9
CONCLUSIONS
The research into the enrichment feasibility of gold- and
silver-tellurides from copper tailings has yielded promising
results. The study addressed the growing demand for tel-
lurium (Te), a critical element for solar energy technolo-
gies, by enhancing its recovery from existing supply chains
by reprocessing copper tailings (CT). Baseline flotation
experiments identified specific reagent combinations that
achieved significant recoveries for Te, Au, and Ag, showing
the potential to recover these valuable elements from cop-
per tailings efficiently. Combining gravity separation (GS)
and froth flotation experiments significantly improved the
enrichment of Fe, Cu, and S (representative of pyrite and
chalcopyrite in CT), transforming previously discarded
materials into valuable resources. However, further opti-
mization is suggested by the authors to increase valuables’
overall recovery in the combined GS and froth flotation
process.
These findings offer a promising outlook for addressing
the increasing demand for critical minerals in sustainable
energy production and various industries. Future research
should optimize the process and scale it up for pilot-scale
testing. This could be a turning point in the standard prac-
tices of efficiently recovering Te and other critical minerals.
The feasibility of scaling up the process should be studied
via a techno-economic analysis to understand the impact
that recovering Au and Ag with Te has on the financial scal-
ing-up costs for the process.
REFERENCES
[1] Gupta, V. Biswas, T. Ganesan, K. Critical NonFuel
Mineral Resources for India’s Manufacturing Sector
2016
[2] Nakano, J. The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals Supply
Chains Washington, D.C., USA, 2021
[3] Kwarteng, K. Resilience for the Future: The UK’s
Critical Minerals Strategy Available online: www
.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-critical
-mineral-strategy/resilience-for-the-future-the-uks
-critical-minerals-strategy (accessed on 9 October
2023).
[4] Bauer, D.J. Nguyen, R.T. Smith, B.J. Critical
Materials 2023
[5] Wilkinson, J. Champagne, F.-P. The Canadian
Critical Minerals Strategy Canada, 2022
[6] O’sullivan, M.L. Bordoff, J. A Critical Minerals Policy
for the United States 2023
[7] Nassar, N.T. Fortier, S.M. Methodology and
Technical Input for the 2021 Review and Revision
of the U .S .Critical Minerals List. U.S. Geological
Survey Open File Report 2021, 2021–1045.
[8] Meinert, L.D. Robinson, G.R. Nassar, N.T.
Mineral Resources: Reserves, Peak Production and
the Future. Resources 2016, 5, 1–14, doi:10.3390/
resources5010014.
[9] Nassar, N.T. Kim, H. Frenzel, M. Moats, M.S.
Hayes, S.M. Global Tellurium Supply Potential
from Electrolytic Copper Refining. Resour
Conserv Recycl 2022, 184, 106434, doi:10.1016/J.
RESCONREC.2022.106434.
[10] Fortier, S.M. Nassar, N.T. Mauk, J.L.
Hammarstrom, J.M. Day, W.C. Seal, R.R. Mining
Engineering. May 2020, pp. 30–45.
[11] Nassar, N.T. Brainard, J. Gulley, A. Manley, R.
Matos, G. Lederer, G. Bird, L.R. Pineault, D.
Alonso, E. Gambogi, J. et al. Evaluating the Mineral
Commodity Supply Risk of the U.S. Manufacturing
Sector. Sci Adv 2020, 6, doi:10.1126/sciadv.aay8647.
[12] Nassar, N.T. Barr, R. Browning, M. Diao, Z.
Friedlander, E. Harper, E.M. Henly, C. Kavlak, G.
Kwatra, S. Jun, C. et al. Criticality of the Geological
Copper Family. Environ Sci Technol 2012, 46,
doi:10.1021/es203535w.
[13] Fortier, S.M. Nassar, N.T. Kelley. Karen D. Lederer,
G.W. Mauk, J.L. Hammarstrom, J.M. DayWarren
C. Seal, R.R. SME. 2021, pp. 32–47.
[14] DOE Critical Materials Strategy. 2010, 1–166.
[15] Federal Register Executice Order 13953: Addressing
the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain From Reliance
on Critical Minerals From Foreign Adversaries and
Supporting the Domestic Mining and Processing
Industries Federal Register, 2020 Vol. 85 .
[16] Nassar, N.T. Alonso, E. Brainard, J.L. Investigation
of U.S. Foreign Reliance on Critical Minerals—U.S.
Geological Survey Technical Input Document in Response
to Executive Order No. 13953 Signed September 30,
2020 2020
[17] Parthemore, C. Elements of Security: Mitigating the
Risks of U.S. Dependence on Critical Minerals 2011
[18] Moss, Ray.L. Tzimas, E. Willis, P. Arenderof, J.
Thompson, P. Chapman, A. Morley, N. Sims, E.
Bryson, R. Pearson, J. et al. Critical Metals in the
Path towards the Decarbonisation of the EU Energy
Sector Office of the European Union: Lexembourg,
2013 ISBN 9789279303906.
[19] Peck, D. A Historical Perspective of Critical Materials,
1939 to 2006. In Critical Materials: Underlying Causes
and Sustainable Mitigation Strategies Erik Offerman,
CONCLUSIONS
The research into the enrichment feasibility of gold- and
silver-tellurides from copper tailings has yielded promising
results. The study addressed the growing demand for tel-
lurium (Te), a critical element for solar energy technolo-
gies, by enhancing its recovery from existing supply chains
by reprocessing copper tailings (CT). Baseline flotation
experiments identified specific reagent combinations that
achieved significant recoveries for Te, Au, and Ag, showing
the potential to recover these valuable elements from cop-
per tailings efficiently. Combining gravity separation (GS)
and froth flotation experiments significantly improved the
enrichment of Fe, Cu, and S (representative of pyrite and
chalcopyrite in CT), transforming previously discarded
materials into valuable resources. However, further opti-
mization is suggested by the authors to increase valuables’
overall recovery in the combined GS and froth flotation
process.
These findings offer a promising outlook for addressing
the increasing demand for critical minerals in sustainable
energy production and various industries. Future research
should optimize the process and scale it up for pilot-scale
testing. This could be a turning point in the standard prac-
tices of efficiently recovering Te and other critical minerals.
The feasibility of scaling up the process should be studied
via a techno-economic analysis to understand the impact
that recovering Au and Ag with Te has on the financial scal-
ing-up costs for the process.
REFERENCES
[1] Gupta, V. Biswas, T. Ganesan, K. Critical NonFuel
Mineral Resources for India’s Manufacturing Sector
2016
[2] Nakano, J. The Geopolitics of Critical Minerals Supply
Chains Washington, D.C., USA, 2021
[3] Kwarteng, K. Resilience for the Future: The UK’s
Critical Minerals Strategy Available online: www
.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-critical
-mineral-strategy/resilience-for-the-future-the-uks
-critical-minerals-strategy (accessed on 9 October
2023).
[4] Bauer, D.J. Nguyen, R.T. Smith, B.J. Critical
Materials 2023
[5] Wilkinson, J. Champagne, F.-P. The Canadian
Critical Minerals Strategy Canada, 2022
[6] O’sullivan, M.L. Bordoff, J. A Critical Minerals Policy
for the United States 2023
[7] Nassar, N.T. Fortier, S.M. Methodology and
Technical Input for the 2021 Review and Revision
of the U .S .Critical Minerals List. U.S. Geological
Survey Open File Report 2021, 2021–1045.
[8] Meinert, L.D. Robinson, G.R. Nassar, N.T.
Mineral Resources: Reserves, Peak Production and
the Future. Resources 2016, 5, 1–14, doi:10.3390/
resources5010014.
[9] Nassar, N.T. Kim, H. Frenzel, M. Moats, M.S.
Hayes, S.M. Global Tellurium Supply Potential
from Electrolytic Copper Refining. Resour
Conserv Recycl 2022, 184, 106434, doi:10.1016/J.
RESCONREC.2022.106434.
[10] Fortier, S.M. Nassar, N.T. Mauk, J.L.
Hammarstrom, J.M. Day, W.C. Seal, R.R. Mining
Engineering. May 2020, pp. 30–45.
[11] Nassar, N.T. Brainard, J. Gulley, A. Manley, R.
Matos, G. Lederer, G. Bird, L.R. Pineault, D.
Alonso, E. Gambogi, J. et al. Evaluating the Mineral
Commodity Supply Risk of the U.S. Manufacturing
Sector. Sci Adv 2020, 6, doi:10.1126/sciadv.aay8647.
[12] Nassar, N.T. Barr, R. Browning, M. Diao, Z.
Friedlander, E. Harper, E.M. Henly, C. Kavlak, G.
Kwatra, S. Jun, C. et al. Criticality of the Geological
Copper Family. Environ Sci Technol 2012, 46,
doi:10.1021/es203535w.
[13] Fortier, S.M. Nassar, N.T. Kelley. Karen D. Lederer,
G.W. Mauk, J.L. Hammarstrom, J.M. DayWarren
C. Seal, R.R. SME. 2021, pp. 32–47.
[14] DOE Critical Materials Strategy. 2010, 1–166.
[15] Federal Register Executice Order 13953: Addressing
the Threat to the Domestic Supply Chain From Reliance
on Critical Minerals From Foreign Adversaries and
Supporting the Domestic Mining and Processing
Industries Federal Register, 2020 Vol. 85 .
[16] Nassar, N.T. Alonso, E. Brainard, J.L. Investigation
of U.S. Foreign Reliance on Critical Minerals—U.S.
Geological Survey Technical Input Document in Response
to Executive Order No. 13953 Signed September 30,
2020 2020
[17] Parthemore, C. Elements of Security: Mitigating the
Risks of U.S. Dependence on Critical Minerals 2011
[18] Moss, Ray.L. Tzimas, E. Willis, P. Arenderof, J.
Thompson, P. Chapman, A. Morley, N. Sims, E.
Bryson, R. Pearson, J. et al. Critical Metals in the
Path towards the Decarbonisation of the EU Energy
Sector Office of the European Union: Lexembourg,
2013 ISBN 9789279303906.
[19] Peck, D. A Historical Perspective of Critical Materials,
1939 to 2006. In Critical Materials: Underlying Causes
and Sustainable Mitigation Strategies Erik Offerman,