The Environmental sustainability of mining in Australia: key mega-trends and looming constraints

摘要: Abstract At first ‘sustainable mining’ could be perceived as a paradox—minerals are widely held to finite resources with rising consumption causing pressure on known resources. The true sustainability of mineral resources, however, is much more complex picture and involves exploration, technology, economics, social environmental issues, advancing scientific knowledge—predicting future therefore not simple task. This paper presents the results from landmark study historical trends in Australian mining, including ore milled, grades, open cut versus underground overburden/waste rock economic When complete data sets compiled for specific metals, particular issues stand out respect sustainability—technological breakthroughs (e.g. flotation, carbon-in-pulp), new discoveries uranium or U), price changes Au, boom/bust cycles), strikes), etc. All these prime importance moving towards semi-quantitative model mining industry. For future, critical will continue declining grades (also quality impurities), increased waste associated liabilities, potential breakthrough technologies, broader constraints carbon costs, water). this latter area, many companies now report annually performance—facilitating analysis production performance. By linking two commonly disparate aspects—mining environmental/sustainability data—it becomes possible better understand predict such water requirements, greenhouse emissions, energy reagent inputs, like. present range fundamental which help quantifying resource mining—with implications industry society whole.