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Optimization of Mining Sequence for Ion-Adsorbed Rare Earth Mining Districts Incorporating Environmental Costs

Author

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  • Lu Yi

    (School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China)

  • Yi Zeng

    (School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China)

  • Minggui Zheng

    (School of Economics and Management, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou 341000, China
    School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China)

Abstract

The mining sequence of ionic rare earth mineral mining districts is related to the effective utilization of rare earth mineral resources and the protection of ecological environment. This study establishes an optimization model for the mining sequence of ion-adsorption rare earth mining districts that incorporates environmental costs, using the net present value (NPV) of the mining district and the net present value of environmental costs (C E ) as objective functions. The model is applied to optimize the mining sequence of Mining District L. The results demonstrate that (1) Four algorithms, namely NSGA-II, NSGA-III, IBEA, and MOEA/D, were selected for comparison. The analysis based on the distribution of solutions, hypervolume values (HV), and computational time revealed that the IBEA exhibited superior performance. (2) The IBEA was employed to solve the multi-objective optimization problem, yielding a set of 30 optimal solutions. Different NPVs corresponded to different C E values, with the C E value increasing correspondingly as the NPV increased. (3) The weighted method was employed to transform the multi-objective optimization problem into a single-objective formulation. Using a genetic algorithm (GA), the optimal solution yielded a decision variable sequence for mining order as [2, 5, 8, 4, 1, 9, 6, 7, 3, 10, 11], with the net present value (NPV) of mining district profits reaching CNY 76,640.65 million and the environmental cost NPV amounting to CNY 19,469.18 million. Compared with the mining sequence optimization scheme that did not consider C E , although the NPV decreased by CNY 3.3266 million, the C E was reduced by CNY 10.6993 million. The mining sequence optimization model with environmental costs constructed in this paper provides a scientific decision-making basis for mining enterprises to consider the mining sequence in mining districts, minimize the damage to the ecological environment, and promote the coordinated progress of resource development and sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu Yi & Yi Zeng & Minggui Zheng, 2025. "Optimization of Mining Sequence for Ion-Adsorbed Rare Earth Mining Districts Incorporating Environmental Costs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:15:p:6871-:d:1712208
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haibo Guan & Yanjun Mu & Rutao Song & Yuecen Lan & Xiongfeng Du & Jinxia Li & Wenfeng Chi & Weiguo Sang, 2022. "Soil Microbial Communities in Desert Grassland around Rare Earth Mine: Diversity, Variation, and Response Patterns," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-16, November.
    2. Barteková, Eva & Kemp, René, 2016. "National strategies for securing a stable supply of rare earths in different world regions," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 153-164.
    3. Xuedong Liang & Meng Ye & Li Yang & Wanbing Fu & Zhi Li, 2018. "Evaluation and Policy Research on the Sustainable Development of China’s Rare Earth Resources," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-16, October.
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