In:
Frontiers in Climate, Frontiers Media SA, Vol. 3 ( 2021-7-28)
Abstract:
There is growing urgency for CO 2 removal strategies to slow the increase of, and potentially lower, atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. Enhanced weathering, whereby the natural reactions between CO 2 and silicate minerals that produce dissolved bicarbonate ions are accelerated, has the potential to remove substantial CO 2 on decadal to centennial timescales. The global mining industry produces huge volumes of fine wastes that could be utilised as feedstock for enhanced weathering. We have compiled a global database of the enhanced weathering potential of mined metal and diamond commodity tailings from silicate-hosted deposits. Our data indicate that all deposit types, notably mafic and ultramafic rock-hosted operations and high tonnage Cu-hosting deposits, have the potential to capture ~1.1–4.5 Gt CO 2 annually, between 31 and 125% of the industry's primary emissions. However, current knowledge suggests that dissolution rates of many minerals are relatively slow, such that only a fraction (~3–21%) of this potential may be realised on timescales of & lt;50 years. Field trials in mine settings are urgently needed and, if this prediction is confirmed, then methodologies for accelerating weathering reactions will need to be developed.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2624-9553
DOI:
10.3389/fclim.2021.694175
DOI:
10.3389/fclim.2021.694175.s001
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Frontiers Media SA
Publication Date:
2021
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2986708-3
Permalink