Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
Opposed to mining operations which are mostly mechanical, metallurgical tech-
nologies involve thermal and electro-chemical processes that are very energy inten-
sive and in many cases their costs predominate. Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
undergo treatment, smelting and refining to obtain the pure material. There are
two generic ways to extract the mineral from the ore: the pyrometallurgical route,
which reduces the ore using thermal energy, and the hydrometallurgical one, which
is performed in aqueous solutions taking advantage of differential solubilities and
electrochemical properties. Pyrometallurgical techniques are more frequently used
but the hydrometallurgical ones are increasing in importance due to their potentially
smaller environmental impact.
Mining activities are responsible for important damages on the environment.
They consume between 6 to 10% of many nations' primary energy consumption
whilst producing significant amounts of waste rock and emissions to air, water and
soil. Therefore, sustainable mining and metallurgical practices should be promoted
through more environmentally stringent legislation.
In summary, the Olympic motto Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher,
Stronger), apart from promoting sporting excellence, may also be an apt way in
which to describe the current state of mining. Investigation and excavation is ever
deeper and forever pushing the boundaries of increasingly remote sites. Extraction
and refining requires progressively more energy. The removal of materials likewise
must be accelerated to match the exponentially growing demand for minerals. So
the motto of the miner could be translated to: Faster, Deeper and Stronger.
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