Algae and mining: A new frontier in sustainable site rehabilitation

Algae might seem an unlikely candidate to help transform Australia’s post-mining landscapes, but a new CSIRO -led project suggests these tiny aquatic organisms could provide sustainable futures for mine sites, surrounding ecosystems, and local communities. Looking down the microscope at the microalgae Nannochloropsis Australia’s mining sector is approaching a crossroads—where economic legacy and environmental responsibility must find common ground. A new CSIRO -led study, supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME), suggests that one of the most promising bridges between these imperatives may come from an unexpected source: algae. Though small in stature, algae are emerging as giants in their potential to transform post-mining landscapes. The study, developed in partnership with the University of Queensland and Murdoch University , proposes that algae-based technologies could reduce mining’s environmental footprint while seeding new...

China to declare its domestic coking coal a "rare resource"?

China’s National Energy Authority (NEA) is researching protective measures on "rare coal resources" such as coking coal, China Securities Journal reported, citing unnamed channels.

"Coking coal accounts for 25% of China’s total coal reserves while the proportion of combined prime and rich coal was less than 9%. The scarcity hits China hard, as coking coals are widely used in the manufacture of steel," it stated.

According to the publication, China is expected to exhaust its high-quality coking coal within 50 years if extraction continues apace.