Benchmarking of Carbon Mineralisation Processes in Western Australia’s Ultramafic Tailings

The Challenge

Given current emission levels and the presence of hard-to-abate emissions, it is likely that both emissions mitigation and CO2 removal will be necessary. Western Australia has significant amounts of mining and processing waste, particularly ultramafic mine tailings from nickel sulfide ore processing, which is abundant and highly reactive. This waste has the potential to be transformed into valuable carbon mineralisation assets if appropriate carbonation processes are developed and implemented. However, there is currently no established carbonation process identified for effectively storing carbon in this type of mine waste in Western Australia.

Proposed Solution

This project will systematically assess and compare carbonation process routes specific to ultramafic mine tailings within Western Australia. By conducting techno-economic and life cycle assessments, it will evaluate the economic and technical feasibility and the potential for emission reductions of each process. This information will guide decision-making and help to mitigate future investment risks in scale up of mineral carbonation processes in Western Australia.

Proposed Benefits to WA

The expected outcome of this project is a systematic assessment of different process routes for carbonation of ultramafic mine tailings in Western Australia. The assessment aims to help mitigate future investment risks associated with process scale up, thereby facilitating the implementation of mineral carbonation of ultramafic tailings in Western Australia. Implementation will foster the establishment of a new mineral carbonation industry in WA and is anticipated to reduce CO2 emissions within WA’s mining industry. Initially focussed on Ni producers, it will enable any producer of ultramafic hosted commodities or those with Mg, Ca, or Fe-rich waste to adopt the technologies assessed in this project and to transform their waste into carbonated products.

Funding DOI

DOI: 10.71342/383776719449