Digging Deep Blog: Minerals Edition - July 2023

GOING FULL CIRCLE: THE CRITICAL MINERALS AND METALS OPPORTUNITIES IN BC'S MINE TAILINGS AND WASTE ROCK

Critical minerals and metals are essential to Canada’s economic security and essential for the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. Canada's critical minerals list includes 31 minerals and metals, 21 of which are produced in Canada, with potential for further resource development as global partners seek secure, responsibly sourced, low-carbon supplies.

To support critical mineral and metal development in BC, Geoscience BC is launching a new program: Critical Minerals & Metals in Select British Columbia Mine Tailings & Waste Rock. Geoscience BC’s Board of Directors has committed to contributing up to $100,000 to the first of three phases, provided that industry, government and other partners contribute an additional $175,000.

Geoscience BC is now seeking this required additional funding support for Phase 1 of the program. Companies such as Arca Climate are already on board, and the Mining Association of BC has expressed its support. We are in active discussions with many companies and if you are interested in contributing, it is not too late to get involved.

Contributing partners will be acknowledged on all research materials and communication to highlight their leadership and support. They can also have exclusive access to other benefits such as previews of research findings.

THE PREMISE

Mine tailings and waste rock are produced as metals and minerals are mined. Legacy and active sites may contain concentrations of critical minerals and metals that were not technically recoverable or economically viable at the time of extraction. In some cases, tailings and waste rock may also present an opportunity to address environmental liabilities.

The program aims to:

Assess suitable mine tailings and waste rock facilities in BC to undertake lab and field-scale studies for recovering and/or processing critical minerals and metals;

Attract investment to BC by demonstrating an innovative approach to critical minerals and metals research and collaboration of researchers, governments, industry, academia, communities and Indigenous groups;

Foster co-operation, expand research expertise and build capacity and training opportunities across mineral systems and the mining lifecycle; and

Engage the broader minerals industry, from geoscience and exploration to mine development, mine reclamation and mineral processing.

As a trusted not-for-profit research organization that delivers independent geoscience to support Canada’s net-zero emissions economy, Geoscience BC is well-positioned to lead this important research program.

STARTING NOW: PHASE 1

Geoscience BC recently convened a working group with partners from MDRU, BRIMM, the Province of British Columbia’s Abandoned Mines Branch and members from Geoscience BC’s Minerals Technical Advisory Committee to further scope out the details for Phase 1 of the program.

Phase 1 is a desktop study to collate and analyze existing data about opportunities for critical mineral extraction at current or legacy mine sites. Targeted information will include deposit type, geology, alteration, geochemistry, metallurgy, mineralogy, known infrastructure and proxy studies. It will run for less than a year, producing a public geospatial database and report, and identifying sites ideal for field-based technical evaluation in the next phase of the program.

First Nations input will be sought and integrated with technical criteria where possible. This will be guided by Geoscience BC’s Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Advisory Council. The program will be guided by a Project Advisory Committee with members from industry and government.

JOIN US!

This is an exciting opportunity to enable and benefit from fundamental public research that will be used to inform discussions and decisions about BC’s critical minerals and metals opportunities by industry, governments, communities and Indigenous groups.

If you would like to be part of the conversation about future critical minerals, cleaner energy and carbon capture and storage research, join Geoscience BC as a Corporate, Individual, Student or Associate member!