The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia covers an area of approximately 2 million km² and is rich in natural resources that are necessary for industrial development. The estimated mineral wealth beneath the Kingdom’s soil is approximately USD 1.33 trillion, as reported by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources. The Kingdom’s vision for 2030 is to develop the mining sector to become the third pillar of the domestic economy. Therefore, exploration and mining activities are expected to accelerate over the next decade, which will lead to increased waste production. New executive regulations issued in January 2021 contain several sustainable elements related to the environment, social responsibility, and occupational health and safety. Therefore, this study aims to promote an example of sustainable mining activities in the Kingdom that could be adapted to meet the regulatory requirements. Cemented paste backfill samples of varying composition were made with waste materials from a Saudi copper mine for re-injection into underground mining cavities to minimize waste exposure to the environment. The samples were tested for unconfined compressive strength (UCS) after 7, 14, 28, 56, and 90 days of curing. Results from a statistically designed experiment technique show that the samples developed sufficient strength to be used in mine backfilling applications. Strong negative relationships were detected between the UCS and the water-to-binder ratio. There is strong potential for mine backfill technology to be applied to a wide range of Saudi Arabian mines to enhance the sustainability of the mining sector.

Pyrophyllite (Al₂Si₄O₁₀(OH)₂) is a phyllosilicate often associated with quartz, mica, kaolinite, epidote, and rutile minerals. In its pure state, pyrophyllite exhibits unique properties such as low thermal and electrical conductivity, high refractive behavior, low expansion coefficient, chemical inertness, and high resistance to corrosion by molten metals and gases. These properties make it desirable in different industries such as refractory; ceramic, fiberglass, and cosmetic industries; as filler in the paper, plastic, paint, and pesticide industries; as soil conditioner in the fertilizer industry; and as a dusting agent in the rubber and roofing industries. Pyrophyllite can also serve as an economical alternative in many industrial applications to different minerals as kaolinite, talc, and feldspar. To increase its market value, pyrophyllite must have high alumina (Al₂O₃) content, remain free of any impurities, and possess as much whiteness as possible. This paper presented a review of pyrophyllite’s industrial applications, its important exploitable properties, and the specifications required for its use in industry. It also presents the most effective and economical techniques for enriching low-grade pyrophyllite ores to make them suitable for various industrial applications.

Purpose: In the contemporary landscape of mining projects, the imperative to navigate through periods of uncertainty has driven the exploration of alternative strategic tools rooted in project flexibility. Real options have emerged as a pivotal strategic approach, offering the means to adapt and refine mining projects under unpredictable conditions Materials and Methods: This paper provides a comprehensive review and discussion on the strategic application of real options for optimizing mining project planning in the face of uncertainty. Organized into four sections, the paper begins with a general introduction to real options in Section one, delving into their strategic and technical classifications. Section two critically examines and reviews the indispensable role of real options in the realms of mining investment and project planning. The third section is dedicated to an in-depth discussion of the strategic tools inherent in real options, specifically focusing on their valuation and optimization aspects within mining project planning. The final section provides a discussion and conclusion on the strategic application of real options for optimizing mining project planning under uncertainty. Findings: The review identifies that real options offer valuable strategic flexibility in addressing uncertainties inherent in mining project planning. Through a detailed examination of their application, it becomes evident that real options can enhance decision-making processes and improve project outcomes by allowing for adaptive responses to changing conditions. Implications to Theory, Practice, and Policy: The strategic integration of real options into mining project planning presents significant implications for theory, practice, and policy. Theoretical implications include advancing understanding of decision-making under uncertainty and the role of flexibility in strategic planning. In practice, the adoption of real options can lead to improved project outcomes, increased resilience to market fluctuations, and enhanced risk management strategies. From a policy perspective, recognizing the value of real options may inform regulatory frameworks and promote the adoption of flexible planning approaches within the mining industry, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and resource management.

The effectiveness of mine backfilling depends on the properties of its constituents. The high cost of cement, which is commonly used as a binder in mine backfill, has led researchers to seek alternatives to partially replace it with other binders. This study investigated the potential to use nano‐calcium carbonate (NCC) and natural pozzolans (zeolite and pumice) along with Portland cement (PC) in mine backfill. Two types of experimental samples were prepared: (1) gold tailings and silica sand to investigate the effect of NCC and (2) nickel tailings to investigate the effect of natural pozzolans. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was measured for samples cured for up to 56 days. Moreover, selected samples were subject to mercury intrusion porosimetry to investigate microstructural properties. Results show that addition of NCC did not improve the UCS of backfill prepared with gold tailings and cured for 28 days, whereas a dosage of 1% NCC in backfill samples prepared with silica sand improved UCS by 20%, suggesting that the gold tailings negatively affected strength development. Natural pozzolans, in particular, 20% zeolite, had 24% higher UCS after 56 days of curing compared to samples prepared with PC and thus have the potential to partially replace cement in mine backfill.

Owing to its unique properties, pyrophyllite is an economical alternative to many minerals in different applications. The presence of iron-bearing minerals in Saudi pyrophyllite hampers its industrial uses. The aim of this study was to examine the removal of iron from Saudi low-grade pyrophyllite ore using two approaches. The first approach involves dry high-intensity magnetic separation, whereas the second approach involves microwave pretreatment of the ore before dry magnetic separation. For the first approach, the studied operating parameters were roll speed; feed rate, field intensity, and feed particle size. For the alternative approach, microwave treatment followed by dry magnetic separation, the microwave irradiation time and the magnetic field intensity were studied. The results show that the combined microwave treatment and dry separation method could provide high-purity pyrophyllite for filler industries. Microwave irradiation for 30 min was optimal to change impurity phases (i.e., pyrite, hematite) into ferromagnetic phases in microwave-treated pyrophyllite samples. At a magnetic field intensity of 2000 Gauss, the 30 min microwave-irradiated pyrophyllite sample achieved an iron recovery of 11.2% in non-magnetic fractions, with a removal efficiency of 89% with an alumina recovery of 91.31%.