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Today Isometric released an Open System Ex-Situ Mineralization (OSEM) Protocol for public consultation. This is the first protocol for durable carbon removal (CDR) in the mining industry.
In ex-situ mineralization, alkaline materials react with the atmosphere and undergo weathering. This weathering reaction removes and durably stores carbon dioxide for thousands of years. In OSEM, mine tailings and waste rock are treated in a way that accelerates this natural drawdown of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
The protocol allows for a variety of alkaline materials to be used for the process (known as feedstocks), including industrial by-products such as mine tailings, steel slag and waste cement. These by-products can be physically manipulated or pre-treated with thermal, chemical and physical methods to accelerate their weathering rates.
Mining is a highly regulated industry and this protocol accounts for the existing regulatory requirements related to tailings and waste rock management. This ensures that carbon removal activities are compliant with local and international environmental standards.
Like all Isometric protocols, the OSEM Protocol is scientifically rigorous, while also maintaining operational feasibility for suppliers and mining operators. Monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) requirements have been developed so they can be used in operational and closed mine sites.
Carbon removal supplier Arca provided key feedback during the development of the OSEM protocol. Arca has developed an innovative mineralization process that uses remotely controlled rovers to treat mine tailings. They are planning to use this OSEM protocol for projects planned across Australia and Canada.
Dr. Greg Dipple, co-founder and Head of Science at Arca, said:
Most of the world's carbon is stored in rocks. Developing a CDR pathway to leverage alkaline industrial waste streams, such as that produced by certain forms of mining, can be a low-cost and highly-scalable way to remove a materially significant amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Arca has been delighted to support Isometric's development of this CDR protocol. We look forward to using this protocol in producing safe, durable and high-quality removals that buyers can trust.
This protocol was created in collaboration between Isometric’s in-house Science Team and has undergone consultation with external expert reviewers from WSP, RMI, Heriot Watt University and Cardiff University.
This is an important step forward in advancing CDR in the mining industry. If you are interested in discussing the OSEM protocol or other mining related work that Isometric is developing please get in touch.
Interested buyers, suppliers and scientists are welcome to comment during the protocol’s public consultation and will be considered before it is certified. Public Consultation will close on the 20th January 2025.
