Process mineralogy: the key to unlocking the provision of minerals and metals to a sustainable world

摘要

Our modern society is dependent on, and arguably addicted to, minerals and metals to sustain it. From being essential for energy production, manufacturing and agricultural industries as well as for human health and wellbeing. For over thousands of years, the state and development of society has been characterised by its use of minerals and this is even more so as we engage with the '4th Industrial Revolution'. However, their provision is increasingly precarious as the minerals industry, is facing multifaceted threats and challenges arising from the three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental and social. Underpinning the transformation of the provision of these critical minerals and metals is the appropriate technical innovation and development that is based on a sound knowledge of mineralogy - from systems level thinking to a fundamental understanding of particle behaviour.This paper uses the story of copper and discusses the key role that mineralogy plays at the various scales: from individual process units, to circuits, across the value chain (company) including waste streams, the communities surrounding them, regionally and globally. It demonstrates how the measurement, understanding and manipulation of mineralogy, or lack thereof at the particle scale can have far reaching effects. It presents the circular economy as a roadmap, with geological as well as urban mining, that can be used to ensure provision minerals and metals for our sustainable future. It also discusses potential interventions and innovations which will shape the industry.