Abstract
Blue Skies Minerals, Inc is developing the Carbonated Tailings Process to store carbon and reduce environmental liabilities at mining operations. In this process, atmospheric carbon is captured into a concentrated alkaline solution, mixed with additives and blended into thickened tailings. The resulting mixture will eventually cementify, as mineral carbonates are formed within the tailings. In an ideal configuration, the carbonated tailings are co-disposed with waste rock in a bottom-up dump construction. This will provide three major benefits:
- Carbon will be stored permanently
- Contaminant leaching will be eliminated
- The need for tailings impoundments will (potentially) be eliminated
The Carbonated Tailings Process will be applicable to any open pit operation. It is intended to be developed as a bolt-on process that receives thickened tailings and delivers carbonated tailings for final placement.
By eliminating key environmental liabilities, the CTP can potentially change mining forever. It is not restricted to orebodies that produce alkaline tailings, but can be can be applied to any ore type. This will favour its broad adoption by the industry. Its environmental benefits are expected to be viewed favourably by regulators. The presentation will describe the process, its expected application at mine sites and its anticipated economics.
Blue Skies Minerals is looking for mining partners to validate the CTP and demonstrate it at a pilot scale, starting in 2024.