Revolutionizing mineral recovery: The untapped potential of non-explosive expansive agents for eco-friendly mining

Abstract

The growing global demand for minerals, coupled with the environmental and energy inefficiencies of traditional mining, underscores the need for more sustainable alternatives. In-situ Mineral Recovery (IMR) offers such a solution by extracting minerals directly from deep ore deposits. However, its widespread adoption is challenged by environmental concerns, particularly groundwater contamination and host rock permeability. This study investigates the use of a Slow-Releasing Energy Material Agent (SREMA), a non-explosive expansive material, to address these challenges by enhancing rock preconditioning in IMR. We analyze the hydration dynamics, admixture effects, fracture initiation mechanisms, applications and limitations of SREMA, demonstrating its ability to control fracture propagation and improve rock fracturing efficiency. Our findings suggest that optimizing factors like water content, chemical composition and injection well design parameters can further enhance SREMA's performance. The study emphasizes the importance of developing SREMA with specific properties tailored for IMR, including appropriate viscosity, flowability, and water resistance, to ensure an interconnected fracture network in deep underground conditions. Furthermore, it underscores SREMA's potential to reduce the environmental impact of traditional rock preconditioning methods and contribute to more sustainable mining practices while also identifying areas for future research to refine SREMA efficacy and explore novel applications, thereby facilitating more eco-friendly and efficient mineral recovery processes.