Date of Award

Spring 5-6-2025

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Mining Engineering

Committee Chair

Raja Nagisetty,

First Advisor

Chris Roos

Third Advisor

Sarah Jones

Fourth Advisor

Robin Bullock

Abstract

The Metals Recovery Assessment (MRA) protocol involves collecting and evaluating information to assess the possibility for recovery of critical or rare earth minerals at mine sites to offset remediation or redevelopment costs associated with land reuse at Superfund or closed mine sites. This protocol provides a tool to implement metals recovery in conjunction with property reuse, and may involve a review of available records, visual inspections of the site, sample collection and discussions with local government officials and community members. The selection for metals recovery would be intended to both achieve metals reduction which may be required for the protection of human health and the environment, and to potentially offset costs of site remediation or reuse. Critical minerals are essential to our daily lives and are key to modern-day technology. Mineral commodities that have important uses and no viable substitutes, yet face potential disruption in supply, are defined as critical to the Nation’s economic and national security. They are vital for a wide range of industries, including aerospace, health care, and defense. They are also vital to the manufacture of clean energy technologies that provide affordable, reliable energy without producing harmful emissions. With the advance of technology and industrial future, the need for critical minerals will only increase. Reprocessing mine waste can be economical for local supply of minerals for economic sustainability and to reduce risk to human and environmental health. This paper will focus on a form of continental water called Acid Rock Drainage (ARD), solid rock tailings and coal tailings to study the idea for recovery metals. The goal of this study is to develop an MRA protocol to provide technical expertise and guidance for developers, landowners, and agencies to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of remining and extracting critical minerals and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) from mine wastes. We will focus on available data from the Berkeley Pit drainage in Butte and the data from an abandoned mine called the Empire Millsite in Marysville as validation case studies. It is anticipated that implementation of this protocol will produce data for informed decision making; advance reuse, remediation, and recovery innovation; promote opportunity for site revenue and reduced long-term liability and costs; and provide common process for the identification and recovery of critical minerals from mine waste at legacy mining and mineral processing sites. The findings from this review based on the proposed MRA protocol and future research recommendations have defined the Berkeley Pit as a potential site for reprocessing activities and the Empire Millsite as not a potential candidate.

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