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In mining, not everything is a circular economy: Case studies from recent mining projects in Iberia

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  • de la Torre de Palacios, Luis
  • Espí Rodríguez, José Antonio

Abstract

The simplistic model of the current concept of the circular economy seems to have serious application challenges when applied to the industrial use of mineral resources. Given the importance and characteristics of the waste that inevitably accompanies the production of metals and minerals, it is necessary to separate those that are generated during processing or concentration from those that inevitably accompany the extraction cycle in the mine without any mineral content. The latter are much larger in volume and have little chance of being reused under acceptable economic and environmental conditions. For this reason, valuation tools are needed to ensure the sustainability of the processes involved in the use of old mineral residues in contrast to the mining of primary minerals. Under this vision, this study analyses the situation for some recent Iberian mining developments.

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  • de la Torre de Palacios, Luis & Espí Rodríguez, José Antonio, 2022. "In mining, not everything is a circular economy: Case studies from recent mining projects in Iberia," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jrpoli:v:78:y:2022:i:c:s030142072200246x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2022.102798
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Manu Sharma & Anil Kumar & Sunil Luthra & Sudhanshu Joshi & Arvind Upadhyay, 2022. "The impact of environmental dynamism on low‐carbon practices and digital supply chain networks to enhance sustainable performance: An empirical analysis," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(4), pages 1776-1788, May.
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    3. Luis de la Torre Palacios & José Antonio Espí Rodríguez & Paulo Romero Martinez, 2021. "Economic, technological and sustainability-based qualifications with reference to Europe: Iberia’s new metal mining projects," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 34(2), pages 277-304, July.
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    5. Upadhyay, Arvind & Laing, Tim & Kumar, Vikas & Dora, Manoj, 2021. "Exploring barriers and drivers to the implementation of circular economy practices in the mining industry," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
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    1. de la Torre de Palacios, Luis & Espí Rodríguez, José Antonio, 2022. "Dematerialisation and material flow analysis as sustainability indicators in the extraction of mineral resources," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    2. Born, Konstantin, 2025. "Adoption of circular economy practices in the mining sector: Evidence from Chile," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    3. Oksana Marinina & Natalia Kirsanova & Marina Nevskaya, 2022. "Circular Economy Models in Industry: Developing a Conceptual Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-21, December.

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