EES Departmental Seminar: Critical Minerals in Canada: Mitigating Mining Impacts in the Quest for a Low-Carbon and Digital Economy
Dr. Mike Parsons
Geological Survey of Canada-Atlantic-NRCAN
Title: Science Atlantic – Atlantic Geoscience Society 2024 Speaker Award Lecture: Critical Minerals in Canada: Mitigating Mining Impacts in the Quest for a Low-Carbon and Digital Economy
Abstract: In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in global demand for many elements used in green energy and high-tech applications, including antimony, cobalt, germanium, indium, lithium, and the rare earth elements (REE). Canada contains abundant resources of these “critical minerals” and many companies are working hard to bring new mines into production. However, our understanding of the potential environmental impacts associated with critical metal mining is lacking compared to commodities such as copper and gold. Processing of REEs and other critical minerals has led to environmental degradation in some parts of the world, but there are few published studies of these risks and impacts. This talk will provide an overview of Canadian critical mineral deposits and ongoing efforts to develop these resources in a manner that minimizes impacts on the environment and local communities. Case studies will focus on characterizing pre-mining baseline conditions, predicting cumulative impacts of new mining in old mining camps, and reprocessing historical mine wastes to recover valuable critical minerals. Earth scientists have a key role to play in identifying new sources of critical minerals and ensuring that Canada is an environmentally responsible supplier of these resources.
Biography: Dr. Michael Parsons is a Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He received a Combined Honours B.Sc. in Earth Sciences and Chemistry from Dalhousie University in 1994, and a Ph.D. in Geological and Environmental Sciences from Stanford University in 2001. Most of his research focuses on the sources, cycling, and fate of metals in the environment. He is particularly interested in the geochemistry and mineralogy of mineral deposits and mine wastes, and developing new methods to characterize and mitigate the environmental impacts of metal mining activities. Dr. Parsons is currently studying the effects of weathering on the distribution and recoverability of critical minerals in historical mine tailings, as well as the processes controlling mercury cycling in lakes throughout northern Canada. He is an Adjunct Professor at Dalhousie, Queen’s, and the University of New Brunswick and regularly co-supervises students as part of his research activities. The results of his research are important for understanding the ecosystem and human health risks associated with metals in the environment and provide a scientific basis for developing environmental guidelines and for managing contaminated sites.
Time
Location
LSC-B8007, 8th floor of the Biology/EES wing of the Life Sciences Centre)
Additional Information
Meet the lecturer: COFFEE and COOKIES in B-3078 at 10:45 am