Circular economy in the mining industry: A bibliometric and systematic literature review

Abstract

This study seeks to provide comprehensive mapping of research on the circular economy within the mining sector from 2000 to 2024, highlighting essential topics, prevailing trends, and prospective future directions. Utilizing a mixed-method approach that combines bibliometric analysis, text mining, and content analysis, the research pursues several objectives: (i) capture the scientific foundation of circular economic research in mining by identifying key themes and trends over the past 24 years, (ii) offer a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on the topic, and (iii) propose future research directions. A total of 136 peer-reviewed articles from Scopus, JSTOR, and Taylor & Francis databases were analyzed, selected through the PRISMA method and ad-hoc sampling. The analysis identified three main research areas: (1) circular economy strategies for tailings and waste management in mining, (2) regulatory challenges and opportunities for circular economy implementation in mining, and (3) value chains within the circular economy in the mining sector. Based on these areas, four key lines of future research were proposed: innovation in tailings and waste management, regulatory and governance challenges, integration of technologies in sustainable value chains, and design of mine closure and rehabilitation strategies under circular economy principles. These recommendations aim to enhance sustainability and optimize resource use in the mining industry, promoting practices that contribute to a more responsible and efficient global development model.