Enhanced mineral weathering as a carbon sequestration tool in the mining sector: Current and future field trials and experiments

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383586626005332

Authors: Georgy Lazorenko, Alexander Kruglikov, Anton Kasprzhitskii

14 February 2026

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2026.137267

Abstract

Enhanced mineral weathering (EMW) has emerged as a promising carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy, leveraging the natural dissolution of silicate minerals to sequester atmospheric CO2. The mining sector, with its abundant production of reactive tailings and waste materials, presents a unique opportunity for large scale EMW implementation. This perspective compiles and discusses evidence from recent field experiments on surficial accelerated weathering and mineralization at mines, evaluates controls on kinetics (mineralogy, grain size, hydrology, etc.), and maps near term opportunities for deployment at industrial sites. These insights are integrated into a practical framework that favors low energy approaches, identifies key barriers, and sets a research agenda centered on process integration, life cycle assessment, and cost optimization. By combining lessons from current field trials with design principles for future experiments, the paper offers a forward-looking perspective and research roadmap to translate surficial EMW's theoretical capacity into verifiable, durable CDR for the mining sector.

Source: ScienceDirect