ReMining - Rawmaterialsfromtailings
Mining and ore processing are always associated with the accumulation of residual materials, which in the past were often dumped into tailings. From today's technological point of view, these often still contain considerable quantities of valuable elements. Against the backdrop of a constantly growing global hunger for raw materials, tailings are therefore becoming increasingly interesting for the world market.
Today, the content of these modern valuable elements in ancient tailings is often above the limits of economic extraction. In addition, most of the accompanying minerals can be used for building materials - in line with the circular economy. All activities that deal with the reprocessing of old tailings and the goal of resource recovery in this context are generally referred to as re-mining –“mining 2.0”.
Davidschachtspülhalde Freiberg im Sommer
BMBF researchproject ReMiningPlus
As part of the BMBF program “WIR! - Change through innovation in the region”, modular pilot plants are being designed to develop the biotechnological extraction of valuable elements and subsequent separation of hazardous substances and to test them in practical use at the Davidschacht complex in Freiberg.
The Davidschachttailing contains the following mineralogical composition: quartz (approx. 70%), feldspar, mica, fluorspar, barite, calcite, lead sulphide, iron sulphide, zinc, manganese, arsenic, cadmium and copper. The tailings also contains residues of flotation reagents.
As part of ReMiningPlus, the extraction of valuable elements (In, Zn, Pb, Cu, Co) from the tailings and the use of other inert components (e.g. as a building material) is carried out using a pilot-scale test plant. The removal/immobilization of the existing hazardous substances will be implemented in environmental module 3.
