Paper short abstract:

As the green transition requires mineral resources, historic tailings reprocessing and the reopening of legacy mines constitute a new form of ‘grey extractivism.’ Through case studies in Alaska and Missouri, we address the reproduction of socio-economic pressures within the transition.

Paper long abstract:

Under the Biden administration’s push to secure supplies of green minerals, the US is developing new mines and reprocessing existing tailings. This paper proposes to address ‘re-mining’ not only as a form of cleaner mineral production but also a continuation of extractivist narratives within territories already marked by processes of pollution, land degradation, and socio-economic discord. The revalorization from apparent waste materials to resources unsettles established dynamics and provokes reactions that can be unpredictable (Bleicher et al 2019). We explore the acceptance and/or rejection of the reprocessing of historic tailings and reopening of legacy mines that have shaped communities. Tailings are previously processed anthropogenic residues from mined ore. Legacy mines are now being used for another purpose, or are orphaned, abandoned, or derelict and in need of remedial work (Worrall et al. 2009).

This research builds upon ethnographies in two case studies – the Red Dog zinc mine in Alaska and the Missouri Cobalt operation in Missouri. Red Dog is located on Inuit land and leased to the operator by an Alaska Native corporation. The mine now aims at reprocessing gallium and germanium from its tailings. Missouri Cobalt intends to open a cobalt producing mine from a historic lead operation. Both operations present significant challenges, both technical and social. As the green transition’s thirst for minerals continues to fuel new exploration, these processes appear as new forms of ‘grey extractivism’ that could be poised for rapid growth across the countless legacy and abandoned mine sites worldwide.