Published on: 2026-07-20
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Waste dumps and tailings storage facilities of mining and processing enterprises can become not only objects of reclamation but also tools in the fight against climate change. Researchers from Novosibirsk State University have established that the tailings of the Ak-Dovurak chrysotile asbestos deposit (Republic of Tuva) have been binding atmospheric carbon dioxide for decades, and their long-term CO2 removal potential can reach 141 kg per ton of material. The research results have been published in the journal International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control.
Mineral carbonation is a process in which atmospheric CO2 is captured through interaction with rocks and minerals, forming stable carbonates. Today, this process is considered one of the most promising nature-based solutions to combat climate change. Huge volumes of such rocks are concentrated in mining industry waste; however, their actual contribution to carbon dioxide absorption remains insufficiently studied.
The authors conducted comprehensive mineralogical, geochemical, and isotopic studies of chrysotile asbestos beneficiation tailings samples taken at various depths from the Ak-Dovurak deposit dumps. It was established that carbonate crusts up to 20 cm thick formed on the surface of the waste, consisting mainly of hydromagnesite, and isotopic analysis confirmed that the carbon in these minerals is of atmospheric origin. This means that the studied dumps have been acting as a natural carbon dioxide sink for several decades.
According to researchers’ estimates, the average rate of natural absorption is about 0.3 kg of CO2 per square meter per year. The authors note that the obtained values are a conservative estimate and the actual amount of sequestered carbon may be higher. Calculations also show that in the long term, waste can bind up to 141 kg of CO2 per ton of material in dissolved form and up to 94 kg of CO2 per ton in the form of stable carbonate minerals. To assess the potential for practical use of this capacity, scientists modeled several scenarios for intensifying natural mineral carbonation. The results showed that the application of weathering and carbonation acceleration methods, including mechanical surface activation, management of geochemical weathering conditions, and biological methods, can significantly increase the efficiency of CO2 removal, opening prospects for creating climate projects at mining industry sites.
— Today, mining industrial waste is considered not only as an environmental problem but also as a potential tool in the fight against climate change. Our research shows that mining waste accumulated in dumps and tailings ponds can serve as natural carbon dioxide absorbers, and proper management of such sites can significantly enhance their climate impact. — notes the director NSU Climate Center Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Georgy Lazorenko.
The obtained results are of great importance both for Russia and for the global climate agenda. Russia possesses one of the largest resource bases of ultramafic rocks in the world and significant volumes of accumulated waste from their extraction and processing, which can potentially be used for long-term removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. At the same time, such dumps and tailings storage facilities are common in several other countries worldwide, so the developed approaches for assessing and improving the efficiency of mineral carbonation can be used in the implementation of international climate projects and the development of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.