Towards a multi-dimensional methodology supporting a safeguarding decision on the future access to mineral resources

A. Mateus (), C. Lopes, L. Martins and J. Carvalho
Additional contact information
A. Mateus: Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
C. Lopes: Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa
L. Martins: ASSIMAGRA
J. Carvalho: Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG)

Mineral Economics, 2017, vol. 30, issue 3, No 5, 229-255

Abstract: Abstract A multi-dimensional methodology is proposed to delimit areas hosting mineral resources of public importance (MRoPI). The assessment procedure considers the Level of Geological Knowledge (LGK) along with the Economic (Ec), Environmental (Ev) and Social Development and Acceptance (SDA) dimensions. Different sets of independent, but complementary and variably weighed, criteria support the appraisal of each dimension, and a final score (MRoPI r ) results from a reasonable balance between LGK and (Ec + Ev + SDA). A ranking based on MRoPI r will fall in the [1, 10] interval, as imposed by the scaling normalising factor, but only specific tracts having MRoPI r ≥ 4 display LGK values confident enough to be covered by a safeguarding decision at a given time. Adequate MRoPI r mapping can also be done, interpolating within the kriging formalism and evaluating thoroughly the modelling results until achieving the final map. The methodology application shows in addition that the combined use of LGK, Ec, Ev and SDA allows to address suitably two overlapping and coexisting, although different, issues: (1) safeguarding the future access to mineral resources and (2) planning the mineral development in the short-medium term, recognising the need of assigning specific areas to mining activities.

Keywords: Mineral resources; Public importance; Safeguarding; Multi-dimensional methodology; Kriging interpolation; Portuguese “base metals” resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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DOI: 10.1007/s13563-017-0114-y

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