Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada

Evelyn M. Mervine; Siobhan A. Wilson; Ian M. Power; Gregory M. Dipple; Connor C. Turvey; Jessica L. Hamilton; Sterling Vanderzee; Mati Raudsepp; Colette Southam; Juerg M. Matter; Peter B. Kelemen; Johann Stiefenhofer; Zandile Miya; Gordon Southam

doi:10.1007/s00710-018-0589-4

Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada

Evelyn M. Mervine^*, Siobhan A. Wilson, Ian M. Power, Gregory M. Dipple, Connor C. Turvey, Jessica L. Hamilton, Sterling Vanderzee, Mati Raudsepp, Colette Southam, Juerg M. Matter, Peter B. Kelemen, Johann Stiefenhofer, Zandile Miya, Gordon Southam

^*Corresponding author for this work

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51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

De Beers kimberlite mine operations in South Africa (Venetia and Voorspoed) and Canada (Gahcho Kué, Victor, and Snap Lake) have the potential to sequester carbon dioxide (CO₂) through weathering of kimberlite mine tailings, which can store carbon in secondary carbonate minerals (mineral carbonation). Carbonation of ca. 4.7 to 24.0 wt% (average = 13.8 wt%) of annual processed kimberlite production could offset 100% of each mine site’s carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions. Minerals of particular interest for reactivity with atmospheric or waste CO₂ from energy production include serpentine minerals, olivine (forsterite), brucite, and smectite. The most abundant minerals, such as serpentine polymorphs, provide the bulk of the carbonation potential. However, the detection of minor amounts of highly reactive brucite in tailings from Victor, as well as the likely presence of brucite at Venetia, Gahcho Kué, and Snap Lake, is also important for the mineral carbonation potential of the mine sites.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	755-765
Number of pages	11
Journal	Mineralogy and Petrology
Volume	112
Early online date	28 May 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-018-0589-4
Publication status	Published - Dec 2018
Event	11th International Kimberlite Conference (IKC) - Gaborone, Botswana Duration: 18 Sept 2017 → 22 Sept 2017 http://www.11ikc.com/showcontent.aspx?MenuID=1989

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Mervine, E. M., Wilson, S. A., Power, I. M., Dipple, G. M., Turvey, C. C., Hamilton, J. L., Vanderzee, S., Raudsepp, M., Southam, C., Matter, J. M., Kelemen, P. B., Stiefenhofer, J., Miya, Z., & Southam, G. (2018). Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada. Mineralogy and Petrology, 112, 755-765. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-018-0589-4

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title = "Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada",

abstract = "De Beers kimberlite mine operations in South Africa (Venetia and Voorspoed) and Canada (Gahcho Ku{\'e}, Victor, and Snap Lake) have the potential to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) through weathering of kimberlite mine tailings, which can store carbon in secondary carbonate minerals (mineral carbonation). Carbonation of ca. 4.7 to 24.0 wt% (average = 13.8 wt%) of annual processed kimberlite production could offset 100% of each mine site{\textquoteright}s carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Minerals of particular interest for reactivity with atmospheric or waste CO2 from energy production include serpentine minerals, olivine (forsterite), brucite, and smectite. The most abundant minerals, such as serpentine polymorphs, provide the bulk of the carbonation potential. However, the detection of minor amounts of highly reactive brucite in tailings from Victor, as well as the likely presence of brucite at Venetia, Gahcho Ku{\'e}, and Snap Lake, is also important for the mineral carbonation potential of the mine sites.",

author = "Mervine, {Evelyn M.} and Wilson, {Siobhan A.} and Power, {Ian M.} and Dipple, {Gregory M.} and Turvey, {Connor C.} and Hamilton, {Jessica L.} and Sterling Vanderzee and Mati Raudsepp and Colette Southam and Matter, {Juerg M.} and Kelemen, {Peter B.} and Johann Stiefenhofer and Zandile Miya and Gordon Southam",

year = "2018",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1007/s00710-018-0589-4",

language = "English",

volume = "112",

pages = "755--765",

journal = "Mineralogy and Petrology",

issn = "0930-0708",

publisher = "Springer",

note = "11th International Kimberlite Conference (IKC) ; Conference date: 18-09-2017 Through 22-09-2017",

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Mervine, EM, Wilson, SA, Power, IM, Dipple, GM, Turvey, CC, Hamilton, JL, Vanderzee, S, Raudsepp, M, Southam, C, Matter, JM, Kelemen, PB, Stiefenhofer, J, Miya, Z & Southam, G 2018, 'Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada', Mineralogy and Petrology, vol. 112, pp. 755-765. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-018-0589-4

Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada. / Mervine, Evelyn M.; Wilson, Siobhan A.; Power, Ian M. et al.
In: Mineralogy and Petrology, Vol. 112, 12.2018, p. 755-765.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada

AU - Mervine, Evelyn M.

AU - Wilson, Siobhan A.

AU - Power, Ian M.

AU - Dipple, Gregory M.

AU - Turvey, Connor C.

AU - Hamilton, Jessica L.

AU - Vanderzee, Sterling

AU - Raudsepp, Mati

AU - Southam, Colette

AU - Matter, Juerg M.

AU - Kelemen, Peter B.

AU - Stiefenhofer, Johann

AU - Miya, Zandile

AU - Southam, Gordon

PY - 2018/12

Y1 - 2018/12

N2 - De Beers kimberlite mine operations in South Africa (Venetia and Voorspoed) and Canada (Gahcho Kué, Victor, and Snap Lake) have the potential to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) through weathering of kimberlite mine tailings, which can store carbon in secondary carbonate minerals (mineral carbonation). Carbonation of ca. 4.7 to 24.0 wt% (average = 13.8 wt%) of annual processed kimberlite production could offset 100% of each mine site’s carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Minerals of particular interest for reactivity with atmospheric or waste CO2 from energy production include serpentine minerals, olivine (forsterite), brucite, and smectite. The most abundant minerals, such as serpentine polymorphs, provide the bulk of the carbonation potential. However, the detection of minor amounts of highly reactive brucite in tailings from Victor, as well as the likely presence of brucite at Venetia, Gahcho Kué, and Snap Lake, is also important for the mineral carbonation potential of the mine sites.

AB - De Beers kimberlite mine operations in South Africa (Venetia and Voorspoed) and Canada (Gahcho Kué, Victor, and Snap Lake) have the potential to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) through weathering of kimberlite mine tailings, which can store carbon in secondary carbonate minerals (mineral carbonation). Carbonation of ca. 4.7 to 24.0 wt% (average = 13.8 wt%) of annual processed kimberlite production could offset 100% of each mine site’s carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions. Minerals of particular interest for reactivity with atmospheric or waste CO2 from energy production include serpentine minerals, olivine (forsterite), brucite, and smectite. The most abundant minerals, such as serpentine polymorphs, provide the bulk of the carbonation potential. However, the detection of minor amounts of highly reactive brucite in tailings from Victor, as well as the likely presence of brucite at Venetia, Gahcho Kué, and Snap Lake, is also important for the mineral carbonation potential of the mine sites.

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AN - SCOPUS:85047658576

SN - 0930-0708

VL - 112

SP - 755

EP - 765

JO - Mineralogy and Petrology

JF - Mineralogy and Petrology

T2 - 11th International Kimberlite Conference (IKC)

Y2 - 18 September 2017 through 22 September 2017

ER -

Potential for offsetting diamond mine carbon emissions through mineral carbonation of processed kimberlite: An assessment of De Beers mine sites in South Africa and Canada

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