Date updated: 2010-02-19
Data Brief 2010-002
Written by Dr. Gavin M. Mudd for AGI, February 2010

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Recent Australian research has shown that while mineral production continues to grow strongly for almost all commodities (graph A), key ‘mega-trends’ underpinning this include declining ore grades (graph B), exponentially increasing waste rock (graph C), and variable success in expanding economic mineral resources (graph D). Collectively, these point to signicant environmental challenges for the future of mining and mineral processing, such as potentially increased unit energy, pollutant, waste and water costs, and subsequently higher production costs (especially as environmental costs become internalised).

This will impact not only the demand for minerals and metals, but also drive the search for alternative technologies across exploration, mining, milling, smelting and rening. In the long term, it will increase the need for greater material eciency and recycling. There is perhaps more synergy between the concept of ‘peak oil’ and ‘peak minerals’ than people are yet to realise – and requires very careful research to understand and transform the delivery of minerals and the services they provide.

The full report is available at: http://users.monash.edu.au/~gmudd/sustymining.html

View an in-depth discussion of this information in the corresponding Geoscience Currents Discussion Webinar.