An idea for a green mining industry.

As in most sectors, the mining industry tries to do all that is necessary to cause as minor damage to the environment as possible with their activities. Due to increasingly strict legal regulations and louder social expectations, this might be getting a little challenging. Everyone strives to harmonize mining with nature to preserve fertile soil, wildlife, clean air, biodiversity, and clean, drinkable water. It's not an easy task, but it's possible when you find the path that points toward a much greener future.

Water may be the greatest resource.

Water management is one of the most crucial aspects of green operations as it is a natural resource with limited supply yet a necessity for all. Water is essential in the mining sector since water is needed to transform ore into pure metal. However, water becomes even more expensive around mines because it is often very strenuous to access. Therefore, conscious water management should begin with not wanting to waste a single drop.

Nowadays, sustainability has become the forefront aspect of the water management of mines: use as little water as possible from the available resources, pollute as little as possible, and clean/reuse as much contaminated water as possible. This change in perspective is a challenging but necessary step to ensure that our present and future become somewhat better.

One of the lasting solutions to avoid evaporation, deter wildlife, and protect the environment may be covering the surface. But to retain access, that cover must be flexible.

Waste management and sustainability goals.

Another crucial area is waste management. Since ore frequently contains small amounts of valuable metals, mining may generate a lot of waste. As a result, a lot of worthless dirt/rock from the extraction point arrives at the surface. After processing, these are stored in sterile pits or tailings reservoirs.

If the waste material is not contaminated this region can easily be recultivated. Even grapes can be grown on the arid slopes, and the surface of the tailings reservoirs can be covered with fertile soil and used as agricultural or forestry land. However, the situation is often not that simple since environmentally hazardous substances are used during processing, deeming the waste extremely dangerous. These must be insulated to prevent toxic substances from escaping into the environment to save nature and the environment.

A suitable cover may assist with this because when the surface of the tailings reservoir is covered, an insulating layer is formed that keeps the alkaline, fine-grained dust moist and reduces the risk of dusting (eg. red mud storage). Covering tailings after the closure of mines is regulated by strict laws. These covers may provide a perfect solution in compliance with the regulations.

Most importantly, the layer also deters birds and protects other wild animals, as it hides the open water surface that would attract them and possibly kill them.

Impact of covers during electrolytic metal refining.

A choice of the right coverage may play an important role during the electrolytic metal refining process used to extract pure metal from the ore. The automated line needed to move the anodes performs a continuous in-and-out movement in the acid bath. It's not feasible to apply a fixed cover layer. Even though ideally, the acid baths would need to be covered, the intense evaporation caused by heating of the chemicals results in the production of acid mist in the workshop, which causes several impacts:

• A high-performance extractor system is required
• HSE concern over the work environment as harmful fumes, odours, and gases are released
• Heat and material loss
• Corrosive acid mist damaging the metal structure of the factory and the equipment alike, which results in frequent maintenance
  

These impacts create a serious increase in unnecessary, avoidable expenses.

When using industrial balls for covering, the above impacts can easily be eliminated. The layer of balls isolates the acid bath from its surroundings and creates a significant change:

• Heat and material loss can be reduced by as much as 75%
• Harmful gases and vapors entering the environment will be reduced by 85-90%
• A low-duty extraction system may be more than enough
• Safer and healthier work environment would be retained
• Damage to the metal structures and equipment would decrease as the concentration of acid mist will drastically reduce.

In conclusion, with the current electricity and raw material prices, an investment in our balls will repay itself within a few months. Since they save significantly on heating, material, electricity, and maintenance costs.