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

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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.