The availability of metals and minerals is essential for modern societies. Using metals over long periods and in closed cycles secures the supply of raw materials for critical technologies. It also reduces material-related greenhouse gas emissions. For the first time, an international research group, with scientists from the Resource Lab of the University of Augsburg, has successfully quantified the losses of mineral resources for 61 metals in all phases of the material cycles.

The researcher found that iron and steel alloys have the longest usage period. "On average, these materials are available for 150 years due to high process efficiencies and good recycling rates", explains Dr. Andrea Thorenz, head of the Resource Lab and co-author of the journal article. "Non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper and precious metals such as gold and silver still have more than 50 years. The large group of technology-specific metals, on the other hand, are only used for a decade on average. Therefore, new mining activities must continually compensate for the losses, leading to negative environmental impacts," Thorenz sums up.

Based on data from the French geoscientific institute BRGM, it was possible to calculate how long metals are in use before they dissipate, meaning that they are so finely distributed that it is impossible to reuse them for economic or thermo-dynamic reasons. "The joined research with colleagues from the University of Bordeaux and the University of Bayreuth make dissipative losses of metallic and mineral raw materials measurable and show a way to integrate them into the life cycle assessment," says Dr. Thorenz. This achievement will improve the evaluation of the consumption of abiotic resources in the life cycle assessment.

Publication

Losses and lifetimes of metals in the economy