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Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization...
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Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (27 January 2025) | Viewed by 3034

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yassine Taha

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Guest Editor
Geology & Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: sustainable mining; circular economy; mine waste repurposing; resource recovery; critical raw materials; industrial ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Abdellatif Elghali

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Geology & Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: environmental geochemistry and the mineralogical characterization of mine ores and waste; stabilization/solidification of contaminated soils and mine wastes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Yassine Ait-Khouia

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Geology & Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: mineral processing; geometallurgy; environmental desulphurization; integrated mine waste management; critical raw materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mostafa Benzaazoua

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Geology and Sustainable Mining Institute (GSMI), University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben Guerir 43150, Morocco
Interests: inorganic industrial and mining wastes; environmental characterization; treatment and recycling of industrial and mining wastes; waste reprocessing; integrated management of mining wastes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rising demand for sustainable solutions in the management of solid mine wastes has necessitated the creation of a third Special Issue, building upon the accomplishments of its predecessors. This edition seeks to propel the discourse on mine waste management, addressing the growing challenges and opportunities in this dynamic field. These wastes, characterized by substantial quantities, often pose significant management challenges and potential environmental threats.

Our exploration will persist in identifying innovative strategies that align with environmental conservation and facilitate the extraction of future generations of resources from mineral wastes. The overarching theme centres on the evolution towards a circular economy, prioritizing resource recovery and sustainable practices. We invite contributions on the following key topics:

  • Holistic problem solving: this issue aims to delve into comprehensive discussions that address the persistent challenges associated with solid mineral wastes, unravelling the complexities involved in their sustainable management;
  • Cutting-edge characterization techniques: building on the foundations of prior editions, the third instalment of this Special Issue will showcase state-of-the-art methods for finely characterizing industrial and mine wastes, offering a profound understanding of their composition and potential applications;
  • Innovative technical and environmental solutions: presenting the latest advancements, this Special Issue will spotlight techniques and technologies that efficiently manage these wastes, encompassing treatment and processing before disposal;
  • The recovery of critical raw materials: with a focus on effective, cost-efficient, and eco-friendly methods, this Special Issue will explore avenues to maximize the extraction of critical raw materials from industrial and mining wastes;
  • Expanding recycling horizons: beyond traditional sectors, this issue aims to explore novel applications and sectors for recycling industrial and mining wastes, contributing significantly to the development of a circular economy;
  • Diversifying valorisation approaches: delving into the valorisation of these wastes across various sectors, this Special Issue seeks to broaden the spectrum of possibilities for transforming waste into valuable resources;
  • Scale studies and practical applications: continuing the tradition of the previous editions, this issue will feature laboratory, pilot, and/or industrial-scale studies, providing valuable insights into the real-world applications of the discussed techniques;
  • The life cycle assessment of comprehensive solutions: recognizing the need for a holistic approach, contributions focusing on the life cycle assessment of entire solutions are highly encouraged, providing a more thorough understanding of the environmental impact and sustainability of the proposed strategies.

Dr. Yassine Taha
Dr. Abdellatif Elghali
Dr. Yassine Ait-Khouia
Prof. Dr. Mostafa Benzaazoua
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • inorganic industrial and mining wastes
  • environmental characterization
  • treatment, stabilization, reprocessing, and recycling
  • integrated management
  • valorisation

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4742 KiB  
Article
Dimension Stone Processing Sludge at Different Stages of Production: Insights for Waste Management
by Mirna A. Neves, Wenderson A. R. Nascimento and Adolf H. Horn
Minerals 2025, 15(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15010039 - 31 Dec 2024
Viewed by 652
Abstract
Brazil stands out as one of the main producers of dimension stones and, in order to maintain sustainable production, the principles of environmental sustainability have been increasingly desired. The importance of studying sludge from dimension stone processing is not only based on the [...] Read more.
Brazil stands out as one of the main producers of dimension stones and, in order to maintain sustainable production, the principles of environmental sustainability have been increasingly desired. The importance of studying sludge from dimension stone processing is not only based on the economic and environmental burden that its waste disposal represents for the sector but also on the opportunity to use a material that can reduce the extraction of other mineral goods. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of this sludge at different stages of the processing to evaluate the differences between the material circulating in the production process and after dehydration, when it becomes a residue to be disposed of. Aluminum, iron, manganese, and barium concentrations were high in the liquid phase of the sludge, but they were reduced considerably in the solubilized extract. The hydrogen potential reduced, falling below the threshold of corrosivity, after the withdrawal of the liquid phase. Elements with concentrations higher than the maximum allowed value for inert wastes come from both the inputs used in the processing and the processed stone itself. Initiatives to segregate materials from different sources and investments for the creation of eco-products that can replace inputs, besides the use of wastes, should be encouraged to work towards sustainable production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, 3rd Edition)
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20 pages, 22332 KiB  
Article
Design and Implementation of Sampling Wells in Phosphate Mine Waste Rock Piles: Towards an Enhanced Composition Understanding and Sustainable Reclamation
by Mustapha El Ghorfi, Omar Inabi, Hicham Amar, Yassine Taha, Abdellatif Elghali, Rachid Hakkou and Mostafa Benzaazoua
Minerals 2024, 14(3), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/min14030286 - 8 Mar 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1682
Abstract
Establishing a circular economy in mining begins with a dedicated sampling strategy as its fundamental phase. This specific approach is crucial for enhancing resource retrieval and isolating essential minerals from mining residues. By carefully examining and defining the makeup of waste materials, mining [...] Read more.
Establishing a circular economy in mining begins with a dedicated sampling strategy as its fundamental phase. This specific approach is crucial for enhancing resource retrieval and isolating essential minerals from mining residues. By carefully examining and defining the makeup of waste materials, mining activities can discover overlooked possibilities, promoting sustainability. A thoughtfully planned sampling strategy not only reduces environmental harm but also sets the stage for the effective use of resources. In doing so, the mining industry can shift towards a circular model, adhering to the principles of waste reduction, material reuse, and ultimately promoting a more environmentally conscious and economically viable industry. In the phosphate industry and during the pre-concentration process of phosphate ore through screening, significant amounts of mining waste, consisting of various lithologies including indurated and fine phosphate, coarse-grained silicified phosphate, limestone, and marls, are deposited in waste rock stockpiles. Collecting representative samples from these heterogeneous materials presents challenges in accurately characterizing the entire stockpile. To overcome this issue, circular mining wells were implemented as a novel sampling method in waste rock stockpiles, enabling the collection of intact representative samples. This paper shares a successful experience in constructing three concrete-lined wells within a phosphate mine waste rock stockpile measuring 662 m in length, 240 m in width, and ranging in height from 0 to 65 m. The wells were dug at various depths, ranging from 20 m to 55 m, with a circular section and a diameter of 1.5 m. An integrated method utilizing analytical techniques in conjunction with numerical modeling via Robot Structural Analysis software (version of 2020) was utilized to assess the stress on the well supports and confirm their stability. This methodology serves as a valuable tool for evaluating the stability of similar wells, ensuring the safety of operators. The structural model yielded a stress level of 1 MPa, which aligned with the values obtained from the analytical model. Sensitivity analysis was performed on various parameters (friction angle, Poisson Ratio, and gravity), and the safety factor consistently remained above 1.5 for all scenarios investigated up to a depth of 60 m. Consequently, this study demonstrates that concrete-lined wells can be utilized safely for intact sampling in waste rock stockpiles. This sampling operation will allow the pursuit of optimizing resource utilization and enhancing environmental sustainability, by studying phosphate distribution in the Phosphate Mine Waste Rock (PMWR) for better recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Towards a Sustainable Management of Mine Wastes: Reprocessing, Reuse, Revalorization and Repository, 3rd Edition)
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