Mineral processing and extractive metallurgy form a nexus within the metals value chain, linking the mining industry to diversified economies that depend on metal supplies such as construction and manufacturing sectors. Moreover, metallurgical extraction techniques are foundational to tailings retreatment, therefore essential to sustainable mining. Additionally modern metallurgical flowsheets are adapted to incorporate secondary feeds along with primary, thus enabling largescale recycling of metal scrap.

The cross-disciplinary understanding of mining, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy is unlocking new metal supplies, including primary as well as secondary sources. The new supplies include critical metals that will be vital for a global net zero economy. Often these supplies are atypical, in regard to their mineralogical and metallurgical consistency, presenting particular technical challenges.

This symposium will explore innovative approaches and strategies to enable a responsible and efficient metal supply chain, from extraction and processing to recycling, with a focus on nature positive solutions and promoting long-term resource sustainability.

Specific themes include, but are not limited to:

– Innovative flowsheets that are nature positive

– Sustainability-oriented process mineralogy

– Mining and process optimization considering sustainability metrics (water, energy, etc.)

– Recovery of critical metals from primary and/or secondary sources

– Raw materials preparation and influence on processes such as ironmaking, sulphide smelting, comminution, flotation, leaching, etc.

– Hybridization of extractive metallurgy and recycling

– LCA including cradle-to-gate and cradle-to-grave analyses

– Natural resource management for resilient regions