingly similar and also when a large number of influential criteria need to be taken into considera...

The characterisation of aluminium scrap plays a crucial role in its recycling, and hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysers offer a portable and efficient solution for on-site analysis. This study focuses on assessing the performance of a hand-he...

Mining operations, as with all industrial operations, have a significant impact on the environment both through the generation of waste and through landscape change. In view of this, pioneering and sustainable post-mining technologies are demanded to...

Over the last decades, the needs of the contemporary way of life and the ongoing population growth have affected the construction industry by causing rapid development of the sector. This accretion combined with the challenging management of construc...

Magnesite (MgCO₃) is a carbonate mineral, which is calcinated and further processed to generate magnesia (MgO) refractory materials and other products. MgCO₃ products are mainly used in the iron and steel industries, in cement manufacture as a refrac...

Noble metals (Pt, Ir, Au, Ta, etc.) have found several applications in specific medical technology products since they present inertness and visibility when examined via fluoroscopy by an external observer/operator. These products are usually applied...

By-pass filter dust (BPD) is one of the main by-products produced and collected during the cement production process, being a potential atmospheric and subsoil pollutant. In this paper, the utilization of BPD by partially replacing a conventional fil...

The vulnerability of economies and the associated familiar lifestyles have led to numerous policy measures in Europe. The proposed Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) sets indicative targets for 2030. A sustainable change in the supply situation requir...

This work examines alluvial gold deposit mining and processing methods from the Argonautic expedition until the Renaissance. According to Greek mythology, the mountain rivers of Colchis (Georgia) carried coarse sand and gold particles, which were was...

The ambitious movement towards industry 5.0 technologies and the green transition drives the efforts towards securing critical metals’ supply chains globally. In Europe, highly economically important Tin and Tungsten are raising concerns regard...

This comparative study investigates the pozzolanic potential of volcanic rocks sourced from the Aegean Islands, Greece, as additives in cement. The utilization of volcanic materials as pozzolanic additives has gained interest due to its ability to en...

Acid mine drainage originates from mining waste, tailings and overburden being exposed to air and water; it is also observed in abandoned mines, characterized by high acidity and increased concentrations of sulfate and heavy metals. It is considered...

This study, carried out in the frame of the Horizon Europe ENICON project, “Sustainable processing of Europe’s low grade sulphidic and lateritic Ni/Co ores and tailings into battery grade metals”, evaluates the properties of alkali-...

This paper examines the prospects of carbon dioxide capture and storage in depleted oil wells in Prinos in Kavala, Northern Greece. The need to store this gas arises from measures to minimize carbon emissions into the atmosphere to be climate-neutral...

This paper analyzes the airflow requirements of underground operations and the accurate assessment of future conditions so as to effectively adjust ventilation parameters. More particularly, ML techniques are utilized to capture patterns or prevailin...

Model-based systems engineering (MBSE) is a methodology that focuses on creating and exploiting the digital system and engineering domain models as the primary means of exchange of information, feedback, and requirements, as opposed to document-centr...

Coal surface mines usually occupy large areas for the development of mining activities, and they affect and change the landscape and land cover in various ways. After completing the exploitation of a specific mine section, the sustainable reclamation...

Slope failure risks and corresponding probabilities and consequences are related to a large number of causes, thus, their quantification is a complex process. The semi-qualitative method FMEA was modified into a quantitative value method V-FMEA for s...

The mining industry is by nature a challenging and demanding sector. Beyond ore extraction, management, processing, and transportation are involved in mining activities. Mining operations, often located in geographically remote and isolated areas, ar...

A new gravitational energy storage system is studied, which uses a reversible conveyor belt to elevate granular material and a regenerative motor for energy harvesting during the downward movement of material. This system can be installed in decommis...

The objective of the paper is an introductory discussion on the knowledge gaps (KGs) observed in mining operations. A qualitative research (QLR) methodology, based on empirical evidence from the Greek mining industry, is discussed to identify the KGs...

The growing energy demand has created a special interest in the unconventional reserves of heavy and extra-heavy oil, despite their difficulty both in extraction and separation due to the high specific gravity, high viscosity, low mobility, and high...

The expansion of mining activities around the world due to the increasing population and demand for metals are transforming mining methods. Mining is going deeper and deeper, and deposits of small thicknesses and large inclinations are becoming inter...

Critical raw materials (CRMs) like lithium, cobalt, and copper are crucial for our modern economy, driving digitalisation and the energy transition. The EU-funded CIRAN project addresses the challenge of balancing environmental protection and the dem...

Nordic and West Balkan countries are major investment regions in Europe for greenfield and brownfield mineral exploration; however, the availability of qualified technical, scientific and managerial personnel involved in the whole mineral cycle is li...

In the South Field Mine located in the Lignite Center of Western Macedonia, Northern Greece, a method of photogrammetry was successfully used for mapping quickly and precisely the faces of all mine benches. The important information, which was not av...

This article uses force field analysis (FFA) to examine the role of stakeholders in the lignite mining project of the Western Macedonia Region, Greece, which is entering the closure phase at an accelerated pace due to energy transition policies. The...

In line with the European Green Deal, Greece plans to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. In this context, the country aims to cease all lignite mines by 2028 and transition away from coal. Effective strategic planning is crucial for mine closure, co...

In the context of the lignite phase-out plan in Greece, the aim of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) is sustainable mine closure and land reclamation and, at the same time, the enhancement of safe mining and post-mining activities. The main objectiv...

Hydrogeological conditions constitute a crucial factor during mining excavations. However, they could also define when and how rapidly the final pit voids will be filled with water after mine closure. They also influence the final steady-state water...

A reliable, sustainable, and transparent supply of critical raw materials is vital for developing future technologies and transitioning to a carbon emission-free world. However, mining can generate social, economic, and environmental impacts, comprom...