Application of geostatistical analysis interacting with the earth observation data for recovery of raw materials from mining residuals (stockpiles and tailings): research projects at University of Bologna.

The poster presents an overview of the ongoing research projects at University of Bologna – DICAM Department, applying geostatistical methods to mining stockpiles and tailings with the purpose of metal recovery. The educational program RawMatCop of EIT Raw Materials is the main supporter of the research. The work takes advantage of the use of Earth Observation (EO) data for sampling optimization in mining residuals from abandoned and active mines. Purposes are both recovery of raw materials and environmental rehabilitation of tailing dams and landfills. EO can play an important role in accounting the raw material resources of a territory, since current satellites, such as the Copernicus constellations (Sentinels), provide continuous spatial and temporal coverage of the global at no cost. Thanks to the spatial resolution, Copernicus data can improve the characterization (quantification and evaluation) of a resource, together with the assessment of the associated risks. Moreover, EO can be used for continuous monitoring of the target areas, conditioned by mining activites. On the other hand, geostatistical analysis, using in situ sampling and EO images, exploit innovative methods to improve accuracy of grade and pollution maps, thus reducing the number of samples, with evident cost reduction. Test sites are bauxite residuals, located in Mediterranean Region: Greece and Montenegro (under analysis, 2019), Sardinia and Apulia (programmed work, 2020). Finally, a new international Project, INCO-Piles, starting in early 2020 and led by the research group, has the scope to identify the most promising mining residuals of Southern Europe for recovery of critical raw materials.