The metals we need for a low-carbon future

Dr Mark Hoggard doesn’t seem like someone who would talk in favour of mining.

He’s a postdoctoral researcher with the ANU Research School of Earth Sciences who wants to “work on geoscience problems that are important to society”, such as how sea level responds to melting ice caps, and “share knowledge of this fascinating planet”. He loves rock climbing in the mountains and when he sits down to chat with me, he’s just finished making himself a cup of tea.

All things considered, I’m very curious to hear about another research interest of his: finding better ways to locate metal deposits to “support sustainable development and the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

In other words: showing mining companies the best places to dig. But … for a more sustainable future? How does that work? 

“We need to have some kind of roadmap to reduce the impacts of human-induced global warming,” he says.

“Changing our lifestyles to reduce our individual carbon footprints is a big part of handling the problem, but we also need technological change. We need to change the way we generate power, especially electricity.

“And if you want to shift your power generation away from fossil fuels to renewable resources, you need a lot more of certain kinds of metals: things like copper, nickel, lead and zinc.”

Read the full story at the Australian National University College of Science website.