Why Mining Organizations are Increasing Investment in Tailings Management

Mining as an industrial activity is set to continue expanding into the foreseeable future. Current trends suggest an additional 2- to 10-fold increase in the demand for many commodities, particularly those needed for energy transition technologies, by 2060. Over the past 40 years, ore grades — the concentration of the metal or mineral of value — have declined on average by half for many commodities, effectively doubling the volume of mine waste generated for each unit of valuable material produced¹.

Mining waste, or tailings, typically consist of finely ground rock particles, water, and residual chemicals used in the extraction process. The residual chemicals can be toxic as they often include blasting chemicals (ammonia, nitrate), separation chemicals (e.g., petroleum byproducts, cyanide, caustic agents), and leached metals or other constituents (e.g., copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, iron, arsenic, aluminum, manganese, sulfate)¹. Tailings management thus encompasses the processes and strategies used to handle, store, and remediate these wasted byproducts. Handling tailings in an effective and environmental manner is an increasingly crucial process for modern mining operations, with 94% of organizations slated to invest more in tailings management¹. The reasons for this shift are manifold.

1. Environmental Protection: Tailings often contain harmful substances such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals, which, if not properly contained, can leach into the surrounding ecosystem, affecting flora, fauna, and human health.
2. Regulatory Compliance: Governments and regulatory bodies have stringent guidelines and standards for collecting and managing mining waste. The ultimate goal, as per the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), is zero harm. Depending on geography, non-compliance can result in significant legal and financial repercussions, including fines, mine closures, and loss of operating licenses.
3. Community Relations: Communities located near mining operations are often directly impacted by the mine’s environmental footprint. Effective tailings management demonstrates a company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and can help build and maintain positive relationships with local stakeholders.
4. Operational Safety: Tailings storage facilities (TSFs) must be carefully designed, constructed, and monitored to prevent failures that could result in catastrophic events. Sadly, catastrophic failures do occur. The Brumadinho dam disaster in 2019 served as a wake-up call for the global mining industry. When that tailings dam collapsed, the mine waste traveled eight kilometers over land² killing 272 people³, destroying buildings, and contaminating land as well as the Paraopeba River.

Investing in advanced tailings management technologies and practices, therefore, helps mitigate environmental, social and financial risks, and it aligns with the broader shift toward sustainable and responsible mining operations.

Solutions for Tailings Management

Handheld elemental analyzers have become invaluable tools in tailings management for mining companies. These portable devices offer several technical advantages, enabling detailed, real-time analysis of tailings material in the field throughout the mining workflow.

X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) Analyzers

XRF analyzers direct X-rays onto a sample, causing the elements within the sample to emit secondary (fluorescent) X-rays. Each element produces a unique spectral fingerprint for precise identification and quantification.

1. Elemental Composition Analysis: Handheld XRF analyzers provide rapid, on-site quantification of elemental composition in tailings. This is crucial for detecting the presence of hazardous elements like arsenic, lead, and mercury, which must be managed carefully to prevent environmental contamination.
2. Material Characterization: Understanding tailings’ mineralogical content can help design appropriate remediation and recycling strategies. For instance, identifying valuable residual minerals can inform secondary recovery processes, enhancing resource efficiency.
3. Compliance and Monitoring: Handheld XRF devices can efficiently monitor tailings for compliance with environmental regulations. This ensures ongoing adherence to legal standards and helps prevent costly fines and sanctions.

Technical and Operational Advantages

Integrating handheld XRF analyzers into tailings management offers several compelling advantages, particularly portability and ease of use. These devices can be effortlessly transported and operated directly on-site. This is a significant improvement over more time-consuming traditional methods that often require extensive sample preparation and the transportation of samples to off-site laboratories. Eliminating such cumbersome steps unlocks a more efficient and responsive tailings management process.

Additionally, XRF technology is a non-destructive technique. Thus, sample integrity is maintained, which is particularly beneficial for ongoing monitoring programs. This allows for multiple analyses of the same sample, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the tailings material over time without depleting or altering the sample.

Investing in Tailings Management

Effective tailings management can lead to substantial long-term cost savings for mining companies. These come in the form of the many environmental and CSR benefits, plus the discovery of new revenue opportunities enabled by the recovery of valuable minerals that might have been overlooked during initial processing. Handheld XRF analyzers can identify and quantify residual metals within tailings, facilitating secondary recovery processes. This enhances resource efficiency and generates additional income streams from materials that would otherwise be considered waste. Furthermore, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices can improve a company’s marketability and attractiveness to investors, potentially leading to increased investment and business opportunities in the growing market for environmentally responsible mining operations.

References & Further Reading

1. Safety First, Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management, V2.0. Report available at: https://earthworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Safety-First-Safe-Tailings-Management-V2.0-final.pdf
2. Darlington, S. et al., 2019. Tidal Wave of Mud, New York Times.
3. Robertson, P. et al., 2019. Report of the Expert Panel on the Technical Causes of the Failure of Feijão Dam I. 12 p.
4. https://globaltailingsreview.org/global-industry-standard/
5. https://news.mongabay.com/2024/02/scientists-now-know-how-the-brumadinho-dam-disaster-happened-and-the-lessons-to-learn/

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