Assessing the reactivity of Decar mine tailings: Implications for improved tailings management and carbon sequestration

Decar镍铁合金项目位于不列颠哥伦比亚省中部，是First Point Minerals Corporation的旗舰镍项目，预计寿命为25年。矿石赋存于富含镁的基岩中，不存在酸性排水的风险；相反，拟建的矿山将产生的碱性矿山废物与二氧化碳（一种关键的温室气体）发生反应。初步分析表明，拟议矿山的总CO2封存能力比预期的温室气体排放量大几个数量级，但可达到的比例将取决于尾矿管理。例如，将矿山废物与来自现场发电厂的富含二氧化碳的气流反应可以加速碳封存。需要对矿山废弃物与CO2的反应性进行研究，以确定封存CO2的最佳策略。这项研究为Decar项目提供了潜在的重大经济和环境效益。

The Decar Nickel-Iron Alloy Project located in central BC is the flagship nickel project for First Point Minerals Corporation with a projected lifespan of 25 years. The ore is hosted in magnesium-rich bedrock that poses no risk of acidic drainage; rather the alkaline mine wastes that will be generated at the proposed mine are reactive with carbon dioxide, a key greenhouse gas. Initial analyses indicate that overall CO2 sequestration capacity of the proposed mine is orders of magnitude greater than the anticipated greenhouse gas emissions, but the accessible proportion will depend on tailings management. For instance, reacting mine wastes with CO2-rich gas streams such as from an on-site power plant can accelerate carbon sequestration. Research is needed to assess the reactivity of the mine wastes with CO2 to determine the optimal strategies for sequestering CO2. This research offers potentially significant economic and environmental benefits to the Decar project.