Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Mineralogy and Petrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Assima GP, Larachi F, Beaudoin G, Molson J (2013) Dynamics of carbon dioxide uptake in chrysotile mining residues – effect of mineralogy and liquid saturation. Int J Greenh Gas Con 12:124–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bea SA, Wilson S, Mayer KU, Dipple GM, Power IM, Gamazo P (2012) Reactive transport modeling of natural carbon sequestration in ultramafic mine tailings. Vadose Zone J 11:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bish DL, Howard SA (1988) Quantitative phase analysis using the Rietveld method. J Appl Crystallogr 21:86–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodénan F, Bourgeois F, Petiot C, Augé T, Bonfils B, Julcour-Lebigue C, Guyot F, Boukary A, Tremosa J, Lassin A, Gaucher EC, Chiquet P (2014) Ex situ mineral carbonation for CO2 mitigation: evaluation of mining waste resources, aqueous carbonation processability, and life cycle assessment (Carmex project). Miner Eng 59:52–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brantley SL (2003) Reaction kinetics of primary rock-forming minerals under ambient conditions. In: Drever JI (ed) Surface and groundwater, weathering, and soils. Treatise on geochemistry, vol 5, pp 73–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Brindley GW (1945) The effect of grain or particle size on x-ray reflections from mixed powders and alloys, considered in relation to the quantitative determination of crystalline substances by x-ray methods. Lond Edinb Dubl Phil Mag J Sci 7(36):347–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brindley GW, Bish DL, Wan H-M (1977) The nature of kerolite, its relation to talc and stevensite. Mineral Mag 41:443–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brunauer S, Emmett PH, Teller E (1938) Adsorption of gases in multimolecular layers. J Am Chem Soc 60:309–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burne RV, Moore LS, Christy AG, Troitzsch U, King PL, Carnerup AM, Hamilton PJ (2014) Stevensite in the modern thrombolites of Lake Clifton, Western Australia: a missing link in microbialite mineralization? Geology 42:575–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheary RW, Coelho A (1992) A fundamental parameters approach to X-ray line-profile fitting. J Appl Crystallogr 25:109–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Field M, Stiefenhofer J, Robey J, Kurszlaukis S (2008) Kimberlite-hosted diamond deposits of southern Africa: a review. Ore Geol Rev 34:33–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansen LD, Dipple GM, Gordon TM, Kellett DA (2005) Carbonated serpentinite (listwanite) at Atlin, British Columbia: a geological analogue to carbon dioxide sequestration. Can Mineral 43:225–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison AL, Power IM, Dipple GM (2013) Accelerated carbonation of brucite in mine tailings for carbon sequestration. Environ Sci Technol 47:126–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison AL, Dipple GM, Power IM, Mayer KU (2016) The impact of evolving mineral-water-gas interfacial areas on mineral-fluid reaction rates in unsaturated porous media. Chem Geol 421:65–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison AL, Dipple GM, Song W, Power IM, Mayer KU, Beinlich A, Sinton D (2017) Changes in mineral reactivity driven by pore fluid mobility in partially wetted porous media. Chem Geol 463:1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hill RJ, Howard CJ (1987) Quantitative phase analysis from neutron powder diffraction data using the Rietveld method. J Appl Crystallogr 20:467–474

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Järvinen M (1993) Application of symmetrized harmonics expansion to correction of the preferred orientation effect. J Appl Crystallogr 26:525–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loring JS, Schaef HT, Turcu RVF, Thompson CJ, Miller QRS, Martin PF, Hu J, Hoyt DW, Qafoku O, Ilton ES, Felmy AR, Rosso KM (2012) In situ molecular spetroscopic evidence for CO2 intercalation into montmorillonite in supercritical carbon dioxide. Langmuir 28:7125–7128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matter JM, Kelemen PB (2009) Permanent storage of carbon dioxide in geological reservoirs by mineral carbonation. Nat Geosci 2:837–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCutcheon J, Power I, Harrison A, Dipple G, Southam G (2014) A greenhouse-scale photosynthetic microbial bioreactor for carbon sequestration in magnesium carbonate minerals. Environ Sci Technol 48:9142–9151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mellini M, Viti C (1994) Crystal structure of lizardite-1T from Elba, Italy. Am Mineral 79:1194–1198

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawley GS (1981) Unit-cell refinement from powder diffraction scans. J Appl Crystallog 14:357–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Power IM, Harrison AL, Dipple GM, Wilson S, Kelemen PB, Hitch M, Southam G (2013) Carbon mineralization: from natural analogues to engineered systems. In: DePaolo DJ, Cole DR, Navrotsky A, Bourg IC (eds) Geochemistry of geologic CO2 sequestration. Miner Soc am, Chantilly, pp 305–360

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Power IM, McCutcheon J, Harrison AL, Wilson S, Dipple GM, Kelly S, Southam C, Southam G (2014a) Strategizing carbon-neutral mines: A case for pilot projects. Fortschr Mineral 4:399–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Power IM, Wilson S, Harrison AL, Dipple GM, McCutcheon J, Southam G, Kenward PA (2014b) A depositional model for hydromagnesite–magnesite playas near Atlin, British Columbia, Canada. Sedimentology 61:1701–1733

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rietveld H (1969) A profile refinement method for nuclear and magnetic structures. J Appl Crystallogr 2:65–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rollo HA, Jamieson HE (2006) Interaction of diamond mine waste and surface water in the Canadian Arctic. Appl Geochem 21:1522–1538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sader JA, Leybourne MI, McClenaghan MB, Hamilton SM (2007) Low-temperature serpentinization processes and kimberlite groundwater signatures in the Kirkland Lake and Lake Timiskiming kimberlite fields, Ontario, Canada: implications for diamond exploration. Geochem-Explor Env A 7:3–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scarlett NVY, Madsen IC (2006) Quantification of phases with partial or no known crystal structures. Powder Diffract 21:278–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaef HT, Ilton ES, Qafoku O, Martin PF, Felmy AR, Rosso KM (2012) In situ XRD study of Ca2+ saturated montmorillonite (STX-1) exposed to anhydrous and wet supercritical carbon dioxide. Int J Greenh Gas Con 6:220–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • van Straaten BI, Kopylova MG (2013) Pyroclastic kimberlite deposits from the Victor Northwest pipe (Ontario, Canada): the transition from phreatomagmatic to magmatic explosivity. Can J Earth Sci 50:1059–1068

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stripp GR, Field M, Schumacher JC, Sparks RSJ, Cressey G (2006) Post-emplacement serpentinization and related hydrothermal metamorphism in a kimberlite from Venetia, South Africa. J Metamorph Geol 24:515–534

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thom JM, Dipple GM, Power IM, Harrison AL (2013) Chrysotile dissolution rates: implications for carbon sequestration. Appl Geochem 35:244–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viani A, Gualtieri AF, Artioli G (2002) The nature of disorder in montmorillonite by simulation of X-ray powder patterns. Am Mineral 87:966–975

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson S, Raudsepp M, Dipple GM (2006) Verifying and quantifying carbon fixation in minerals from serpentine-rich mine tailings using the Rietveld method with X-ray powder diffraction data. Am Mineral 91:1331–1341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson S, Dipple GM, Power IM, Thom JM, Anderson RG, Raudsepp M, Gabites JE, Southam G (2009a) Carbon dioxide fixation within mine wastes of ultramafic-hosted ore deposits: examples from the Clinton Creek and Cassiar chrysotile deposits, Canada. Econ Geol 104:95–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson S, Raudsepp M, Dipple GM (2009b) Quantifying carbon fixation in trace minerals from processed kimberlite: a comparative study of quantitative methods using X-ray powder diffraction data with applications to the Diavik Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada. Appl Geochem 24:2312–2331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson S, Barker SLL, Dipple GM, Atudorei V (2010) Isotopic disequilibrium during uptake of atmospheric CO2 into mine process waters: implications for CO2 sequestration. Environ Sci Technol 44:9522–9529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson S, Dipple GM, Power IM, Barker SLL, Fallon SJ, Southam G (2011) Subarctic weathering of mineral wastes provides a sink for atmospheric CO2. Environ Sci Technol 45:7727–7736

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson S, Harrison AL, Dipple GM, Power IM, Barker SLL, Mayer KU, Fallon SJ, Raudsepp M, Southam G (2014) Offsetting of CO2 emissions by air capture in mine tailings at the Mount Keith Nickel mine, Western Australia: rates, controls and propects for carbon neutral mining. Int J Greenh Gas Con 25:121–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeyen N, Benzerara K, Li J, Groleau A, Balan E, Robert J-L, Estève I, Tavera R, Moreira D, López-Garcia P (2015) Formation of low-T hydrated silicates in modern microbialites from Mexico and impliations for microbial fossilization. Front Earth Sci 3:64

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

De Beers and Anglo American are thanked for financial support and for permission to publish this research. De Beers Consolidated Mines and De Beers Canada are thanked for providing samples and for assistance with field work. De Beers Creative Services is thanked for providing Figs. 1 and 2 and for assistance with Fig. 3. Kate Carroll and Bart de Baere at The University of British Columbia are thanked for assistance with sample processing and mineral surface area measurements. Two anonymous reviewers and handling editor David B. Snyder are thanked for their constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The De Beers Group of Companies, DBM Gardens, Golf Park 2, Raapenberg Road, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405, South Africa

    Evelyn M. Mervine & Zandile Miya

  2. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada

    Sasha Wilson

  3. School of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment, Monash University, 9 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Sasha Wilson, Connor C. Turvey & Jessica L. Hamilton

  4. School of the Environment, Trent University, 1600 West Bank Drive, Peterborough, ON, K9L 0G2, Canada

    Ian M. Power

  5. Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of British Columbia, 2020-2207 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

    Gregory M. Dipple, Connor C. Turvey, Sterling Vanderzee & Mati Raudsepp

  6. School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Jessica L. Hamilton & Gordon Southam

  7. Bond Business School, Bond University, 14 University Drive, Robina, QLD, 4226, Australia

    Colette Southam

  8. National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, University Road, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    Juerg M. Matter

  9. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, New York, 10964, USA

    Peter B. Kelemen

  10. Anglo American Operations Ltd., 45 Main Street, 6th Floor, Marshalltown, Johannesburg, 2107, South Africa

    Johann Stiefenhofer

Authors
  1. Evelyn M. Mervine
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sasha Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ian M. Power
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Gregory M. Dipple
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Connor C. Turvey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jessica L. Hamilton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sterling Vanderzee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Mati Raudsepp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Colette Southam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Juerg M. Matter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Peter B. Kelemen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Johann Stiefenhofer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Zandile Miya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Gordon Southam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Evelyn M. Mervine.

Additional information

Editorial handling: D. B. Snyder

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mervine, E.M., Wilson, S., Power, I.M. et al. 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. Miner Petrol 112 (Suppl 2), 755–765 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-018-0589-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-018-0589-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation