The mineral processor and the environment: waste to resources

摘要

In the past, we have paid more attention to product than to waste. Unfortunately, the nature of our industry is such that we must extract small amounts of values locked in huge quantities of waste rock. This paper presents an overview how today, the mineral processor is collaborating with engineers in the mines, smelters and refineries to generate products of value and treat waste as a secondary resource. The solid wastes, and liquid and gaseous effluents can be processed and utilized as value added products while significantly reducing the harmful discharges. This leads to a sustainable harnessing of our mineral resources in using novel technologies to protect the environment and human health. The topics of interests and issues presented in this paper are as follows: Sources of wastes; disposal options; recycling of automobiles and electronic scrap using mineral processing techniques; the role of the mineral processor in the SO_2 abatement program in the minerals industry; the application of mineral processing techniques in other industries; tailings to resources (2 major Canadian examples); environment backfill research at Laurentian University (the author's own research and specific field of expertise).