Mining and mineral technology division
TalTech priority area
Research classification (Frascati)
Head of the research group
Research group member
Doctoral students
Keyword
mining science
mining engineering
minerals
georesources
mine management
CO₂ mineral carbonation
social licence
raw materials
oil shale
mine waste
phytoremediation
Overview
The Mining and Mineral Resources Researchgroup is responsible for research and development activities in the fields of mining scienceand engineering at TalTech. The mission of thegroup is to help young engineers and geoscientists to develop necessary skills for sustainableand safe development, extraction and closure ofEstonia’s mineral resources. The research anddevelopment activities of the group take placethrough both public and private sector fundedprojects. Activities in 2021 were related to twoHorizon2020 projects (SUMEX, RE-SOURCING), 12 EIT Raw Materials network projectsand several applied studies. The group worksclosely with partner universities in Australia,Germany, Austria and Finland.The core competencies of the group include: Design of mining and mineral processingtechnologies Finding and evaluating resource efficiencymeasures and technical solutions Quantitative resource evaluation andmineral economics Mining environmental impact and remediation, mine waste management, circulareconomy and social sustainability.
Important results
From 2021 the study by Puthiya Veetil et al.(2021) should be highlighted. For the first time,the development of a Ca-based CO2 capture sorbent from a limestone-rich mine waste via aqueous mineral carbonation was evaluated. Resultsof laboratory experiments showed that at normalpressure and temperature, the CO2 uptake capacity of the sorbent directly from the exhaust gasreaches 80% and shows a great prospect for thismethod in Estonia and beyond.
Robam, K.; Hand, T.; Karu, V. (2023). WHY T-SHAPED ENGINEERS IN THE MINING SECTOR ARE VITAL FOR PROGRESS. Environment. Technology. Resources. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference, 2, 193−195. DOI: 10.17770/etr2023vol2.7269
Related projects
Related department
- Amaro, S.L., Barbosa, S., Ammerer, G., Bruno, A., Guimerà, J., Orfanoudakis, I., Ostręga, A., Mylona, E., Strydom, J., Hitch, M. Multi-criteria decision analysis for evaluating transitional and post-mining options - an innovative perspective from the EIT ReviRIS Project // Sustainability (2022) vol. 14, 4, art. 2292, 13 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su14042292 - Barakos, G., Dyer, L., Hitch, M. The long uphill journey of Australia’s rare earth element industry : challenges and opportunities // International journal of mining, reclamation and environment (2022) vol. 36, 9, p. 651-670.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2022.2127248 - Monei, N., Hitch, M., Heim, J., Pourret, O., Heilmeier, H., Wiche, O. Effect of substrate properties and phosphorus supply on facilitating the uptake of rare earth elements (REE) in mixed culture cropping systems of Hordeum vulgare, Lupinus albus and Lupinus angustifolius // Environmental science and pollution research (2022) vol. 29, 38, p. 57172-57189.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19775-x - Paat, A., Roosalu, T., Karu, V., Hitch, M. Important environmental social governance risks in potential phosphorite mining in Estonia // The Extractive Industries and Society (2021) vol. 8, 3, art. 100911.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2021.100911 - Ellmann, A., Kütimets, K., Varbla, S., Väli, E., Kanter, S. Advancements in underground mine surveys by using SLAM-enabled handheld laser scanners // Survey review (2022) vol. 54, 385, p. 363-374.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00396265.2021.1944545 - Puthiya Veetil, S.K., Rebane, K., Yörük, C.R., Lopp, M., Trikkel, A., Hitch, M. Aqueous mineral carbonation of oil shale mine waste (limestone) : a feasibility study to develop a CO2 capture sorbent // Energy (2021) vol. 221, art. 119895.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.119895 - Veetil, S.P., Hitch, M. Recent developments and challenges of aqueous mineral carbonation : a review // International journal of environmental science and technology (2020) vol. 17, Issue 10, p. 4359-4380.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02776-z - Endl, A., Tost, M., Hitch, M., Moser, P., Feiel, S. Europe's mining innovation trends and their contribution to the sustainable development goals : Blind spots and strong points // Resources policy (2021) vol. 74, art. 101440, 11 p. : tab.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2019.101440 - Lesser, P., Gugerell, K., Poelzer, G., Hitch, M. et al. European mining and the social license to operate // The Extractive industries and society (2020) vol. 8, 2, art. 787, 8 p.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.07.021 - Li, J., Ni, W., Wang, X., Zhu, S., Wei, X., Jiang, F., Zeng, H., Hitch, M. Mechanical activation of medium basicity steel slag under dry condition for carbonation curing // Journal of building engineering (2022) vol. 50, art. 104123.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104123 - Tost, M., Murguia, D., Hitch, M. et al. Ecosystem services costs of metal mining and pressures on biomes // Extractive industries and society (2020) vol. 7, 1, p. 79-86 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2019.11.013 - Hitch, M., Barakos, G. Virtuous natural resource development : the evolution and adaptation of social licence in the mining sector // The Extractive industries and society (2021) vol. 8, 2, art. 100902.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2021.100902 - Tost, M., Hitch, M., Lutter, S., Feiel, S., Moser, P. Carbon prices for meeting the Paris agreement and their impact on key metals // The extractive industries and society (2020) vol. 7, 2, p. 593-599.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.01.012 - Li, J., Wang, C., Ni, W., Zhu, S., Mao, S., Jiang, F., Zeng, H., Sun, X., Huang, B., Hitch, M. Orthogonal test design for the optimization of preparation of steel slag-based carbonated building materials with ultramafic tailings as fine aggregates // Minerals (2022) vol. 12, 2, art. 246, 19 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/min12020246 - Okoroafor, P.U., Mann, L., Ngu, K.A., Zaffar, N., Monei, N.L., Boldt, C., Reitz, T., Heilmeier, H., Wiche, O. Impact of soil inoculation with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 on the phytoaccumulation of Germanium, rare earth elements, and potentially toxic elements // Plants (2022) vol. 11, 3, art. 341, 16 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030341 - Hagan, A. J., Tost, M., Inderwildi, O. R., Hitch, M., Moser, P. The license to mine : making resource wealth work for those who need it most // Resources policy (2021) vol. 74, art. 101418.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2019.101418 - Hitch, M., Lytle, M., Tost, M. Social licence : power imbalances and levels of consciousness – two case studies // International journal of mining, reclamation and environment (2020) vol. 34, 4, p. 238-246.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2018.1530582 - Li, J., Wang, C., Song, X., Jin, X., Zhao, S., Qi, Z., Zeng, H., Zhu, S., Jiang, F., Ni, W., Hitch, M. Market stakeholder analysis of the practical implementation of carbonation curing on steel slag for urban sustainable governance // Energies (2022) vol. 15, 7, art. 2399, 19 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en15072399 - Gautam, R., Kim, Y., Topal, E., Hitch, M. Correlation between COVID-19 cases and gold price fluctuation // International journal of mining, reclamation and environment (2022) vol. 36, 8, p. 574-586.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2022.2077542 - Monei, N.L., Puthiya Veetil, S.K., Gao, J., Hitch, M. Selective removal of selenium by phytoremediation from post/mining coal wastes : practicality and implications // International journal of mining, reclamation and environment (2021) vol. 35, 1, p. 69-77 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2020.1801118 - Li, J., Jacobs, A.D., Hitch, M. The effect of mineral composition on direct aqueous carbonation of ultramafic mine waste rock for CO2 sequestration, a case study of Turnagain ultramafic complex in British Columbia, Canada // International journal of mining, reclamation and environment (2022) vol. 36, 4, p. 267-286.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2022.2041340 - Jati, H. A., Monei, N., Barakos, G., Tost, M., Hitch, M. Coal slurry pipelines : a coal transportation method in Kalimantan, Indonesia // International journal of mining, reclamation and environment (2021) vol. 35, 9, p. 638-655.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17480930.2021.1949857 - Puthiya Veetil, S.K., Hitch, M. Aqueous mineral carbonation of ultramafic material : a pre-requisite to integrate into mineral extraction and tailings management operation // Environmental science and pollution research (2021) vol. 28, 23, p. 29096–29109 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12481-0 - Paat, A., Veetil, S.K.P., Karu, V., Hitch, M. Evaluating the potential of Estonia as European REE recycling capital via an environmental social governance risks assessment model // The Extractive industries and society (2021) vol. 8, 4, art. 100767, 8 p.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2020.07.001 - Shang, X., Zhu, S., Jiang, F., Liu, J., Li, J., Hitch, M., Liu, H., Tang, S., Zhu, C. Study on dynamic disaster mechanisms of thick hard roof induced by hydraulic fracturing in surface vertical well // Minerals (2022) vol. 12, 2, art. 1537, 22 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/min12121537 - Reinsalu, E., Lüütre, E., Põldema, T., Väli, E. Long-term stability of pillars in an underground oil shale mine // Oil shale (2022) vol. 39, 2, p. 142-149 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2022.2.04 - Kütimets, K., Ellmann, A., Väli, E., Kanter, S. Underground oil shale mine surveying using handheld mobile laser scanner // Oil shale (2021) vol. 38, 1, p. 42–64.
https://doi.org/10.3176/oil.2021.1.03 - Lytle, M., Hitch, M. Miners and mendicants : a cautionary tale // The Extractive industries and society (2019) vol. 6, 2, p. 498-503 : tab.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2019.02.005 - Cortez, C.A.T. Hitch, M. Sammut, C. et al. Determining the embedding parameters governing long-term dynamics of copper prices // Chaos, solitons and fractals (2018) vol. 118, p. 186-197 : ill.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chaos.2018.03.032 - Pascual, R., Román, M., Hitch, M. et al. Reducing mining footprint by matching haul fleet demand and route-oriented tire types // Journal of cleaner production (2019) vol. 227, p. 645-651.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.069 - Gonzalez, F. R., Raval, S., Taplin, R., Timms, W., Hitch, M. Evaluation of impact of potential extreme rainfall events on mining in Peru // Natural Resources Research (2019) vol. 28, 2, p. 393–408 : ill.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11053-018-9396-1 - Li, J., Jacobs, A., Hitch, M. Direct aqueous carbonation on olivine at a CO2 partial pressure of 6.5 MPa // Energy (2019) vol. 173, p. 902-910 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.02.125 - Tost, M., Bayer, B., Hitch, M. et al. Metal mining’s environmental pressures: a review and updated estimates on CO2 emissions, water use, and land requirements // Sustainability (2018) vol. 10, 8, art. 2881 ; 14 p. : tab.
https://doi.org/10.3390/su10082881 - Li, J., Hitch, M., Power, I.M., Pan, Y. Integrated Mineral Carbonation of Ultramafic Mine Deposits - A Review // Minerals (2018) vol. 8, 4, art. 147, 18 p. : ill.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/min8040147 - Li, J., Hitch, M. Mechanical activation of magnesium silicates for mineral carbonation, a review // Minerals engineering (2018) vol. 128, p. 69-83 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.08.034 - Tost, M., Hitch, M., Chandurkar, V., Moser, P., Feiel, S. The state of environmental sustainability considerations in mining // Journal of cleaner production (2018) vol. 182, p. 969-977 : ill.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.02.051 - Wang, X., Ni, W., Li, J., Zhang, S., Hitch, M., Pascual, R. Carbonation of steel slag and gypsum for building materials and associated reaction mechanisms // Cement and Concrete Research (2019) vol. 125, art. 105893, 12 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2019.105893 - Maybee, B., Lilford, E., Hitch, M. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk, uncertainty, and the mining life cycle // Extractive Industries and Society (2023) Vol. 14, art. 101244.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exis.2023.101244 - Kügerl, M.-T., Hitch, M., Gugerell, K. Responsible sourcing for energy transitions : discussing academic narratives of responsible sourcing through the lens of natural resources justice // Journal of environmental management (2023) vol. 326, Part B, p. 116711, 15 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116711 - Ba, Haojing, Li, Jiajie, Ni, Wen, Li, Ying, Ju, Yongjian, Zhao, Ben, Wen, Guoping, Hitch, Michael Effect of calcium to silicon ratio on the microstructure of hydrated calcium silicate gels prepared under medium alkalinity // Construction and building materials (2023) vol. 379, art. 131240, 11 p.: ill.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.131240 - Mammadli, A., Barakos, G., Islam, M.A., Mischo, H., Hitch, M. Development of a smart computational tool for the evaluation of co- and by-products in mining projects using Chovdar gold ore deposit in Azerbaijan as a case study // Mining (2022) vol. 2, 3, p. 487-510 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/mining2030026 - Zhao, A., Song, X., Li, J., Yuan, Q., Pei, Y., Li, R., Hitch, M. Effects of Carbon tax on urban Carbon Emission reduction : evidence in China environmental governance // International journal of environmental research and public health (2023) vol. 20, 3, art. 2289, 19 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032289 - Wiche, O., Dittrich, C., Pourret, O., Monei, N., Heim, J., Lambers, H. Relationships between carboxylate-based nutrient-acquisition strategies, phosphorus-nutritional status and rare earth element accumulation in plants // Plant and soil (2023) vol. 489, 1-2, p. 645-666 : ill.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-023-06049-9 - Liu, J., Ge, H., Li, J., He, P., Hao, Z., Hitch, M. How can sustainable public transport be improved? A traffic sign recognition approach using convolutional neural network // Energies (2022) vol. 5, 19, art. 7386, 14 p. : ill.
https://doi.org/10.3390/en15197386 - Jedrzejczak, K., Debicki, Z., Kasztelan, M., Marszal, W., Orzechowski, J., Przybylak, M., Tokarski, P., Jalas, P., Isoherranen, V., Karu, V., Paat, A. et al. The BSUIN project // 36th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2019) - DM - Dark Matter. Trieste : Sissa Medialab Srl., 2021. art. 523. (Proceedings of science ; 358).
https://pos.sissa.it/358/523/