Mining Magazine April 2015 | Page 34

TOP 10

Treating mine waste will look very different in the future . For instance , researchers in Chile have developed a new plant-based technology to combat effects of contaminants produced from mining production processes . Known as phytostabilization , the technology involves the reduction of mobility of heavy metals in soil by growing plants with the ability to retain contaminants . Believe it or not , the roots of the plants absorb waste particles as well as eliminate the spread by wind .

One of the main agents in extracting gold from ore is cyanide . Unfortunately , it ’ s extremely eco-destructive . In the next few years , look to see hydrometallurgical process adopting green alternatives for the extraction of metals from ore .

Canadian company Dundee Sustainable technologies has developed a new process utilizing green technologies that uses chlorination instead of cyanidation , helping to eliminate the need for tailings ponds and the risks of containment collapse .

34 April 2015