Demand and availability of raw materials, especially “critical” raw materials (e.g., rare earths), are becoming increasingly topical issues. In this article we show the potential of an Italian mining and quarrying site (Monte Bracco area, quartzites and kaolin): the combined study of geological, environmental, technical, and economic factors can lead to a sustainable exploitation of the waste from past mining activities, as well as to a resumption of extractive activity of dimension stones and industrial minerals (quartzites, silica and kaolin). The high rare earths contents (especially Y) in the kaolinitic clays also make the site attractive in the critical raw materials arena in a future perspective.

Raw materials supply: Kaolin and quartz from ore deposits and recycling activities. The example of the Monte Bracco area (Piedmont, Northern Italy)

Dino G. A.;Faraudello A.;Rossi P;Mancini S.
2021-01-01

Abstract

Demand and availability of raw materials, especially “critical” raw materials (e.g., rare earths), are becoming increasingly topical issues. In this article we show the potential of an Italian mining and quarrying site (Monte Bracco area, quartzites and kaolin): the combined study of geological, environmental, technical, and economic factors can lead to a sustainable exploitation of the waste from past mining activities, as well as to a resumption of extractive activity of dimension stones and industrial minerals (quartzites, silica and kaolin). The high rare earths contents (especially Y) in the kaolinitic clays also make the site attractive in the critical raw materials arena in a future perspective.
2021
74
102413
102428
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301420721004220
Extractive waste; Kaolinitic clays; Quartz; Rare earth elements; Sustainable mining
Dino G.A.; Cavallo A.; Faraudello A.; Rossi P; Mancini S.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Manuscript_Monte_Bracco_preprint.docx.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: PREPRINT (PRIMA BOZZA)
Dimensione 1.6 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.6 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1824674
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 5
social impact