## [UBC researchers advancing more sustainable future for critical minerals](/news/2024/ubc-researchers-advancing-more-sustainable-future-for-critical-minerals) Posted December 2, 2024 /sites/default/files/announcement-images/2024-11/rio-tinto-960x640.jpg UBC researchers are advancing projects funded by the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials, focused on sustainable copper mining. This article originally appeared on The University of British Columbia is bringing its expertise in critical minerals to the [Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials](https://www.riotinto.com/en), a US $150-million research endeavour to fundamentally revolutionize how we produce, use and recycle the minerals needed for modern technologies and the clean energy transition. Experts will work in diverse, interdisciplinary teams together with researchers from Imperial College London, the University of California, Berkeley, the Australian National University and the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, to introduce new processes and technologies that will make critical mineral production and usage more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, while supporting local communities. “Critical minerals are the foundation for developing the diversified, renewable sources of energy we require to power a decarbonized future,” said [Dr. John Steen](https://mining.ubc.ca/person/john-steen/), Director of the Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining ([BRIMM](https://brimm.ubc.ca/)) and Associate Professor in the [Norman B. Keevil School of Mining](https://mining.ubc.ca/). “UBC has proven time and time again our ability to partner with industry and local communities, to transform innovative ideas into commercially viable solutions that work on the ground. As the sole Canadian institution in the Centre, we are proud to continue UBC’s longstanding relationship with Rio Tinto, and to represent Canada’s expertise in this global effort to meet our critical minerals needs, while protecting future generations.” ## The copper challenge The clean energy transition depends on developing renewable energy sources for electricity—and electricity depends on copper. In fact, to meet our global energy demands, [in 2019 the World Bank anticipated](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2019/02/26/climate-smart-mining) that we need as much copper in the next 25 years as has been mined in the last 5,000. Copper is also notoriously difficult to mine with conventional blasting and drilling methods. With the average copper grade—amount of metal present in each ton of ore—at less than one per cent, conventional copper mining produces a huge amount of waste. UBC researchers in the Faculties of Applied Science and Science are co-leading three of the first projects funded by the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials, all of which will tackle how to more sustainably mine for copper and reduce waste. ### Biomining: Biotechnology-based solutions for copper mining UBC co-PI: [Dr. Steven Hallam](https://mbim.ubc.ca/people/steven-hallam), Professor, [Department of Microbiology and Immunology](https://mbim.ubc.ca/) Dr. Hallam is exploring biomining—using microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi—to more efficiently extract copper from mineral ores and reduce waste. Such biohydrometallurgy is recognized for its cost-effectiveness and reduced environmental impacts. Biomining also enables extraction of metals from low-grade ores and treatment of waste streams, including tailings and mining-influenced waters. ### The copper mine of the future: Metal extraction from natural magmatic brines UBC co-PI: [Dr. Roger Beckie](https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/people/rogerbeckie), Professor, [Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences](https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/) Dr. Beckie’s team is investigating whether it is possible to extract copper and other critical minerals directly from copper-rich, very salty brines in the shallower parts of Earth’s crust, using extraction methods with considerably lower environmental impacts, and significantly reduced energy and water consumption compared to conventional mining technologies. After extracting the metal, the hot brines could be used as a source of geothermal energy to power production operations, and excess energy could be provided to local populations. ### Post Waste UBC co-PI: [Dr. Vikram Yadav](https://chbe.ubc.ca/vikramaditya-g-yadav/), Director, [MEL](https://apscpp.ubc.ca/) Program in Sustainable Process Engineering, and Associate Professor, [Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering](https://chbe.ubc.ca/), and the [School of Biomedical Engineering](https://bme.ubc.ca/) Hundreds of billions of tons of copper sit idle in difficult-to-process mine waste sites. Dr. Yadav’s team is working on new extraction and processing methods, built on bioengineering and biochemistry, to convert mine site waste into useable copper resources. Delivering these on-site systems is expected to lead to new business models that will support rehabilitation of degraded land and deliver value to local communities and waste processors. Additional information about UBC’s involvement at the Centre, including future project updates, are available to view on [BRIMM’s site](https://brimm.ubc.ca/projects/rio-tinto-centre-for-future-materials/). Academic Unit Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering School of Biomedical Engineering ## Mentioned in this Article: Vikramaditya Yadav John Steen - [Engineering](/topics/engineering "Engineering")