Department of Geological Resources published a new review article on the processing and mineralogy of black shales. Authors of the article are senior geologist Johannes Vind and senior specialist Kadriann Tamm.
On the background of Green Deal and raw materials crisis, black shales are increasingly being explored for their content of battery and technology critical metals. Black shales occur across the globe, and also in Estonia. The purpose of the review article was to provide a systematic overview of black shale processing technologies. Processes rely on the various properties of raw materials, such as their mineralogical composition. First part of the paper therefore summarizes the mineralogical properties of black shales. Second part of the paper summarizes technologies that target the leaching of key metals from black shales. At the time being the only plant processing metamorphosed black shale is Terrafame in Finland. They are applying a unique bacterial heap leching technology that generates heat and is therefore sustainable in near-arctic conditions.
Article can be accessed from this link (functions until 18. December 2021). After the expiration of the link, please write to [email protected] to receive a copy of the article.
