Andalusia's Mining Sector Innovates with Circular Economy Projects and New Technologies
The Iberian Pyrite Belt in Andalusia is experiencing significant innovation in mining, with investments from companies like Atalaya Mining and MATSA. Upcoming reactivations include Minera Los Frailes and Cobre Las Cruces.
A study from the universities of Huelva and Cádiz reports 17.7 million cubic meters of waste containing valuable metals across 44 dumps. Maprise plans a €60 million investment to recover precious metals in Tharsis.
Lain Tech is developing electrochemical separation technology to treat metals without smelting. The Water Challenge startup is implementing sonic evaporation systems to purify industrial water and recover commercial solids.
The European METALLICO project is testing recovery of cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese from mining waste. The REEcovery project aims to extract rare earth elements from water in Aznalcóllar. Sandfire MATSA and Magnon Green Energy are pioneering the use of biomass ash in cement replacement for mining fill. The CEIMS has been established to enhance sustainable mining innovation.
