title: The challenges of reusing mining and mineral-processing wastes.
abstract: Mining and mineral-processing wastes are one of the world's largest chronic waste concerns. Their reuse should be included in future sustainable development plans, but the potential impacts on a number of environmental processes are highly variable and must be thoroughly assessed. The chemical composition and geotechnical properties of the source rock determine which uses are most appropriate and whether reuse is economically feasible. If properly evaluated, mining waste can be reused to reextract minerals, provide additional fuel for power plants, supply construction materials, and repair surface and subsurface land structures altered by mining activities themselves.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Land Resources, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221116, China. zfbian@cumt.edu.cn
authors.forename: Zhengfu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Xiexing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Shaogang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Shen-en
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wenfeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Struthers